Most UX portfolios fail not because they lack good content — but because they’re designed only for the designer, not the recruiter.

Think about it. When someone opens your portfolio from your LinkedIn — they don’t have 10 minutes. They have 20 seconds. In that moment, they’re not trying to read every case study. They’re just scanning. They want to know: “Are you worth shortlisting?” And that decision often happens before they read a single paragraph.

But that’s only one side of the story.

Because once you’re in an interview — visuals and vibes alone won’t help. Now they’ll dig into your thinking. They want the decisions, the trade-offs, the depth. And if your portfolio doesn’t hold up under that kind of scrutiny… it won’t matter how good the first impression was.

So don’t design only for the glance. Design for the deep dive too. Your portfolio needs to do both.

Most students try to fit everything into their case study — every research insight, every note, every detail from the journey. But more is not always better. Just like no one explains a car by listing out 200 features, your portfolio doesn’t need to explain every single move you made.

People decide based on what they remember. And they remember clarity. If you can explain three to five important decisions clearly, that already tells me how you think. If someone wants to know more, they’ll ask. That’s when you show the rest. Keep the depth ready, but don’t lead with it.

The goal is not to impress by showing everything. The goal is to help someone understand how you think. That happens through choices, not checklists.

Here’s what no one tells you about hiring.

You’re not hired for your past.

You’re hired for your potential.

Experience just helps people guess what you might be capable of.

But companies will do absolutely nothing with your previous work after you’re hired.

What matters is what you can do from now.

Even someone with 0 years of experience can get serious interest because they showed how they think, adapt, and respond to problems.

And even someone with 5 years of experience can get rejected because the potential didn’t show.

This is why your portfolio is not just a set of screens.

It’s a mirror of your mindset.

How you approached a problem.

What you prioritised.

How you responded to feedback.

What trade-offs you chose to make.

That’s what tells someone, “This person gets it.”

So don’t waste time seeing if you tick all the checkboxes.

Focus on showing that you’re ready to contribute, starting today.

“Using patterns doesn’t make you less creative.”

If anything, it shows maturity. Many beginners think creativity means breaking the rules — changing a checkbox into a switch, or turning a single-select into a swipe. But creativity isn’t about tweaking what already works. It’s about knowing where to push boundaries, and where to stay consistent.

The real space for creativity lies in the macro.

You can reinvent the flow, the emotion, the use case, even the entire experience. But at the micro level — the way users select, scroll, or tap — don’t confuse disruption with innovation. These behaviors are deeply learned. When you change them casually, users get lost… and you lose trust.

Want to be creative? Master the boring stuff first.

Respect the patterns. Understand what they solve. Then use your energy to design bold features, unique narratives, or delightful systems — while keeping interactions intuitive. That’s how experienced designers innovate: not by rejecting patterns, but by building something new on top of them.

If you’re trying to do one FinTech project, one EdTech, one SaaS, and one HealthTech just to “cover all domains” in your portfolio — pause. That’s not how hiring works.

What recruiters and teams actually look for is your thinking process.

Can you take a business goal, talk to stakeholders, understand user pain points, and turn all of that into a meaningful experience? That skill applies everywhere — regardless of the industry.

Instead of chasing variety for the sake of it, go deep on a few strong projects.

Make sure they reflect how you think, how you solve, and how you connect your design to outcomes. That’s what makes you stand out — not just the domain label on the project.

“Why doesn’t my company value design?”
Wrong question. The right one is: What have I done to show how design can impact the business?

Most people get it wrong. They think companies are supposed to value them first. But here’s the uncomfortable truth — nobody gets valued by default. Not designers. Not developers. Not anyone.
Value doesn’t come with your role. It comes from the impact you create.

So if you ever feel like your work isn't respected — don’t wait for permission. Show them what you can do. Ask yourself: “What have I done to make them see the power of design?” Because the world doesn’t reward you for what you know. It rewards you for what you prove.

And no — big companies aren’t special. They just have more people who’ve learned to speak the language of business. If you learn to listen, understand the experiment behind the chaos, and use design to reduce the risk of that gamble — you’ll always be valued. Not because of your title. But because you helped the team win.

I often use this analogy when talking to my students about building design Systems for their dummy projects : Stop trying to build a five-star kitchen when all you want to make is Maggi.A lot of designers struggle with naming styles or building systems because we think there’s an “ideal” way out there — like Material Design — that we must strictly follow. But truth is, systems aren’t handed down like textbooks. They’re built project by project, file by file, one messy screen at a time. When you're creating something small, don’t copy-paste frameworks built for massive teams and global products. You’re just making Maggie — you don’t need a Michelin-star kitchen for that.Start with whatever is in front of you. Name things based on what makes sense to you. Black-1. Brown-1. Done. Over time, your system will grow, and so will your clarity. Then, when you’re in someone else’s design file — or a bigger org with a design system — you’ll not only survive, you’ll know why it’s built that way. You’ll respect the kitchen because you’ve built your own. That’s how system thinking evolves — not by memorizing rules, but by cooking through the chaos.So next time you're stuck figuring out the "right" way to name a text style… just name it. Get your hands dirty. The real clarity comes after the mess.

A common question I get from beginner designers: “Should I make separate designs for iOS and Android?” “Am I following the right system?” But here's something nobody says loud enough — your value doesn’t come from knowing all the rules. Most of the greatest ideas didn’t come from perfectly following the rulebook — they came from someone questioning if the rule even mattered in the first place.

When you’re starting out, you’re not here to hand off pixel-perfect developer files. You’re here to shape the North Star — the most ideal version of the product, unconstrained by budget, timelines, or tech. That’s not naive. That’s where design begins. Let the systems catch up later. Let the developers bring you back to earth. Your role is to first dream beyond the current limitations.

So don’t stress about memorizing every HIG or Material spec in the beginning. Yes, learn them over time. Yes, observe how iOS and Android behave differently.

Stop second-guessing your process. You're not behind just because you don’t know the "handoff-ready" version. Your ability to dream without limits is not a flaw — it’s your superpower. And when the time comes to work within constraints, you'll already know what you're fighting for — because you’ve seen the future first.

One of the biggest mindset shifts in design happens when you stop thinking, “What’s the right way to organize styles?” and start asking, “What’s my way, and will it scale if someone else steps in?”

Text styles, color tokens, icon grids — they aren’t about rules. They’re about clarity, repeatability, and ease of collaboration. But just like a kitchen, not every space needs to be labeled and shelf-ready. If you’re cooking a quick meal on a holiday, organize just enough. But if you’re running a long-term kitchen with multiple people? You’ll wish you labeled those jars.

So define what you need now. Call it “Name Color” or “Accent Text” or “Inverse Text” — don’t wait to find the perfect system. Systems get better through usage, not by overthinking from Day 1. You can always clean it up later. That’s the beauty of design tools like Figma — and honestly, the beauty of design thinking itself.

Stop thinking of interviews as exams. They're not. One of the most powerful things you can do in an interview is say: “I don’t know.”Not because you’re clueless, but because you're self-aware. Because you’re honest. Because you're someone who knows when to pause, ask, and learn.Most interviews are not tests of how much you know. They’re tests of how you handle uncertainty. That’s the real game. Will you try to bluff your way through a topic you barely understand? Or will you accept it, ask for context, and show curiosity? Trust me — that curiosity often leads to “Oh wait, I have worked on something like this, I just didn’t know it was called that.” Happens all the time.The ones who grow fast in this industry aren’t the ones who know everything — they’re the ones who don’t freeze when they don’t. The ones who admit gaps, ask questions, stay grounded, and show their hunger to learn. That’s what gets remembered. That’s what gets hired.

Most people think learning is about having a linear structure, about following a textbook, checking off every concept, and mastering it all before they feel "ready." But that’s not how real learning—or real growth—happens. The truth? Learning is messy. It’s random. It happens in fragments, in moments of curiosity, in experiences that force you to think differently.

The problem isn’t time. The problem is the mental model we have about how learning should happen. You don’t need to complete everything to be valuable. You don’t need to master every UX term before you’re hireable. You need to engage, think, and connect the dots as you go. The industry doesn’t reward people who “know everything.” It values those who know how to think and adapt.

So drop the perfectionism. Let go of the backlog in your head. Absorb what you can, when you can, and trust that your brain will make sense of it over time. Learning isn’t a linear process. It’s a lifelong practice.

The best designs don’t just function well. They feel right. They don’t force users to think—they guide them effortlessly. The difference? - Intention. When a product understands the user’s journey before they even take the first step, that’s when design becomes invisible. That’s when it works.I recently saw a project that didn’t just add features—it completed the experience. Every click had purpose. Every decision was thought through. Not just screens and buttons, but the flow of thought itself. That’s the real job of a UX designer—not just to create, but to anticipate.So here’s the real question: Are you just designing? Or are you creating something that people instinctively trust? Because when UX is done right, users don’t just navigate it—they live it.

The difference between those who succeed and those who stay stuck isn’t talent. It’s not intelligence. It’s action. Most people wait—waiting for the perfect plan, the perfect moment, the perfect level of confidence. But the ones who move forward? They start with what they know. They put something down, take the first step, and figure things out along the way. Because progress isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about moving, refining, and adapting as you go.

The truth is, you’ll never feel fully ready. If you wait until you have the perfect idea, the perfect strategy, or the perfect conditions, you’ll be left behind. The most successful people don’t have more time than you. They don’t have fewer obstacles. What they have is a mindset—start now, improve later. You don’t need weeks to make an impact. You don’t need every answer before you take action. You just need to start.

So here’s the real question: If your opportunity got taken away tomorrow, would you have something to show? Would you have proof that you made the most of the time you had? Or would you still be waiting to begin? The world doesn’t reward ideas that never leave your head. It rewards action. So stop waiting. Start now.

Ever wondered why some designs just click while others feel off? It’s not just about colors, layouts, or typography. It’s about how effortlessly everything comes together—how it feels to the user. The difference between good and great design isn’t in flashy visuals but in the thought behind every tiny decision.

Designers often obsess over colors, but let’s be real — Choosing a color isn’t about personal preference—it’s about making things clear, intuitive, and seamless. It’s about contrast that doesn’t strain the eyes, harmony that makes the interface effortless, and decisions that don’t make the user think. The best designs don’t scream for attention. They just work.

But here’s the real challenge: knowing when to stop. A designer’s job isn’t just to refine—it’s to decide. There is no perfect answer, only the best decision for the time you have. And that’s what separates a designer from someone who just moves pixels around.

Your Time Isn’t Measured in Hours—It’s Measured in Impact.

Success isn’t about how much you know—it’s about how well you use what you know. In any workplace, your real value isn’t in being the most skilled or the most knowledgeable—it’s in being reliable, efficient, and intentional. People don’t work well with those who are unpredictable, inconsistent, or always overwhelmed. The ones who stand out are those who bring clarity, who make decisions with confidence, and who know how to focus on what truly matters.

You don’t become valuable by trying to do everything. You become valuable by knowing what to prioritize and what to let go. No one expects you to have unlimited time—but they do expect you to use your time wisely. If you get two days, make those two days count. If you get a week, show what’s possible in that time. No excuses, no panic—just deliberate action. The difference between those who struggle and those who thrive isn’t about having more time—it’s about knowing what to do with the time they have.

Great work isn’t about how long you spent on it. It’s about how well you chose to spend your time. The faster you learn to prioritize, the faster you grow. Because at the end of the day, businesses don’t reward effort—they reward impact.

A common mistake in UX design is getting caught up in features without respecting how people naturally think. The best experiences aren’t the ones packed with features—they’re the ones that just make sense. No one should have to pause and figure out how something works. Whether it’s planning a trip, booking a stay, or choosing an experience, the feeling should be effortless. When a product aligns with how people naturally think, it disappears into the background. But the moment a user has to stop and decode what’s happening, friction takes over. And friction is where trust is lost.

Design isn’t just about what’s on the screen—it’s about how it guides decisions. If something is meant to be changed, the option should exist where that decision happens, not in a place that forces users to backtrack. If time and place are important, they should be clear at a glance. The more people have to think about how to use something, the less they will actually use it.

Simplicity isn’t about removing things—it’s about organizing them so well that nothing feels complex. The best designs don’t just work; they feel obvious, intuitive, almost invisible. Because when something just flows, when every choice feels natural, that’s when people stay. That’s when they trust. That’s when a product becomes an experience.

This video emphasizes the significance of visual design in creating a positive user experience. It argues that high-quality visual design cannot be achieved quickly and requires careful attention to detail. The script also addresses misconceptions about UX designers, rejecting the idea that they should not be involved in visual or UI design. It stresses that while utilitarian design fulfils basic needs, excellent visual design fosters positive emotions and provides a superior user experience. This, in turn, leads to higher user engagement, trust, conversion, and retention. Therefore, visual design is portrayed as an indispensable aspect of UX.

You can't force your brain to suddenly generate amazing UX Design ideas! It doesn't work like that.

Listen to me: One of the most challenging things when you start practicing UX design is running out of ideas. That's where the difference between mature and novice designers lies—the ability to ideate effectively.

Many are stuck not having good ideas because they don't consume enough. Your brain needs input to generate output.

Think of it like generative AI; it needs training and a wealth of information to produce good results. Recently, at IIT Guwahati, I spoke about this. We're all struggling for great ideas, but what we're not doing is feeding our brains with the right inputs. Consuming diverse designs, both digital and physical, enriches our creative reservoirs.

Every product you see and every experience you have informs your design skills. By turning your daily life into a learning experience, you maximize your design potential. This approach might sound far-fetched, but it proves invaluable when that random inspiration—like the design of a water bottle—sparks a breakthrough in your work.

This constant learning and observation differentiate great designers from those who struggle.

How often do we realize the actual meaning of terms before we use them?

We throw around words like DP, 720p, 1080p, or drop shadows without thinking twice. But every term carries a deeper logic, a purpose beyond just numbers on a screen. DP (density-independent pixels) isn’t just a unit—it’s a way to ensure designs feel the same across devices, no matter the screen size or resolution. A button on one phone should never feel smaller or bigger on another—it should just be. Design isn’t about placing elements; it’s about creating consistency, clarity, and a seamless experience that feels right, no matter where it’s seen.

The same applies to shadows. They aren’t just decorations; they give meaning. A soft shadow can make a button feel approachable, while a deeper one makes it stand out with intent. In Material Design, elevation isn’t just about looks—it’s about perception. A raised button isn’t just higher, it’s more important. Every element we design has a purpose, whether we realize it or not. The magic of design lies in understanding the invisible rules shaping what people feel—because great design isn’t just seen, it’s felt.

Most designers stop at “good enough,” but the real magic happens when you push beyond that. If you had a week to work on something, you’ll get it to a certain level—but if you had more time, how would you make it visually better? That’s the mindset shift that separates a beginner from an experienced designer. The difference isn’t in making huge changes, but in refining details—adjusting spacing, aligning text properly, ensuring hierarchy is clear, and making sure elements feel like they belong together. Small tweaks, when done right, can take a design from floating on a screen to feeling intentional and professional.

One of the simplest ways to improve your designs is by using Gestalt principles. If things feel disconnected, look at proximity, common region, and continuity. If text feels weak, check its contrast and hierarchy. If a button looks off, maybe it’s about padding instead of just adding a drop shadow. Often, the best solutions are the simplest ones. Material Design, iOS guidelines, and established systems already have these best practices in place—you just need to be intentional about applying them.

The goal isn’t to make every design a masterpiece in one go. If you have 30 minutes, refine what you can. If you have a full day, push it further. Great design is an iterative process. Every time you step back, critique, and refine, you’re not just improving that one design—you’re sharpening your eye and building the skills that set you apart as a designer.