The UX Portfolio Workshop: Roll Up Your Sleeves, We’re Getting Past “Portfolio Creator’s Block”

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UX PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP: by Michelle T. Chin | @soysaucechin #UXDC2015 | #UXPortfolio Roll up your sleeves, we’re getting past “Portfolio Creator’s Block”!

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WHO AM I?

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WHO ARE YOU? • Transitioning to a UX career • Looking for a new job • Adding credibility to your career

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WHY THIS WORKSHOP?

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WHY A PORTFOLIO? It’s your key to unlocking an opportunity. Hiring Managers use your portfolio as a way to gauge your skill set and abilities.

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YOU ARE WHAT YOU PRESENT.

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DEVELOPER OR UXer?

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DESIGNER OR UXer?

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UXer OR WIREFRAMER?

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WHAT’S DIFFERENT? UX portfolios show process.

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UX PROCESS

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THIS WORKSHOP: 1. Recognize what goes into a UX portfolio

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THIS WORKSHOP: 2. Start the base for yours

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THIS WORKSHOP: 3. Meet some UXers like yourself

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THIS WORKSHOP: 4. Break the creator’s block!

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STEP 1: WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? What kind of work do you want to do? (UX/interaction designer, user researcher, full time, contract)

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WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? Where do you want to work? (Enterprise company, in-house, agency, government, non-proﬁt)

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WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? Anything else? (Build credibility, speaker, blogger)

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EXAMPLE GOALS I’m creating a UX portfolio because: • I’m a graphic designer that wants to become a UXer for a non-proﬁt association. • I’m ready to advance my UX career. • I want to work for an in-house company on mobile products. The more concrete, the better!

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ACTIVITY: WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? Take a few minutes to determine your goal. • What kind of work do you want to do? • Where do you want to work? • Anything else?

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS! • Your name • What’s your background • Share your goal

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THE GOLDEN RULE The ONE thing you need to take from this workshop.

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THE GOLDEN RULE: LET IT GO. “I will not get attached to my work.”

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THE GOLDEN RULE: LET IT GO. This is a process. Iterate.

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THE GOLDEN RULE: LET IT GO. “I will not get attached to my work.”

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STEP 2: INVENTORY What are you going to put in it?

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INVENTORY Projects from start to ﬁnish

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START TO FINISH

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INVENTORY Work that involved UX process

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ACTIVITY: INVENTORY • Write down projects you’ve done relevant to your goal - strive for ﬁve! • Projects from start to ﬁnish • Projects that involved UX process ABC Website Acme iPhone App Shutter Photography Site

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INVENTORY What UX activities have you done on those projects?

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ACTIVITY: INVENTORY • On the back of each index card, list the UX activities you did for each project    • Use the checklist as a guide • Complete the checklist - what have or haven’t you done yet? •Info Arch. •Wireframes •User testing

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ACTIVITY: INVENTORY • Do you have the contents? •Info Architecture - No •Wireframes - Yes •User testing - Yes

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INVENTORY Did you list your BEST work?

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INVENTORY If in doubt, leave it out.

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ACTIVITY: INVENTORY • Are these projects really your best work? • Are they really relevant to your goal? Uncle Bob’s Blog NASA.gov Biking App Cooklite Calorie Counter App

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INVENTORY What about the missing artifacts?

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INVENTORY: MISSING ARTIFACTS Recreate them. (Do not lie - it’s bad & you’ll be ﬁgured out)

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RECREATING ARTIFACTS

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INVENTORY What if you don’t have any projects under your belt?

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INVENTORY: MISSING PROJECT SCENARIO For my next job, I want to work on mobile apps… but all my UX experience is with websites. “I need to demonstrate mobile UX experience.”

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INVENTORY: MISSING PROJECT Make it up. (Not lying here either.)

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INVENTORY: MISSING PROJECT There’s no shame in taking the time to practice your UX skills and demonstrating a great job.

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HOW DO I “MAKE UP” PROJECTS? 1. Pick a problem to ﬁx.

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[reformatting Craigslist, Wikipedia]

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HOW DO I “MAKE UP” PROJECTS? 2. Create a project - app, site, etc.

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WHO CAN YOU REACH OUT TO FOR A PROJECT? Who could be your “client”?

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WHOA, WAIT… What if you’re missing the skills?

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PART 1: LEARN THE SKILLS Give yourself a project that allows you to practice the skills. Image: http://bitmethod.com/blog/book- review-a-project-guide-to-ux-design A Project Guide to UX Design by Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler

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PART 2: WORK ON A REAL PROJECT Practice those skills in a real environment. Sneak them into your current job.

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INVENTORY: WHAT ARE YOUR GAPS? Think about what skills and work you’re missing.

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ACTIVITY: WHAT ARE YOU GAPS? • On index cards: What are the projects missing in your portfolio? • On the checklist: What are the skills you need to learn or improve? • On the worksheet: What are some ideas for projects where I can practice these skills?

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STEP 3: ARCHITECTURE How will you organize this work?

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ARCHITECTURE By topic (e.g., mobile, user research, etc.) Project A Project B Project C Project D Project E Project F Mobile Website Software

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ARCHITECTURE By the project’s lifecycle Project A Project B Project C Project D Project E Project F Discovery Concepting Prototyping

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ARCHITECTURE Decide what’s best for you and your content, but have a method.

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STEP 4: DESIGN What do you include?

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DESIGN Goal: Get you in for an interview.

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DESIGN Show visuals of the process.

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DESIGN What about stuff I can’t show?

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SECRET STUFF Blur out identifying information.

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SECRET STUFF Password protect your work.

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SECRET STUFF Use your discretion!

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DESIGN Tell a story. Go over pain points, challenges, and solutions!

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Intro Architecture / storyboarding Prototype development Usability testing Iteration

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DESIGN Less is more. You have 10 seconds to make an impression.

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DESIGN Show the highlights of the project.

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DESIGN Unique activities, challenges, or really cool stuff!

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DESIGN How much is too much?

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STEP 5: DEVELOP What tools do you use?

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DEVELOP

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DEVELOP What should you look for?

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DEVELOP Know your capabilities, your timeframe.

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DEVELOP Easy to maintain - you’re iterating.

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DEVELOP Hire someone, barter, feed.

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STEP 6: TEST Does this meet my goal?

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TEST Does this portray me?

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TEST Ask for feedback - who can you ask?

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TEST Your friends, people at your table, a UX mentor

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DON’T FORGET THE GOLDEN RULE: LET IT GO!

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TEST Take the feedback.

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TEST Iterate, retest.

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PRO TIPS Go one step beyond - it’s worth it.

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PRO TIP #1: Stylize your content - make it look good.

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PRO TIP #2: Take pics of EVERYTHING.

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PRO TIP #3: Get a URL

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AVOID: Lengthy URLs: bluedalek.wix.com/portfolio student.umd.edu/~bluedalek michelletchinUXdesigner.com TRY: Shorter, memorable URLs: simplebits.com edmundyu.com michelletchin.net

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PRO TIP #4: Find a UX mentor

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PRO TIP #5: If it’s not working, learn why and iterate.

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PRO TIP #6: Maintain your portfolio!

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WHAT NOW? • Use the workshop materials as a guide moving forward • Gather materials for the projects you have • Work in small chunks • Iterate, iterate, iterate!

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DON’T FORGET • The Golden Rule: Let it go. • You are what you present. • Iterate; maintain. • Stay in touch with the folks you meet today. • Complete the eval, please!

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QUESTIONS?

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ACTIVITY: NETWORK Exchange contact info with those in your group

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THANKS! Don’t forget evaluate the workshop! Michelle T. Chin - @soysaucechin #UXDC2015 | #UXPortfolio

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REFERENCES • A Project Guide to UX Design: For user experience designers in the ﬁeld or in the making (2nd Ed.) by Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler  • Examples of Portfolios: • Jess Hang: http://portfolio.jesshang.com/ • Tyler Womak: http://portfolio.tylerwomack.com/ • Simon Pan: http://simonpan.com/