Hello, it’s Aneta here 👋 This is issue #14 of UX Design Express and today we’re talking about

Junior vs Senior UX Portfolio

Do titles matter in a UX Portfolio?

For many designers, they do. The industry’s all over the place with design titles and the whole UX vs. UI debate, so opinions vary. I often get asked what should go into a Junior vs a Senior UX portfolio, so it’s clearly a concern.

Based on my research, a common pattern for different levels looks like this. Junior portfolios are often harder to digest than senior ones. But even some senior designers have so-so portfolios too. That’s because a portfolio doesn’t represent your title - it reflects your skills, experience, personality and maturity.

Like it was clear in my first UX portfolio from 2018 that I was missing a lot of design skills like visual design or storytelling.

Now you’re probably wondering what to do. How should you approach crafting your UX portfolio? How can you spot any skills you’re missing? And how can you tell if it's noticeable in your portfolio?

Let’s dive in 🐬

Aim for the best with your portfolio

As they say, aim for the best, dream big, and don’t make excuses for not improving your portfolio. Even if you’re a junior or a beginner, go for the best. If you’ve worked on messy projects or in low UX maturity companies, don’t overthink it. Focus on:

• Showcasing your value

• Presenting your best self

• Highlighting your strengths

• Turning unsuccessful projects into successes

You’d be surprised how many of us have worked in less than ideal companies - I have too. Most of my projects were messy and hard to create story from, but that’s just the reality for many. Even in companies with high design maturity and strong teams, things can still be chaotic. So, pull yourself together, and let’s get to work.

Avoid these things if you don’t want to look immature in your UX portfolio

Don’t craft artificial stories

If you worked on a messy project, just be honest about it. Don’t try to fit an imperfect design process into a double diamond framework. If you didn’t do user research, explain why and what other information supported your design decisions. Structure your story to highlight your biggest value. You don’t have to include every detail.

Don’t copy UX books

Avoid saying things like, “I did 5 user interviews to identify pain points.” It sounds generic, like it came from a UX book. Hiring managers know what user interviews are for - they want to know what you learned from those interviews.

Don’t focus on UX methods

There’s no need to list all the UX methods you used. We all use similar frameworks, so that’s not what stands out. Instead, share what actions you took based on specific insights and how certain learnings helped you decide what to do with your design concept.

Don’t focus on UX process frameworks

Skip over-describing your design process to make it look like a double diamond. We’re all familiar with it. Focus on your learnings and design decisions - those are what make your process unique.

Don’t try to look smart

Avoid using overly smart phrases or too many UX buzzwords. People generally don’t like it when others try to sound smarter than them. It’s okay to be yourself. Write in your own voice - it’s more relatable, and people respond better to authentic, human stories.

Show yourself as a more mature designer

Below are the key differences between junior and senior designers in terms of maturity, skills, and experience. No matter where you are in your design career, aim for senior-level with your UX portfolio. Do your best and showcase what you can to proof your value.

Mindset

• Junior maturity

  • “I want to be a senior; I know everything.”

• Senior maturity

  • More humble and patient.

Approach and level of impact

• Junior maturity

  • focus on features, product, single screens

• Senior maturity

  • think more holistically and in systems

Project types

• Junior maturity

  • problem space is smaller

  • unsure of an impact

  • projects can be shorter

  • smaller ownership

• Senior maturity

  • larger problem space

  • larger impact

  • leading projects from end to end

  • solving more complex problems

  • manage ambiguity easily

Way of leading projects

• Junior maturity

  • need more guidance and mentoring

  • either follow strictly a process or is unaware of a process

  • not clear reasoning behind design decisions

  • not connecting designs with business

  • more focus on execution than on holistic approach

  • follow concrete tasks rather than leading in a mess

  • not measuring success of their designs

  • focus on pixels

• Senior maturity

  • think about business

  • focus on impact

  • driving strategic decisions

  • able to prioritise

  • presentation and storytelling skills

  • work autonomously

  • stakeholders management

  • able to balance users and business needs

  • owning and applying key metrics - measuring success

Skills

• Junior maturity

  • learning fundamentals

  • unaware of own skills because they are still developing

  • need more guidance and mentoring

  • asks for feedback more generally

• Senior maturity

  • solid on core practises

  • self-awareness of own skills and preferences

  • mentoring young designers

That's it for today!

Get portfolio support from me ⭐️

There are 2 ways I can support you individually with your portfolio.

1. Let’s do it long-term! The biggest results come from this

2. Hop on a one-time call with me

I’m back in two Fridays with another edition of UX Design Express 👋

Keep designing ✨
Aneta