Quick note from me
Most designers are waiting for an AI project to land on their desk. But after reviewing 400+ portfolios recently, I've noticed the ones who stand out aren't waiting. They're creating their own proof.
You don't need to ship a live AI feature. You need to show how you think. And you can do that with work you already have or conceptual one.
In today’s newsletter I’m showing you how you can do it.
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Every portfolio iteration, same problem: you forget what you did and spend days rebuilding your portfolio. This template fixes that.
Document projects as you go
Track wins and skills in one place
Reuse for portfolios, CVs, and interviews
Story outline
Level 1-2: Do this week - no new work needed
Level 3-4: Do this month - improve existing projects
Level 5-7: Ongoing - build new proof over time
Level 01
Reframe how you talk about AI
This takes 30 minutes. No new work is needed. You just update how you describe what you already did in your portfolio.
Most designers either hide AI use or make it sound like AI did the work. Both hurt you. If you don't mention it, you look behind. If you credit AI too much, you look like you didn't contribute. Be clear: AI helped, but you led.
Here's how to reframe your AI story:
Mention AI clearly in tools, process, or narrative
Frame it as a helper, not the hero
Explain why AI made sense for this specific problem
Connect it to outcomes: speed, buy-in, or insight
Example:
AI helped me explore 3x more directions, which got stakeholder alignment faster
Level 02
Show your judgment, not just AI output
Anyone can use AI. What matters is what you do with the output.
AI gives you options. Your job is to decide which ones make sense and why. That's what recruiters want to see.
In your portfolio:
Show what you explored with AI vs. what you shipped
Explain your criteria: user needs, business goals, constraints
Highlight what you rejected and why
Example:
During brainstorming with AI, I explored a lot of chatbot-first flows. But I chose a hybrid approach because research showed users wanted control.
Level 03
Show what AI exploration gave you
Using AI to explore more ideas is great, but "I explored more" isn't valuable on its own. What matters is what that exploration unlocked. A new angle? More time for research? A risky idea that paid off?
Show what it gave you:
An angle you'd have missed
Time freed up for deeper research
Risky ideas you wouldn't have tried otherwise
Example:
AI let me test an unconventional layout I'd normally skip. It felt too risky to spend time on. But it tested well with users, so it became the final direction.
Level 04
Add a future vision to past projects
You don't need a new project to show AI thinking. Take an old one and add a future vision section. This works because it proves you can spot AI opportunities without waiting for a new brief or starting from scratch.
Here's how to add a future vision section:
Identify a pain point AI could solve
Explain why AI fits: user needs, goals, feasibility
Prototype the concept to make it tangible
Example:
This e-commerce project was pre-AI. I added a section showing how AI recommendations could reduce drop-off.
Level 05
Build demos you couldn't before
AI tools like Cursor or Lovable let you prototype working concepts quickly. You can now turn past projects into interactive demos and record them for your portfolio. This proves you can build, not just design.
What to build:
Interactive demos for concepts you only mocked up before
Working prototypes that show how AI features would actually behave
Video walkthroughs that bring static case studies to life
Example:
I went back to an old project and prototyped the concept in 2 days using AI, something that would've taken weeks before.
Level 06
Create an AI experiments section
If you don't have AI projects at work, create your own. A simple experiments section proves you're curious and proactive. It doesn't need to be perfect. It needs to show you're doing the work.
What to include:
Creative concepts you built with AI tools
Quick explorations, not full case studies
Proof that you can build, not just design
Example:
Here you can review my AI experiments I do on weekends to stay sharp and explore new tools
AI experiments are one of the most popular ways of showing AI skills in a UX portfolio. Below 3 examples:
Level 07
Document AI adoption you led
This is leadership level proof, especially relevant for senior, staff or design managers. Not everyone has it, but if you do, it's powerful.
AI skills aren't just about what you designed. They also show up in how you influenced others. Did you introduce AI tools to your team? Run a workshop? Create guidelines? That's worth documenting.
What to include:
AI tools you brought into your team's workflow
Workshops, guidelines, or rituals you created
Impact on culture, process, or output
Example:
I noticed research analysis was slowing us down. I introduced an AI workflow, ran a pilot, created guidelines, and led the rollout. It's now standard practice and saved the team 40% of analysis time.
🫶 Together with Framer
Portfolio in more than one language just got easier
If your portfolio targets international teams, localization matters more than people admit. Not just the content, but the structure too.
Framer now lets you translate page paths for every page on your site, not only CMS content. That means your portfolio URLs can match the language your visitor is browsing in.
Why this is useful for portfolios:
Visitors see clean, readable URLs in their own language
Your portfolio site feels more intentional and professional
Switching languages updates page paths automatically
If you’re applying to global companies or working with international clients, this is a small update that can make your portfolio feel much more thoughtful.
Ready to build your portfolio on Framer? Start today
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Questions? Reply directly.
Keep designing ✨
Aneta
