Join over 30,000 designers! Learn to advocate for your ideas, influence your team–and step up your product design career with Femke ✨
🧑💻 Is it time to update your portfolio?
| I'm Femke – a senior product designer helping designers level up their design careers. |
Hey Reader,
We’re now deep into Fall here in Canada, and I've been having followers message me saying they’ve been feeling the itch to revisit and refresh their portfolio—maybe you're feeling the same? A design portfolio isn't just about showcasing work: it's your story, your journey, and the tangible reflection of your design thinking.
I wanted to share a few of my videos that may resonate with you, offering a personal walkthrough of what was successful in my design portfolios and insights on nailing those high-stakes portfolio presentations.
📽 The Uber Journey: My Portfolio Chronicles
An inside look into the projects and thought processes that captured Uber's attention.
📌 Pro tip: jump to 5:58 to see the "Parent Interviews" one of my very first UX Design projects.
📽 Wealthsimple: Crafting A Story Through Portfolio
Learn how a clear narrative can elevate your portfolio, making all the difference during the hiring journey.
📌 Pro tip: The "Third case study" at 10:45? My favourite part of the video.
📽 Taking The Leap: Portfolio For A Design Manager Role
Transitioning roles? Explore how I curated and presented my work when I was eager to step into a manager role for the first time.
📌 Pro tip: Check out 7:33 to see how I framed my "Influence as a coach".
📽 Nailing That Portfolio Presentation
The art of the presentation is often as crucial as the work itself. Dive into a structured approach to make a lasting impression, and hey, there's a free Figma template in there for you!
📌 Pro tip: The breakdown at 3:40 is a game-changer.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea!) and give these a watch. Let me know what you think, and you can download my template for presenting portfolio projects in a design interview here.
- Femke
🔊 Article: "How I Became a Senior UX Content Designer"
Recently, I came across an article by Ashley Zelaya, a senior UX Content Designer at Indeed. She’s collected a few memorable lessons that paved the way towards her senior role. Don’t worry - there’s no spreadsheet talk here! Just pure insights.
| Read now |
🌟 Expert knowledge in your back pocket
👇 How do you sell a design that is hard to share?
Navigating the intricacies of design can be a challenge, especially when its value seems elusive. How do you pitch a design that doesn't fit into neat measurement boxes? 👀 Watch now.
💎 Gems of the week
|
🙌 a great read from Elizabeth Godspeed!
|
🤩 Love these kinds of tweets (x's ?), thank you!
Trying out this new feature on my newsletter where I recommend other creators - check out Dan Mall Teaches!
Have a topic you'd like us to chat about? Reply to this email and let me know!
Level up your product design career!
Join over 30,000 designers! Learn to advocate for your ideas, influence your team–and step up your product design career with Femke ✨
I'm Femke – a senior product designer helping designers level up their design careers. Hey Reader, This past January, I gave a talk at the 10x Conference which set the stage for a gathering like no other - a beacon for designers eager to broaden their horizons, refine their craft, and connect with the creators of the design community. I aimed to share a transformative experience with my talk, The Influential Product Designer. Where I distilled years of navigating the complex web of product...
I'm Femke – a senior product designer helping designers level up their design careers. Hey Reader, This week, I want to touch on design systems and how they bridge the gap between design and development, but achieving seamless collaboration in this arena is a challenge many teams face. The key? It's not just about perfecting the system; it's about perfecting the process of collaboration and communication. In this video, Molly Hellmuth mentions how finding the perfect rhythm in collaborating...
I'm Femke – a senior product designer helping designers level up their design careers. Hey Reader, In a world where design trends shift quicker than a click, staying relevant isn't just about keeping up—it's about leading the charge. This week, I’m sharing my top resources to future-proofing your design skills. Explore insightful podcasts for a deep dive into innovative design approaches, and empower your skill set with courses. Keep reading to uncover skills and strategies that will elevate...