Quick note from me

July was definitely a month full of work on content to help you learn about AI design and building portfolio on Framer. If you missed my latest posts, here’s a quick recap:

• 10 ways to style your portfolio so it shows you. Check on Linkedin

• Storytelling for designers. Watch on Instagram

• 14 ways to use AI in your design workflow. Check on Linkedin

• My rating of my portfolio over the years. Watch on Instagram

Today’s topic: making your work speak for itself in your portfolio. It’s about using storytelling in your visuals. Many designers treat visuals as just graphics, but with intention, they can tell a powerful story. I’ll show you how.

Story outline

• Level 01: Show only relevant visuals

• Level 02: Curate each visual

• Level 03: Add annotation notes

• Level 04: Take it to the next level

• Snapshot: Story summary

• Portfolio inspiration I’m loving this week

🫶 Together with UX Portfolio Course

Turn your messy UX projects into a senior UX portfolio

A portfolio is a must-have for hands-on designers, especially in this competitive market. Your portfolio serves as proof that you can do the design job.

To build a great UX portfolio, you need skills like a growth mindset, storytelling, visual storytelling, visual design, and more. And that’s exactly what the UX Portfolio Course offers.

What you'll get:

• Understand hiring managers' perspectives

• Access 481 portfolio examples

• Craft portfolio stories using storytelling tactics

• Learn about visual storytelling

• Design high-quality visuals with 48+ Figma templates

Don’t wait for tomorrow. The best time to start working on your portfolio is today.

Special offer: Be Your Own Design Team readers get 50% OFF until August 31st
Use this code at checkout: ANETA50

Level 01: Show only relevant visuals

Your visuals should work with your text, showing exactly what you’re talking about, not just random images.

Common pitfalls include:

• Showing how many sticky notes you created

• Showing blurry images that aren’t readable

• Showing Figma screenshots that don’t tell anything

Why don’t these images work? They’re obvious. It’s what all designers do. Do you want to stand out with these? You won’t.

Just like illustrators use pictures to tell a story, your UX visuals should support your story and give real insight into your process. One strong visual per point is enough. More can make you look unfocused or like you’re just treating your portfolio like a storage.

Tip: Put all visuals on a whiteboard, pick one per paragraph, and stop there.

Level 02: Curate each visual

Your visuals don’t always need to be full screen. You can frame them to fit your written story. Sometimes it’s better to show a full screen, other times a detail, or maybe a whole user flow. Be intentional here, because this makes your story clearer.

This is storytelling: you intentionally decide what to show and what not to show. Don’t focus on quantity. Focus on quality.

How to do it:

• Zoom in or zoom out on your visuals

• When introducing a topic, show the user flow

• When talking about button redesign, show a detail

• When discussing screen content, consider a schematic

Level 03: Add annotation notes

The most important tip for any visual you show: add annotation notes to make your portfolio images clearer and easier to understand.

What to include:

• Labels and notes

• Arrows or lines on mockups

• Numbered key parts

• Descriptions below or labels above/below images

This helps your audience quickly spot important details and better understand your work. Ultimately, you optimize for time to value. You want hiring managers to grasp your work quickly.

Level 04: Take it to the next level

Static visuals are fine if done well, but adding video creates a richer, more engaging experience. If you’ve designed an entire flow or interaction, it’s hard to show what happens between screens A and B using only static images.

This can take your visual portfolio storytelling to the next level:

• Recorded prototype - show the interaction between screens A and B

• Project walkthrough - quick, engaging video case studies

• Video pitch - introduce yourself and pitch your value quickly 

Snapshot

1. Show only relevant visuals to make your story more clear. Use this formula: 1 story = 1 problem = 1 solution = 1 visual

   
   

2. Frame your visuals to fit the story you’re sharing. Use this formula: Talking about a detail = Showing just that detail

   
   

3. Use annotation notes to provide context and connect your visuals with a written story through: Annotation notes informing about the changes

   
   

4. Take it to the next level with a video format, that will make your portfolio more engaging through: turning complex project into a video walkthrough

Want help with your UX portfolio? 🎁

1. Build your UX Portfolio with my course

2. Sign up for a call with me to discuss your portfolio

3. Get an async portfolio review (no call)