Hello, it’s Aneta here 👋 This is issue #17 of UX Design Express and today we’re talking about

UX Portfolio trends for 2025

Your portfolio is your personal project, but it’s part of the design industry and will be judged that way. Design trends and hiring practices influence portfolios, so it’s useful to know what’s popular and well-received.

Trends 2025 🔮

1️⃣ Better implementation of storytelling

Storytelling has been a buzzword repeated in the design industry for a while, but I haven’t seen many designers implementing it correctly in their portfolios in 2024. Among all portfolios I reviewed in 2024, in 99% storytelling was the main problem. I think it’s more of a massive challenge still than a trend.

However, as we talk more about storytelling and help designers use it better, I believe we’ll see a shift in portfolio narratives. Recruitment trends might also play a role, as the double-diamond story outline is no longer as accepted as it used to be in portfolios. Storytelling will likely become a must in design portfolios.

2️⃣ Portfolios built with no-code tools

In 2024, no-code web tools like Framer, Wix Studio, Webflow or Readymag gained a lot of attention. More designers realised how easy it is to use them to create their own websites. Since setting up a website no longer requires coding or building from scratch (thanks to available templates), more designers started creating portfolios in a web format. Among all the portfolios I reviewed in 2024, websites were by far the most common.

3️⃣ Personalised portfolios

On the other hand, easy access to no-code tool templates has led to a repetitive look in many design portfolios. While it’s hard to tell if a simple layout was made using a template or designed from scratch, more original styles, when repeated, can be easily linked to templates. One example is this portfolio style, which I saw many times in 2024: this template.

None of this is a mistake, but it can create a less impactful first impression. With competition higher than ever, many designers are trying to stand out by customizing their websites. Some designers use bold styles, others experiment with creative layouts, and some tweak elements. When recruiters look for visual portfolios, this is how many designers aim to stand out.

4️⃣ More condensed portfolios

Hiring managers receive many applications, so they don’t have much time to review your portfolio, especially at first. They usually spend approx. 30 seconds on your portfolio. That’s why many designers realise that if recruiters don’t read full stories, there’s no need to write them. While there can be a purpose in writing mid to long form case studies, I’ll explain it in my upcoming UX Portfolio Course, that is true that for an initial review, long stories aren’t necessary.

And this is what designers like Ludovic, Anfisa, Trevor or Andrei figured out and created shorter portfolio stories.

5️⃣ Portfolio stories showing various skills

The industry is changing, and businesses are now looking for designers who can handle a variety of tasks. This is due to financial goals and the fact that many still deprioritise design.

While it’s not yet a trend, I’ve noticed more designers highlighting more specific skills in their portfolios in separate case studies, such as design system creation, improving UX maturity, or coding. I think we’ll see more designers showcasing diverse skills to meet market demands and more clearly communicate what they can do.

6️⃣ Even higher focus on visual presentations

The aesthetic-usability effect is even more relevant in 2024. Hiring managers spend less time reviewing portfolios, and companies prioritise designers with strong execution skills to quickly deliver solutions.

As a result, more portfolios focus on high-quality visuals to make a strong first impression and showcase craft skills. Designers are writing less and using bento grid layouts, showreels, and large visuals. There’s also growing demand for designers who can quickly execute concepts, like design engineers such as Emil Kowalski.

7️⃣ More interactive portfolios

The digital world is no longer static. We’re now used to interactive elements like hover effects, animations, and short videos. Recruiters likely expect more dynamic experiences in portfolios. With the rise of no-code tools, adding small interactions has also become easier than ever.

As a result, designers are starting to include recorded prototypes in their portfolios and use interactive hover effects to make their portfolios more engaging.

Timeless trends 📅

8️⃣ More typography based portfolios

Typography is a visual element that can be easily considered as one of the most powerful. That’s why it’s been always used by designers in various formats: from bold headings to almost fully typography based styles.

But recently, thanks to read.cv website, I see more experienced designers using resume style websites as portfolios. Simple text-style portfolio, resume portfolio or dynamic monospaced based portfolio.

9️⃣ Simple portfolios

Classic layouts, light mode or simple image and text modules have been always typical design elements. Hiring managers are used to this portfolio design and are able to quickly navigate this type of portfolios due to familiar patterns. That’s why many designers use this approach to quickly get their portfolios done and apply for jobs. Simplicity never gets old and I’m sure many designers will still use this approach as a safe and quick option.

UX Portfolio Spotlight 🔦

To keep these emails short and sweet, I am thinking about separating UX Portfolio Spotlight (free portfolio reviews) from regular bi-weekly emails but I’d love your feedback on this.

That's it for today!

The UX Portfolio Course is launching in January’25 ⭐️

Make sure you follow me on social media to get daily updates about the course.

• See the behind the scene on Instagram

• Get more portfolio inspirations on Linkedin

Happy New Year! Wishing you the same best wishes that I already shared here 🎉

Keep designing ✨
Aneta