Step 3 of 5

Portfolio Review

Step 3 • 60-90 minutes

Portfolio Review

Your work speaks for itself. This is where you demonstrate your design thinking and problem-solving skills.

Portfolio Standards Have Risen

Portfolios are scrutinized more heavily than ever. Reviewers expect to see clear problem-solving, measurable impact, and sophisticated design thinking.

  • • Case studies must show end-to-end process
  • • Business impact and metrics are essential
  • • Visual polish is table stakes, not differentiator
  • • Collaboration and stakeholder management stories matter
What Reviewers Are Evaluating

Design Process

  • • Problem identification and framing
  • • Research methodology and insights
  • • Ideation and concept development
  • • Iteration based on feedback
  • • Testing and validation approach
  • • Final solution rationale

Business Impact

  • • Clear problem statement
  • • Success metrics and KPIs
  • • Quantified results
  • • Stakeholder alignment
  • • Technical constraints handled
  • • Long-term thinking
Recommended Presentation Structure

1. Context & Problem (5-7 minutes)

Business context, user problem, constraints, and success criteria

2. Research & Discovery (8-10 minutes)

User research, competitive analysis, key insights, and opportunity areas

3. Design Process (15-20 minutes)

Ideation, concepts, iterations, key decisions, and design rationale

4. Solution & Testing (10-12 minutes)

Final designs, user testing, iterations, and validation results

5. Impact & Learnings (5-8 minutes)

Business results, user feedback, what you learned, and next steps

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Content Issues

  • • Focusing only on visual design
  • • No clear problem statement
  • • Missing business context
  • • No measurable outcomes
  • • Skipping the research phase

Presentation Issues

  • • Going over time limits
  • • Reading slides verbatim
  • • Not engaging with questions
  • • Technical difficulties
  • • Defensive about feedback
Preparation Checklist

Practice Your Timing

Rehearse multiple times. Know exactly how long each section takes and have backup slides if you need to cut short.

Prepare for Deep Dives

Have detailed answers ready for design decisions, alternative approaches considered, and specific metrics.

Test Your Tech Setup

Screen sharing, audio quality, backup internet connection. Have a backup plan for everything.

Anticipate Questions

Prepare for questions about trade-offs, alternative solutions, team dynamics, and what you'd do differently.

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