Do not index
Do not index
Adding NDA projects to your portfolio
Before you do anything, check your NDA
First things first: READ YOUR NDA. I know, boring legal stuff. But trust me, it's worth it.
Most NDAs will specify:
- What information you can't share
- What you need permission for
- Who you need to ask for permission
Pro tip: Keep a document of all your NDAs. Future you will thank me.
Most clients and employers understand that you need to show your work, so there’s often room to negotiate.
But if you can’t negotiate your NDA, here are 4 ways to show your work without breaking the rules.
How to showcase NDA-protected design work
1) Generalize projects
This is my favourite hack for showing NDA work. Instead of focusing on the final designs, show your process.
Here's what to include:
- Your role and responsibilities
- The problem you were solving
- Your research methodology
- Key insights and decisions
- Impact and results (in general terms)
Example: Instead of "Redesigned Bank X's mobile app," say "Led the redesign of a major banking app used by 2M+ users, resulting in 40% faster task completion."
2) Blur out sensitive information
You don't have to hide everything. Be strategic about what you blur:
- Company logos and names
- Specific data and metrics
- Proprietary features
- User information
Keep visible:
- UI patterns
- Interaction flows
- Your thinking process
3) Create Parallel Projects
This is where you get creative. Take the skills you used in the NDA projects and apply them to new scenarios, flows, mocks or visuals:
- Abstract representations
Example: If you designed a healthcare app, create a case study for a fictional wellness app using the same methodologies.
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4) Password Protection
This is your secret weapon. Password-protect sensitive work and share access selectively:
- Potential clients
Pro tip: Change your password regularly and track who has access.
Keep in mind that it’s perfectly reasonable to share the password with your employer—they may just want to verify that the NDA is still kept.
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