Portfolio checklist

Use the checklist below to review your portfolio and resume before you send them out. Or .

Document as you go

Files, notes, and metrics gathered for every project you might include, before you choose
If you’re under an NDA: you know what it lets you keep and show
Each project has its turning points noted: disagreements, surprises, scope cuts
Baseline metrics, goals, and your role written down at kickoff
Decisions logged as you go, including the options you turned down
A daily log of what you worked on, kept apart from your decision log
Rejected directions and in-progress work saved, not only final screens
AI use logged: the tool, what you asked, and where you decided
A retrospective done at wrap-up, alone or with the team
Highlights added to a running list of your wins

Platform is a deliberate choice (builder, PDF, or vibe-coded), not just whatever was easiest to start
Homepage headline names your specific role and value; no vague titles like "passionate designer"
Navigation uses plain labels: Work, About, Resume
Every case study opens with a short summary (problem, solution, outcome)
One consistent visual system runs across the whole site
Every link works, any password is shared, and nothing forces a download
3 to 5 projects selected, matched to the job you want, not just the jobs you’ve had
Each case study shows your individual decisions, not just what "the team" did
Every case study has a resolution: a number, a testimonial, or a clear before-and-after
At least one failed experiment or pivot is included, not hidden
You can walk through any project live in a structured way, including its trade-offs
Each case study says where AI was used and what you decided yourself

The story includes a real turning point, not just a list of steps
The reader is oriented in the first few lines: scope, role, and goal
Headings state an insight, not a process label like "Research"
Visuals make up roughly 70% of the page, text the rest
Total length lands close to 500 to 600 words
Screens are annotated directly, not described in long paragraphs
Language is concrete and business-relevant, without jargon and vague buzzwords
Numbers include scale or context, not just a bare percentage
A named structure (CPPPR, Double Diamond, STAR, or another) shaped the draft, without becoming visible section headers
AI use appears at the stage it happened, with the tool and its job named
Anything AI drafted has been edited for errors and your own voice

Professional summary replaces a generic objective statement
Bullets use active voice and specific, measurable verbs
At least one bullet per role follows verb + task + metric + timeframe = impact
Portfolio link is prominent and active
Formatting is single-column with standard fonts, no tables or graphics
Language mirrors the exact job title and hard skills from the posting
Saved as a PDF or .docx, matching the application’s stated preference
Career changers: a Projects section anchors real evidence (bootcamp work, freelance, volunteer)
Career changers: prior experience is reframed in UX terms, not copied from the old job description