Do not index
Do not index
For context: Most of the products I’ve worked on never made it past the design phase, and I feel like hiring managers might see that as a red flag. I don’t want to create ‘fake’ case studies, but I also don’t want to work for free.
Unfortunately, the nature of our job is to design, whether it is released or not, it’s not really our decision.
Showing ‘Fake’ Case Studies is Fine—If You Do It Right
Hiring managers are more interested in how you think and how you approach a problem rather than whether the project is real or not.
So showing a ‘unreal project’ is okay as long you’ve covered your bases:
1. Show your thinking and process with evidence of work
Show how you arrived at the final solution, step-by-step (research, brainstorming, prototyping, etc.).
Highlight your decision-making, problem-solving, and iteration process.
→ It shows your ability to think critically and solve problems.
2. Write clearly and tell a story
Keep your case study clear, concise, and easy to follow.
Add a narrative element to show the journey of the project, challenges faced, and how you overcame them.
→ A clear story makes your work easy to understand and memorable.
3. Show your personality
Make your case study memorable with a unique style or tone.
Reflect your personality through your writing, design approach, or creative solutions to stand out from other candidates.
→ It helps you stand out and shows what makes you unique.
List of websites that generate ideas for UX/UI challenges
Personally, free or very cheap work usually works best, I wrote an article on how this topic.
However, you could do passion projects OR use these websites to generate ideas or challenges:
On the final note, it’s often preferred that you show websites, apps, and other design challenges you solve.
Your full guide to creating an outstanding portfolio and getting noticed.
