Quick note from me
I get this question all the time: What’s the difference between a junior and senior portfolio? The truth is, it’s not about the title. I’ve seen seniors with junior-looking portfolios and juniors with senior-level ones.
The solution is simple: don’t focus on the title, focus on the skills. And today I’ll show you how to build a senior-feeling portfolio, even if you’re a junior.
Story outline
Skill 01: Get clear on where you want to go next
Skill 02: Don’t share everything, share what matters
Skill 03: Obsess over high-quality visuals
Skill 04: Lead with business language
Skill 05: Focus on showing transformation
Skill 06: Treat both text and visuals as storytelling
Student spotlight: How a junior designer builds a senior-level portfolio
Skill 01
Get clear on where you want to go next
One of the biggest reasons portfolios fail is: bad strategy.
Designers try to appeal to everyone and end up convincing no one. You position yourself as “a designer who solves user problems”, which sounds fine in theory, but in practice everyone says the same thing. You blend in.
Focused on target companies and skills, signaling 0→1 project work
A more strategic approach is to shape your portfolio story for specific types of companies. Ask yourself:
Startup, agency or product org
B2B or B2C
Which industries
What role types you want: craft designer, growth etc.
Think about the kinds of problems you want to solve:
Do you want to improve conversion
Help employees be more efficient
Increase user engagement
Build products from scratch
Get to know yourself, choose a direction, and try it. You can always adjust later. Once you pick your direction, shape your intro text around it and, most importantly, choose project stories that match it.
Skill 02
Don’t share everything, share what matters
Based on your strategy, choose project stories that prove you can do this job. Not any UX job, this specific one. You’re competing with designers who have similar skills, so your storytelling needs to stand out.
When writing case studies:
Don’t talk about everything that happened
Don’t overwhelm people with details
Think about your content like layers in a flow
Recruiters scan. If your project had many problems, highlight the most impactful one or split the story into multiple case studies. Think in snapshots: the concept I developed to help my students create a strong first impression.
Skill 03
Obsess over high-quality visuals
Even if you’re not a visual designer, visuals matter. People are aesthetically biased. It’s easier to judge visuals than to read your “why”.
Your online portfolio must grab attention. So:
Make your visuals appealing
Polish details
Use clear hierarchy, readable fonts and contrast
Make your UI look intentional
99% of portfolios I review miss this. Use it to your advantage.
Skill 04
Lead with business language
The days of skipping business thinking are gone. The best designers show impact, goals, outcomes and metrics.
You don’t need perfect numbers. You need to show that you understand what the project was really about:
Conversion
Retention
Engagement
Efficiency
Research it. Ask ChatGPT. Look it up. And remember, impact is more than metrics. It can be about processes, people and other areas of the organisation. Think broadly.
Skill 05
Focus on showing transformation
Not on the process. We all use the same methods: interviews, flows, testing. What matters is the change you created.
So focus your case studies on:
The transformation
The decisions you made
Why you made them
The impact of those changes
This is why you get hired.
Skill 06
Treat both text and visuals as storytelling
Visuals in a UX portfolio are not decoration. They carry meaning. They explain what you designed and why.
To make your story easy to follow:
Use visuals with annotation notes
Use recorded prototypes
Highlight key moments, not every screen
This makes your work more scannable, human and engaging.
⭐️ Student spotlight
How a junior designer builds a senior-level portfolio
Larae is a junior designer with a portfolio that feels far above junior level. Her outcome-driven storytelling shows real senior-level thinking. She’s been refining her portfolio using storytelling tactics from this course, and it’s a great reminder that junior is often just a title.
What works in Larae’s portfolio:
Stories focused on business goals, outcomes, and actions
Before vs after storytelling that clearly shows transformation
Smart visual aids: images, annotation notes, and icons that explain rather than decorate
Story snapshots: short summaries on the homepage and inside case studies
Use of metrics, even when limited, e.g. using usability test results instead of business data
Hyperlinks for deeper details, giving engaged hiring managers optional context without clutter
Larae’s portfolio proves that even early-career designers can position themselves as more senior, with clear guidance, structure, and intention.
The takeaway: Lead with outcomes and use comparison storytelling. Show the transformation, not just the process.
🫶 Together with Framer
Design, animate, and publish, all in one tool - Framer
Framer is where ideas turn into live websites. You can design, prototype, and launch: visually, without touching code.
What makes it different:
Design and publish in one place - no plugins, exports, or handoffs
AI-powered creation - generate layouts and components in seconds to skip the blank canvas
Smooth collaboration - edit copy directly on the page or work together on the canvas in real time
Built-in CMS - manage and update your content easily without breaking your design
Advanced visuals - add motion, hover effects, gradients, and 3D transforms for interactive experiences
Whether you’re designing a personal site, portfolio, or business page, Framer gives you everything in one workspace.
Ready to design, iterate, and publish all in one tool?
Start creating for free at framer.com and use code ANETA for a free month of Framer Pro.
Which portfolio problem are you trying to fix right now?
Want help with your UX portfolio? 🎁
Sign up for a strategic call with me to discuss your portfolio
Book a call with me to talk about any other career challenge
Questions? Reply directly.
Keep designing ✨
Aneta
