Table of Contents
Do not index
Read time: under 3 minutes
When You Don't Have the Fancy Numbers (But Still Need to Prove Your Worth)
Look, let's talk about the elephant in the room: Not everyone has those sexy conversion metrics or revenue numbers to show off.
Maybe you're working at an agency where projects move fast and measuring impact isn't part of the deal. Or maybe your company just... doesn't track that stuff (yet).
I get it. It's frustrating. Especially when every portfolio guide screams "SHOW THE METRICS!"
But here's the thing: There are other ways to prove you understand business impact.
Learn to write an engaging case study with Anfisa Bogomolova
What You Can Show Instead
User Testing Gold
Did your usability tests show that 8 out of 10 users completed a task in half the time? That's gold.
It shows potential time savings and improved user satisfaction. Both of these directly impact the bottom line.
Engineering Time Saved
"The new component system reduced development time by 40% for new features."
See what I did there? You're showing you understand that design isn't just about pretty interfaces—it's about making the whole machine run smoother.
Support Team Impact
If your redesign led to fewer support tickets or faster resolution times, that's money saved right there!
Maybe after your navigation redesign, support tickets about "can't find X" dropped by 30%. That's a metric worth mentioning.
Indirect Success Indicators
- Reduced error rates
- Faster time-to-market
- Decreased bounce rates
- Increased team efficiency
- More positive user feedback
- Higher user satisfaction scores
Your full guide to creating an outstanding portfolio and getting noticed.
The Secret Sauce: Business Context
Here's what really matters: Show you understand how design connects to business goals.
For example:
❌ Instead of: "I redesigned the checkout flow"
✅ Try: "I streamlined the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment and support ticket volume"
❌ Instead of: "I created a new design system"
✅ Try: "I built a component library that cut development time for new features by 40% and ensured brand consistency"
Remember This
You don't need massive conversion numbers to prove your worth. What you need to show is that you:
- Think about business impact
- Understand how design affects the bottom line
- Know how to measure success, even if it's not in direct revenue
Companies hire designers who get this stuff. Who understand that pretty isn't enough—it needs to work for the business too.
So next time you're working on a project, even if you can't track direct revenue impact, look for these other signals. They're everywhere once you start looking for them.
And sometimes, saving money is just as valuable as making it 😉
Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways I can help you:
1. Junior Designer Bundle: Transition to UX with the ultimate handbook (120+ videos, 80+ templates, 75+ examples) to craft an unforgettable portfolio & get hired.
2. Senior Designer Bundle: Become a design leader with systems to help you build a meaningful career & grow your designers. Join 500+ aspiring leaders.
3. UX Portfolio Critique: Get a 30-minute video review of your portfolio. A checklist of actionable things to fix, in less than 48 hours. Get a personalised portfolio critique here.
4. Job Sprint Course: Get battle-proven frameworks and interactive workshops to: build a memorable personal brand, a killer strategy for job applications, and tactics to nail job interviews. Get hired in UX with Job Sprint.
