Do you know the difference? UX Portfolios: Freelancing vs Job Hunting

UX Portfolio Do’s & Don’ts

Being a junior designer in 2026? 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗳*𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱. Not because you're not talented. Because: → Your portfolio looks like everyone else's → You're competing with 500 people for 1 role → Companies want "juniors" with 3yrs experience I get it. The market sucks.

I made my own Wrapped for 2025: 🧢 6M impressions on LinkedIn 🌐 192k visited my website 📊 167k views on YouTube 📺 305 videos published 📰 151k newsletters read 🤝 52 brand campaigns 💌 750k emails sent 💛 97k followers

Designers, is he right? Naval Ravikant said "UI is pre-AI."

The storytelling technique Steve Jobs used (apply it to your portfolio)

10 portfolio mistakes I wish I knew at 20:

I didn't count wins in 2025. I counted first times.

No. 1 reason not to become a UX designer in 2026 🤡 Jk guyss, thank you for sticking around! Now stop messing with your portfolio and get some rest 🤪 See you next year 👋

I just realized I've been doing you dirty for a year.

Every design decision you make is either: 1. Holding your work back 2. Moving it forward Sometimes we don't realise which is which.

My year wasn’t complete. It was unfinished.

Most case studies are boring AF. But why you ask?

Designers, explain your UX job as poorly as possible. I’ll go first 🙋🏻‍♂️ People pay me to draw shapes, some circles, but mostly rectangles, digitally. ——— P.S. Merry Christmas, folks! 🎄

How much I earned in 2025: (as a design creator)

We hate Facebook tracking us. But love when Spotify does it.

My 22 laws of portfolio writing Categorized into 6 fundmentals:

Finding a UX job is like dating. We all go through these 5 steps:

Zuck just stole from Tim Cook. Not IP Not data Not chips Designers.

UX trends DON'T matter. It WON'T make you a better designer. THIS will...

If you’re a designer with a portfolio, read this: 101 portfolio tips in 12 categories: (which took me 10 years to learn)

UX Designer expectations: • Clear role, clear tasks • Total creative freedom • Portfolio = Dream job, fast • 90% of time spent in Figma • Work with cutting-edge tech • Everyone will love my designs • Job: Make things "look pretty" • Linear process: research → prototype → ship

Figma valued at $20B. Notion valued at $12B. Canva valued at $42B. Airbnb valued at $78B. Pinterest valued at $22B. Instagram valued at $100B. All founded by designers.

If UX Designers have a yearly wrapped... (2025 version) ——— ♻️ Repost if this is even slightly true for you

I know many designers living in chaos. - Files named "final_final_v3" - Sticky notes everywhere - Coffee stained desks - Messy workspaces - Endless to-do lists - 99 tabs opened I used to be one of them! Then, I discovered Notion, which literally changed my work (and life).

I study these 7 sites (not for inspiration) The internet is full of “inspirational” portfolios. Sadly, most designers copy the wrong things ↓

My biggest sale ends in a few hours… If you miss it, you might have to wait another 365 days!

I just saw a $16,450 UX bootcamp Ad: “Master UX in 12 weeks”

14 portfolios that inspire me: (2025 edition — save them quick)

I’ve reviewed 836+ resumes 78% designers made these 3 mistakes:

Design can’t live without research Yet most companies don’t have a research practice Without research, designers are flying blind Which leads to: → Surface-level insights → Lack of decision clarity → More + more iterations → Building the wrong thing We’ve all been there

2 types of UX designers exist: A. Those who have their process figured out B. And those who don't

UX career path: Junior to Manager (it's simpler than you think)

My income as a designer: Year 1: $24k Year 2: $54k Year 3: $72k Year 4: $105k Then I quit (and went solo): Year 1: $60k Year 2: $120k Then I started UX Playbook: Year 1: $58k Year 2: $160k Year 3: $200k (projected)

Portfolio mistakes that cost Alison job offers: (even with 15+ years at IBM)

I get asked a common question by Junior Designers: “Is wireframe really necessary?” My answer: HELL. YES. Here’s why:

The magic of design is at the intersection of… 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 + 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 + 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 Some designers don’t get this Their approach is cookie-cutter Their portfolios lack personality Their work looks like everyone else's Then they wonder why they're not standing out

I laughed at Apple's new $230 sock. I thought to myself: "It's useless" "Who’d buy that?" "Apple has lost it" But then…

UX Designers, if you don't know these sites You’re missing out:

Work at a startup they said… Felt this pain? Repost ♻️ and lmk.

How I changed a designer’s career (in just 2.5 months)

Design isn’t just Figma. It’s actually:

I rejected a $150k job offer. Not because I'm crazy. But because I was building this instead...

I’ve redesigned my landing page 983 times. This 8-step formula helped me get to $42k/m:

You have 10 seconds. For hiring managers to trash your resume.

I turned my portfolio into an asset (and you can too)

I helped a designer land UX role at tech giant Agoda (straight out of university)

I’m sick of reviewing portfolios. Unless they have these 7 things:

99% of designers rush to solutions It's the #1 mistake killing your UX career.

A shift is happening in Design… New tools. New workflows. New capabilities. Because… → As production gets automated → Thinking becomes more valuable → Creativity becomes the new premium That's why I’m speaking to Shamus Scott Grubb on The Design of Everyday People Livestream.