What are the different ways to present a user research portfolio?

Choosing a format that is easy to share and is cost-effective. Think of a Canva file you can update as you move forward, save as a PDF, and share over text or email. Stay away from creating (and paying) a website that you will not have time to properly update.

Choose a Portfolio Format Selecting the right format for your portfolio is essential. Here are key considerations: - Digital format: Options include a website, PDF, slide deck, or video. This offers flexibility, interactivity, and accessibility, making it easier to update and share. - Physical format: A binder, booklet, or poster can create a tangible, memorable impression, ideal for in-person presentations. Whichever format you choose, ensure it's easy to navigate, regularly updated, and suited to your audience's needs.

In my experience, clients oftentimes will not want to share details of what you did for/with them. If this is the case for you, I would focus on describing the multiple levels of your involvement as a professional. Select the projects that challenged you the most, or helped you create systems. I would even showcase where mistakes were made and what you had to do to correct them.

When building your portfolio, focus on quality over quantity. Here's how to choose the right projects: - Showcase your strengths: Select projects that reflect your skills, goals, and interests. - Diversity and relevance: Include a range of work that aligns with the expectations of your target audience. - Impact: Highlight the most impactful projects. For each project, provide key details: the problem, goal, scope, timeline, and stakeholders, offering context and demonstrating your process effectively.

A strong portfolio highlights your research process from start to finish. Here's how to explain it effectively: - Detail your methods and tools: Describe the techniques used, questions explored, and hypotheses tested. - Showcase insights: Share data gathered and the recommendations delivered based on your findings. - Highlight challenges: Discuss obstacles and how you adapted to overcome them. Use visuals like diagrams, screenshots, or videos to make your process clear and engaging. This gives context and demonstrates your problem-solving skills.

Instead of focusing on showing the results of the visuals, create visuals of your process as a researcher. A diagram flow as detailed as you think it should be, can show a potential employer if you are a good fit for the team. There, you can also show where you are most confident. In the said diagram, per step you can add in challenges from projects you have worked on, and the results of your work.

How many projects have you worked on in the past year? How many of your recommendations get implemented? Did you present to the board of directors? Were you the leading expert? In a visual way, you can demonstrate where your work impacted the business.

Maybe you have grown from junior to senior, let your portfolio be the place where even you can appreciate your growth and trajectory. Always keeping a positive and optimistic voice, while remaining assertive. Just like you would present research findings!