I just lately accomplished the method of hiring for a Head of Design position at my present firm and was shocked after I couldn’t discover a lot high quality content material wherever (YouTube, Medium, even Google) on learn how to assess a designer’s portfolio, particularly a designer for a senior management place.
My guess is that’s as a result of whether or not you want somebody’s designs are comparatively extra subjective than whether or not you want a product supervisor’s method, however I nonetheless suppose there are lots of traits that we will systematically determine when searching for a robust designer.
There are, in any case, clear design greatest practices round what’s “good” and “dangerous” design, so let’s use that toolbox to our benefit.
Earlier than we get into my portfolio standards, right here’s some transient context on our firm and what’s essential to us so you may see the way you may customise your personal hiring standards.
Since my present firm is in very early levels (pre-product market match), I personally look over every designer’s portfolio earlier than I or others on my workforce interview them.
I do have recruiters and HR people who vet profiles earlier than they ever get to me, however given how essential this position is to our mission and success, I ensure that I’ve given a portfolio the thumbs up earlier than I ask myself, my teammates or our founder to spend time with them.
Talent-level-wise, we’re searching for somebody who can fulfill the position of head of design. They’ve a robust command of UX and visible design, can run person interviews, assist us uncover what to construct, and create designs when necessities are nonetheless in movement.
The workforce is small and very gifted, so every of us wants to have the ability to effortlessly stream on the tempo others may think about sprinting (whereas juggling massive quantities of uncertainty).
We’re a non-profit, however design and technology-wise we function extra with a B2C mindset as a result of our founder comes from the B2C world (he created Shopzilla, which he later bought to develop into TikTok).
Our product can be consumer-facing (donors and recipients). Which means that we now have a particularly excessive visible design and UX bar when taking a look at portfolios, so I index closely on portfolios.
Once I obtain somebody’s file, I first have a look at their portfolio to know their high quality of labor, then their resume, and at last their quick solutions to the questions on the appliance type earlier than assembly them for an interview.
No want to take a look at their resume or functions solutions — irrespective of how spectacular—if their portfolio exhibits that they don’t have the kind of design abilities and aesthetic that we’re searching for.
If you happen to work at a B2B firm and that you must rent a designer to work on an inside instrument, your course of in all probability doesn’t index as extremely on portfolio design.
1. Lovely and intuitive visible and UX design.
The very first thing I take note of after I land on somebody’s website is the primary impression I’ve of them. I can normally instantly inform if they’ve an eye fixed for B2C design that matches what I’m searching for.
That is fairly intuitive, which is okay. I depend on each subjective (my intestine) and goal measures of design to attempt to get to one of the best reply.
Since I would like this text to be tactically helpful for you, listed here are some snippets of fine portfolios I’ve seen.
Instance 1.
Instance 2.
On this step, I’m simply seeing if the positioning seems to be good, is straightforward to make use of, and customarily a very good expertise.
Does it assist me get to know this particular person, or does it depart me feeling annoyed as a result of I’m misplaced within the navigation or it took me someplace I wasn’t anticipating to go? Are there buttons that appear to be buttons however truly aren’t?
2. Frames the issue nicely
Behind each good design, reply, resolution, or studying is an effective query.
Asking the best questions doesn’t at all times provide the proper reply, however asking the mistaken query will virtually positively get you the mistaken reply.
So — as soon as I get a really feel for the general design model and usefulness of the web site, I leap straight into the case research.
I look very intently at how they framed their downside assertion or what downside they have been charged with fixing.
I used to be shocked at what number of portfolios jumped straight into their reply of how they solved it with out taking a second to precise what they have been making an attempt to unravel.
Once I’m flipping by way of portfolios, I don’t at all times have the total context of whether or not a query was 100% the best query to ask (I wasn’t there), however it ought to convey why the issue or query is essential to their product and mission.
I ought to have the ability to perceive it instantly, and it must be compelling.
3. Brings experience & inspiration.
Did they spend 6 months tweaking a sub-feature that was in all probability spec’ed out to loss of life, or did they work out learn how to clear up a greenfield downside in a really eloquent and sensible manner?
Given the place we’re as an organization, it’s essential {that a} designer has 0 to 1 expertise.
And never solely am I searching for somebody who’s constructed one thing out of nothing, I’m additionally searching for somebody who conjures up me.
As soon as I framed who I used to be searching for on this manner (“do you encourage me?”), it was a lot simpler to type by way of the portfolios and resumes.
I began asking myself different questions, like “will I study extra and develop into a greater product particular person working with you?”
4. Solutions the case examine downside with simply the correct quantity of element.
That is the place I’m searching for the influence this particular person had.
I’m searching for succinct however holistic. Present your math, however don’t drag me by way of the glass.
I discovered that a number of junior designers are inclined to go a bit overboard right here. There have been a number of portfolios that confirmed each step of their design course of, which can be good, however normally a very good summarization may even get the purpose throughout.
Sifting by way of the “reply” piece of the portfolio is the place I attempt to perceive their course of.
It’s principally the place the place a designer is answering the query, “How did you determine what to construct/design?”
In fact, everybody is aware of to dutifully responds to the query with “person testing” so I search for a number of layers of depth on prime of that.
Person testing is nice for studying and testing your assumptions, however typically occasions it doesn’t provide you with a transparent reply and as an alternative provides you extra questions.
Plus, everyone knows now that you just don’t go to your prospects and ask them “what would you want me to construct?” so the issue fixing logic actually can’t cease at person testing.
There are a selection of extra layers to reply the query, “how did you determine what to construct,” together with hypotheses testing, riskiest assumption testing, and steady discovery.
Lastly, the cherry on prime is when designers quantify or present the influence that their resolution and designs had because of their course of. That is uncommon and I do know it may be exhausting to do, however it additionally units you aside from the remaining while you do that.
For a job the place unbelievable talent in B2C visible and UX design are paramount, we index closely on portfolios.
Right here’s what I search for:
1. Lovely and intuitive visible and UX design.
2. Frames the issue nicely.
3. Brings experience & inspiration.
4. Solutions the issue with simply the correct quantity of element.
Designers are extremely highly effective — they’re those who make concepts come to stay. For a species that closely will depend on sight and visualization, design is a superpower.
I hope this was helpful to you in your journey to seek out your designer.
You probably have any questions or recommendations on how I can enhance my search standards, submit it within the feedback! I’m at all times curious to study extra from the bigger group.
