What hiring managers skim for
In order: (1) thought process per case study, (2) before/after screens, (3) measurable impact, (4) the breadth of problem types you’ve worked on. Pretty visuals are table stakes — the writing carries you.
The 4-section case study
PROBLEM (what you were asked to solve and for whom). PROCESS (research, alternatives considered, why you killed the rejected ones). SOLUTION (the design, but more importantly the constraints). IMPACT (numbers if you have them, narrative if you don’t).
Tools they expect
Figma is mandatory in 2026. Add basic FigJam for workshops. Familiarity with Notion, Linear, and one analytics tool (Posthog, Mixpanel, Amplitude) is a plus. Coding skills (HTML/CSS/React basics) double your callback rate at engineering-heavy startups.
Where to land your portfolio
Custom Notion / Framer / Astro site. Personal domain. Three case studies minimum, six maximum. Each case study readable in under 4 minutes.