Best Resume Projects for a Designer

Want to land your dream Designer role? Stop listing generic projects and start showcasing work that proves you can solve real problems. By the end of this article, you’ll have:

• A checklist to evaluate your existing projects and identify gaps.
• A framework to structure project descriptions using the STAR method, tailored for a Designer.
• A list of project ideas that demonstrate key Designer skills like user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.
• A guide to quantifying your impact with metrics relevant to a Designer.
• A template for presenting your projects in a portfolio or during an interview.
• A plan to fill any skill gaps quickly.

This isn’t a general resume guide; it’s specifically designed to help Designer create a compelling portfolio of projects that highlight their skills and experience.

What You’ll Walk Away With

• A project evaluation checklist: Quickly assess the strength of your existing projects.
• STAR method template for Designers: Craft compelling project descriptions.
• Project idea generator: Spark inspiration for new projects to showcase your skills.
• Metrics cheat sheet: Quantify your impact using Designer-relevant KPIs.
• Portfolio presentation template: Structure your project presentations for maximum impact.
• Skill gap filler plan: Identify and address skill gaps with targeted projects.
• Script for describing your project: Exact lines you can use to show the value of your work.

The Mission of a Designer

A Designer exists to create user-centered solutions that meet business goals while managing constraints. This means understanding user needs, translating them into functional and visually appealing designs, and ensuring those designs are feasible and effective.

What a Hiring Manager Scans for in 15 Seconds

Hiring managers quickly scan for projects that demonstrate a Designer’s ability to solve problems, collaborate effectively, and deliver measurable results. They’re looking for evidence of your design process, your understanding of user needs, and your ability to create impactful solutions.

• Clear problem statement: Did you identify a real user need or business challenge?
• User-centered approach: Did you conduct user research and incorporate user feedback into your designs?
• Design process: Did you follow a structured design process (e.g., design thinking, user-centered design)?
• Collaboration: Did you work effectively with other team members (e.g., developers, product managers, stakeholders)?
• Impactful solutions: Did your designs achieve measurable results (e.g., increased user engagement, improved conversion rates)?
• Visual design skills: Are your designs visually appealing and consistent with brand guidelines?
• Technical skills: Are you proficient in the tools and technologies used by Designers?

The Project Evaluation Checklist

Use this checklist to evaluate your existing projects and identify areas for improvement. This will help you prioritize which projects to highlight on your resume and portfolio.

1. Problem Statement: Does the project clearly define the problem you were trying to solve? Why it matters: Shows your understanding of user needs and business goals.
2. User Research: Did you conduct user research to inform your design decisions? Why it matters: Demonstrates your user-centered approach.
3. Design Process: Did you follow a structured design process? Why it matters: Shows your ability to plan and execute design projects effectively.
4. Collaboration: Did you work effectively with other team members? Why it matters: Highlights your communication and teamwork skills.
5. Impact: Did your designs achieve measurable results? Why it matters: Proves your ability to create impactful solutions.
6. Visual Design: Are your designs visually appealing and consistent with brand guidelines? Why it matters: Showcases your aesthetic sensibilities and attention to detail.
7. Technical Skills: Do your projects demonstrate your proficiency in relevant design tools and technologies? Why it matters: Confirms your ability to use industry-standard tools.

STAR Method Template for Designers

Use the STAR method to structure your project descriptions and highlight your contributions. This will help you tell a compelling story and showcase your skills and experience.

Use this template to describe your work and the impact you made.

Situation: Briefly describe the project and its context. Example: “I was tasked with redesigning the user interface for a mobile app used by [Company] to improve user engagement.”

Task: Explain your role and responsibilities. Example: “My role was to conduct user research, create wireframes and prototypes, and design the final user interface.”

Action: Describe the specific actions you took to achieve your goals. Example: “I conducted user interviews to understand user needs and pain points, created wireframes to map out the user flow, and developed prototypes to test different design solutions.”

Result: Quantify the impact of your work. Example: “As a result of my redesign, user engagement increased by 20%, and user satisfaction scores improved by 15%.”

Project Idea Generator for Designers

Stuck for project ideas? Use these prompts to spark inspiration and showcase your skills. These ideas cover a range of Designer skills, from user research to visual design.

• Redesign a website or app: Identify a website or app with usability issues and redesign it to improve the user experience. Focus on: User research, wireframing, prototyping, visual design.
• Create a design system: Develop a comprehensive design system for a fictional brand. Focus on: Visual design, UI/UX principles, documentation.
• Design a mobile app: Create a mobile app that solves a specific problem or meets a specific need. Focus on: User research, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, mobile UI/UX principles.
• Develop a website for a local business: Offer your design skills to a local business and create a website that showcases their products or services. Focus on: User research, wireframing, visual design, web design principles.
• Design a landing page: Create a landing page for a specific product or service. Focus on: Visual design, copywriting, conversion optimization.

Metrics Cheat Sheet for Designers

Quantify the impact of your work by using metrics that are relevant to a Designer. This will help you demonstrate the value of your design skills and make a stronger case for your contributions.

• User engagement: Track metrics like time on site, bounce rate, and pages per session to measure how engaged users are with your designs.
• Conversion rates: Measure the percentage of users who complete a desired action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase.
• User satisfaction: Collect user feedback through surveys and usability testing to measure user satisfaction with your designs.
• Task completion rates: Measure the percentage of users who are able to successfully complete a specific task using your designs.
• Error rates: Track the number of errors users make while using your designs to identify areas for improvement.

Portfolio Presentation Template for Designers

Structure your portfolio presentations to showcase your projects in a clear and compelling way. This template will help you highlight your key skills and experience.

Use this template to structure your portfolio presentations.

1. Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and your background. Why it matters: Sets the stage for your presentation.
2. Project Overview: Provide a brief overview of the project, including its goals and context. Why it matters: Provides context for your work.
3. Problem Statement: Clearly define the problem you were trying to solve. Why it matters: Shows your understanding of user needs and business goals.
4. Design Process: Explain the design process you followed, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design. Why it matters: Demonstrates your ability to plan and execute design projects effectively.
5. Solutions: Showcase the solutions you developed, including wireframes, prototypes, and final designs. Why it matters: Highlights your creativity and problem-solving skills.
6. Impact: Quantify the impact of your work using relevant metrics. Why it matters: Proves your ability to create impactful solutions.
7. Conclusion: Summarize your key takeaways and thank the audience for their time. Why it matters: Reinforces your key messages.

Skill Gap Filler Plan for Designers

Identify and address any skill gaps by creating targeted projects that showcase those skills. This will help you demonstrate your ability to learn and adapt to new challenges.

1. Identify Skill Gaps: Assess your skills and identify any areas where you need improvement. Why it matters: Helps you focus your efforts on the most important areas.
2. Choose Projects: Select projects that will allow you to develop those skills. Why it matters: Provides a practical way to learn and improve.
3. Set Goals: Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for each project. Why it matters: Helps you stay focused and motivated.
4. Execute Projects: Work on the projects and track your progress. Why it matters: Provides hands-on experience and allows you to learn from your mistakes.
5. Showcase Projects: Add the projects to your portfolio and highlight them during interviews. Why it matters: Demonstrates your ability to learn and adapt to new challenges.

The Mistake That Quietly Kills Candidates

Listing projects without quantifying your impact is a common mistake that quietly kills Designer candidates. Hiring managers want to see evidence that your designs achieved measurable results. Without metrics, your projects will lack credibility and fail to impress.

Use this script to quantify your impact:

“In this project, I redesigned the user interface for [Company]’s mobile app, which resulted in a 20% increase in user engagement and a 15% improvement in user satisfaction scores.”

FAQ

What are the best projects to include in a Designer portfolio?

The best projects to include are those that demonstrate your key skills and experience, such as user research, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, and collaboration. Choose projects that showcase your ability to solve problems, create impactful solutions, and deliver measurable results. A strong portfolio will contain projects that demonstrate expertise in UX and UI. Think about projects that are not only visually appealing but also solve real user problems.

How many projects should I include in my Designer portfolio?

Aim for 3-5 projects that showcase your best work. Focus on quality over quantity. It’s better to have a few well-executed projects than a large number of mediocre ones. Each project should have a narrative that highlights your design process and impact. If you have more than 5 strong projects, you can include them, but make sure each one is compelling and relevant to the jobs you’re applying for.

How can I quantify the impact of my design projects?

Use metrics that are relevant to a Designer, such as user engagement, conversion rates, user satisfaction, task completion rates, and error rates. Collect data to measure the impact of your designs and use those metrics to tell a compelling story. If you don’t have access to real data, you can estimate the impact of your designs based on industry benchmarks or user feedback. For example, you can cite industry averages for conversion rates for similar projects.

What if I don’t have any real-world experience?

If you don’t have any real-world experience, you can create personal projects that showcase your skills. Redesign a website or app, create a design system, or develop a mobile app. These projects will allow you to demonstrate your abilities and build a portfolio that will impress hiring managers. Also, consider contributing to open-source projects or volunteering your design skills for non-profit organizations. These experiences can provide valuable real-world experience and portfolio pieces.

How can I improve my existing design projects?

Evaluate your existing projects using the project evaluation checklist. Identify areas for improvement and make changes to address those areas. Conduct user research, refine your design process, quantify your impact, and improve the visual design of your projects. Consider getting feedback from other Designers or mentors to identify areas for improvement. Be prepared to iterate on your designs based on feedback and data.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when presenting design projects?

Avoid listing projects without quantifying your impact, failing to clearly define the problem you were trying to solve, neglecting user research, and using generic project descriptions. Make sure your projects are visually appealing, well-documented, and showcase your unique skills and experience. Also, avoid using jargon or technical terms that the hiring manager may not understand. Focus on communicating the value of your work in a clear and concise way.

How important is visual design in a Designer portfolio?

Visual design is very important. A visually appealing portfolio demonstrates your aesthetic sensibilities and attention to detail. Make sure your projects are well-designed, consistent with brand guidelines, and showcase your unique style. Use high-quality images and videos to present your work. Pay attention to typography, color palettes, and layout. A well-designed portfolio can make a big difference in whether or not you get an interview. It’s often the first impression you make on a potential employer.

Should I include case studies in my Designer portfolio?

Including case studies is a great idea. Case studies provide a more in-depth look at your design process and allow you to showcase your problem-solving skills. A case study should include a clear problem statement, user research, design process, solutions, and impact. They are particularly useful for demonstrating how you approach complex design challenges and the results you achieved. They also allow you to showcase your ability to communicate your design decisions effectively.

How can I tailor my portfolio to specific job requirements?

Review the job description and identify the key skills and experience that the employer is looking for. Then, select projects from your portfolio that best demonstrate those skills and experience. Tailor your project descriptions to highlight the aspects of your work that are most relevant to the job. It’s also a good idea to include a cover letter that explains how your skills and experience align with the job requirements. Make sure to mention specific projects and accomplishments that demonstrate your suitability for the role.

What design tools should I showcase in my portfolio?

Showcase the tools that are commonly used in the industry. This includes tools for wireframing (e.g., Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD), prototyping (e.g., InVision, Marvel), visual design (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator), and user testing (e.g., UserTesting.com). Also, consider including tools for project management and collaboration (e.g., Jira, Trello). Focus on showcasing your proficiency in the tools that are most relevant to the jobs you’re applying for. Be prepared to discuss your experience with these tools during an interview.

What if my projects are confidential?

If your projects are confidential, you can redact sensitive information or create mockups that showcase your design process without revealing proprietary data. Get permission from your previous employer before including any confidential work in your portfolio. It’s also a good idea to include a disclaimer that explains the confidentiality of your work. Focus on highlighting your skills and experience without compromising the confidentiality of your previous projects. You can also create new projects that are similar to your confidential work but don’t contain any sensitive information.

How can I stand out from other Designer candidates?

Focus on showcasing your unique skills and experience. Highlight your contributions to each project and quantify the impact of your work. Create a visually appealing portfolio that is easy to navigate and showcases your personality. Also, consider including a personal statement that explains your design philosophy and career goals. Network with other Designers and attend industry events to learn about new trends and technologies. Continuously improve your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest design trends.

---

More Designer resources

Browse more posts and templates for Designer: Designer