Get Strategic About Your UX Case Studies with Aneta Kmiecik

Get Strategic About Your UX Case Studies with Aneta Kmiecik

Episode 124

1:06:20

Tired of stressing over your UX portfolio? Discover smart ways to showcase your value clearly, even if you’re buried in NDAs or complex enterprise projects. Simplify your story, prioritize content strategically, and confidently communicate your expertise.

How do you turn years of complicated UX work into a clear, concise story that hiring managers actually want to read?

This week, I welcome back a guest who has made it her mission to help mid-to-senior UX designers tackle the common nightmare of portfolio creation. Having transitioned from architecture to UX herself, she has a deep understanding of the challenges, especially when it comes to showcasing complex, NDA-heavy projects or navigating roles with less visually striking outcomes.

We explore practical strategies for creating concise, impactful portfolios without lengthy traditional case studies. She introduces the powerful concept of “project snapshots,” a straightforward way to quickly and effectively highlight the core value and outcomes of your UX work. We discuss essential habits for proactively capturing your work as it occurs, rather than scrambling when you suddenly need to apply for a job.

If you’ve ever felt portfolio anxiety or struggled to clearly showcase your real UX value, tune in for actionable insights to transform your portfolio approach and confidently land your next role.

Topics:
• 02:42 The Stress of Creating Portfolios
• 02:57 Aneta’s Journey and Expertise
• 03:50 Actionable Advice for UX Portfolios
• 09:03 The Importance of Work Journals
• 14:24 Crafting Case Studies for Your Next Job
• 28:58 Common Mistakes in UX Portfolios
• 30:53 Common Portfolio Mistakes
• 31:57 Alternative Ways to Showcase Work
• 33:10 Creating Project Snapshots
• 38:27 Choosing the Right Platform
• 45:10 Final Thoughts and Advice

Helpful Links:
• Connect with Aneta on LinkedIn
• Follow Aneta on Instagram
• Aneta’s UX Portfolio Course

Aneta Kmiecik
Helping designers get their portfolios done

About Aneta

Ex-Architect turned UX Designer with 13 years of creative experience, and Founder of ‘Be Your Own Design Team,’ where she helps designers navigate their UX careers through her flagship course on UX portfolios.

Connect with Aneta on LinkedIn

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Meet your host

Jeremy Miller

Designer // Host // Mentor

I’m Jeremy. I’m a product designer from New Orleans. Here are some things I want you to know about me:

But most importantly, I know you can’t build great software without great relationships.

So join me here and learn about how to build truly great software.

Get Strategic About Your UX Case Studies with Aneta Kmiecik