The Biggest UX Case Study Mistake That Fails Portfolios

In this video, I'll cover one of the topics that UX researchers and designers, especially the budding ones, perhaps not so much want to, but need to hear. Because of the underlying field complexity and a vast amount of methods, UX as a practice is a hard one not just to get into, but also to learn or practice. And when it comes to the design portfolios and UX case studies designers make some cardinal mistakes along the way that could be totally avoided. This video will address one of the biggest ones that have to do with where the person focuses and what activities they take to ensure that their UX projects and then case studies are effective.
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[@vitomirmagjer3476]

I agree. Almost every case study on Behance is a copy of a copy. Most of them define some KPIs at the start, but instead of taking a step back and picking the right UX method for research and concept generation, they all follow the same process.

[@fernwehtwl]

thanks for sharing this new video! I was in the situation you described where my team was thinking of a solution before identifying any problems and it was super challenging for us to move forward. We created a "solution prototype" which failed because there was no problem for us in the beginning to solve it. I really voiced to change the whole project and we had to redo a completely different one from scratch. It was really challenging and it made us fall behind even more. But im happy to say it was worth it. Because now the project seems to be more successful. Altogether I had to do three different projects to finally land in the right one to finish my project to put in my UX portfolio

[@pcyadrian]

Oh gosh I've been working on my portfolio and was yea doing the shortcut in reverse engineering my case study and stuffing the ux methods in between, but truth is there were a lot of assumptions instead of actual research done... I now have one more previous project I wanna put in my portfolio - a backend tool for nurses in clinics, but it was mostly following instructions from my PM and feedbacks from the nurses, how do I be candid but still have substance in this case study? I've quitted my job about a month ago and the project has been completed. Thank you so much! Big fan :D

[@vaexperience]

What sort of feedback did you get from nurses?

[@pcyadrian]

Hmm I think just clarifications on the initial intent of functions :// so not much actually

[@jclee1182]

Hello Vaex, I have been following you here and there and I really like your channel. I'm still transitioning into UX for the past two years as a junior designer and I totally get your point. I think that something that is missing in my portfolio is having a real project, where I would have chosen the appropiate methods and design deliverables to bring the project to completion. And I totally get your point. I sometimes do some freelance work, and I get designers asking me to create deliverables for their live projects. They ask me, do some personas, do some CJMs, do some user flows, do the IA, all the deliverables that should have been done before, but basically weren't done. I won't complain, since I still get paid, but I wonder whether a senior designer cannot cut through the BS and see that basically the work was not done and the case study comes out from thin air.

[@tokoshiro5]

old man's hat here yet I still love the Garrett's book ahah

[@anigrigoryan1951]

Thank you for sincere talks.there is no air, empty words like in other channels. You are a real mentor ♥️♥️♥️

[@antonlebedev3496]

Thanks, I’ve been making this mistake a lot earlier in my career. This is a golden advice for entry-level UX designers for sure! Think about the project, what value should it bring to users and stakeholders.

[@dave_dj1658]

Great content as always! I’m looking to start applying for work and my old case studies definitely miss the mark now! Would you recommend any resources that would help in determining the best method based on given scenarios? I know you’ve touched on some of this with personas vs. JTBD etc. in the past but I would love to have a “playbook” of sorts to be able to answer the question of why I used a particular method.

[@CosinusBeta]

Thanks! Great tips as always

[@radiantone2097]

hey, I love your channel! It is so informative! Do you have a video on how to make a portfolio if you've been working under NDA all the time? This is something I struggle now...

[@OddClarity]

Hmm instead of short cutting if I notice towards the end of my case study that it is missing something big/in detail or I have not done something quite right, maybe I will address this at the end of my project. Something like "what I learnt" or "let's do better next time". Then move onto the next project, where 100% I can strive to improve in that area. Anyways food for me to digest, thanks for the advice!

[@vaexperience]

Yes, although the learning part has been used and abused in the portfolios, especially by the juniors. My advice would be to go back in the project and correct course to make a decent case study instead of jumping on another project and then add learnings there too. Quality always trumps the quantity in UX

[@OddClarity]

@@vaexperience To true, thanks very much for the advice! 👍

[@zam9357]

can i write my ux case studies on medium and use as a portfolio ?

[@eduardohernandezsoto785]

I usually use medium for writing deepen about my ux case, and Behance as my portfolio. I don't know I do wrong

[@DAPH1918]

What are your thoughts on using Figma to present your portfolio using the prototype link?

[@vaexperience]

As long as you tell a story and don't make the hiring manager work harder than they need to. I've had several applicants send links to prototypes of their mockups without any case study or context - immediate rejection. Also had some that just dropped random deliverables on a canvas - rejection as well. You need to make it user friendly

[@DAPH1918]

@@vaexperience This was really useful. I want an inexpensive way to get up and running but theres not much resource/opinion on Figma portfolio. Really appreciate the reply! Thank you.

[@Ralphunreal]

I am thinking of creating a personal project for my portfolio and was wondering if it's possible to create one without user interviews? Can other research methods work? Right now I am thinking of looking for a website that I can improve. And if it differs for creating a project from scratch then that would be good to know as well.

[@vaexperience]

There are a lot of ux research methods to choose from but you need to engage with users with any of them, however indirect. To get a full picture you need both quant and qual methods - check some videos on my channel on picking ux research methods

[@melgnar2100]

I've heard some stakeholders will either not have the budget or not give you the time to do interviews and would request you to just do secondary research. I would not recommend that..

[@zubairrahman8856]

how do you get the user for research for self taught ux?

[@vaexperience]

Check other videos on the channel

[@dievas_]

Theres no point mentioning metaverse. Its not going to happen for decades to come. No one can make it now, no one needs it now.