Can I create a UX case study without real client work?

Yes. Use a self-initiated or redesign project. What matters is showing your process, thinking, and decisions.

How long should a UX case study be?

1,000–1,500 words with 6–10 visuals is enough for a first case. Keep it scannable.

What do recruiters look for in a first UX case?

Clarity of problem, user insight, options considered, final solution, and what you’d improve with more time.

UX Portfolio First Case — Your Starter Walkthrough

What is “UX Portfolio First Case”?

It’s a deliberately small, clear UX project you publish to prove hire-ability. Not a full product, not 40 screens — just enough to show you understand users, you explore options, and you can justify decisions. Think of it as your “hello, I can work like a UX designer” page.

Why it matters

Most junior portfolios fail because they’re either only UI (pretty screens, no thinking) or they’re academic reports (long walls of text, no decisions). Recruiters skim. They have 90 seconds. A first case that’s visual, structured, and connected to a real problem makes them stop and add you to interview pile.

How to build your first UX case (step by step)

Pick a problem you can research in a day. Example: “Students can’t track application deadlines.” or “Local shoppers don’t know which chemist delivers.” Small is good.
Frame it. Write 3–4 lines: who has the problem, when it happens, and why current solutions fail.
Do scrappy research. 3 quick user conversations or 5 public reviews of similar apps — capture pain points. Screenshot them.
Define success. “Success = user can complete X in under Y steps / time.” This shows you think in outcomes.
Sketch 2–3 flows. Show options. Even photos of paper sketches are fine at this stage.
Design a focused flow. Onboarding → main task → confirmation. 4–6 screens.
Add rationale. For every key screen, one sentence: “I chose a bottom nav because…”, “I highlighted the deadline because…”.
Package it. Publish on Notion/Behance/your site with headings, images, and a short reflection.

Key strategies for a strong first UX case

Make it scannable

Use large headings: Problem, Users, Process, Final UI, Learnings. Recruiters should see your structure in 5 seconds.

Show decisions

Write “I considered A and B, chose B because…” — this is UX gold. It proves you can trade off.

Show constraints

“1-week sprint, mobile-first, had to reuse brand colors.” Real projects always have constraints — including them makes your case believable.

Common mistakes

Only showing final screens. Add at least 1–2 exploration images.
No user voice. Include 2 quotes or findings to anchor your decisions.
Too broad problem. “Redesign Amazon” is not a first case. “Make reordering faster” is.
No reflection. End with “What I’d improve next.” It shows maturity.

Checklist for UX Portfolio First Case

[ ] Problem statement (who + what + why now)
[ ] Quick research (3 users or 5 review insights)
[ ] Defined goal/success metric
[ ] 2–3 ideation sketches or flow options
[ ] 4–6 polished screens (Figma)
[ ] Rationale per key decision
[ ] Reflection + next steps
[ ] Public link (Notion/Behance/your site)

UX Portfolio First Case: FAQs

What if I have zero UX job experience?

Use a self-initiated project and say so. Recruiters care more about your thinking than about whether a client paid for it.

How long does it take?

1 weekend for a lean version; 7 days if you want a polished narrative. Pair with the WisGrowth 7 Day Proof Sprint to stay structured.

Do I need a design system?

No, but consistent spacing, typography, and colors matter. If you want an easy base, see Design System Starter.

Where should I host it?

Notion, Behance, or a simple one-page site. Priority is “easy to open and scroll on mobile”.

UX Portfolio First Case

Case study skeleton