What should you include in your ID portfolio?
In the dynamic world of industrial design, it's crucial to align your portfolio with the cultural values of the potential company. While it's encouraged to incorporate your unique style, respecting the company's culture is equally important. For example, when applying to a more conservative firm, it's advisable to present your work in a way that avoids anything potentially shocking or offensive. On the other hand, if the company values versatility and creativity, showcasing your boundary-pushing ideas can be appreciated.
This carefully crafted space is your chance to impress the hiring manager and stand out from other candidates. Tailor the content of your portfolio based on factors such as your level of experience, the country where you're applying, and, of course, your personal preferences. Regardless of your approach, the key to a standout portfolio lies in showcasing the intricacies of your thought process.
Understanding the Problem:
To excel in crafting your industrial design portfolio, highlight your process. Begin by clearly defining the problem you aim to address. Explain how you explored the topic, detail the questions you considered, and emphasize the core issue. This clarity gives the hiring manager a strong understanding of the foundation of your design.
Collaborative Process:
Emphasize the collaborative nature of industrial design, highlighting the teamwork essential in ID projects. Clearly outline the team size, describe individual responsibilities, and spotlight your leadership role. Communicate your proficiency in various tools, both technical and conceptual. Specify the software you are skilled in and explain the exercises that stimulated your creative thinking.
Discovery Phases:
Transitioning into the discovery phases, clarify your approach to the problem. Share your questions and demonstrate your understanding of the problem's context. Illuminate the user's perspective, articulate the motivations behind your design, and outline the desired outcomes.
Ideation and Decision-making Process:
An often underestimated yet vital step involves explaining the process used to address the problem. Showcase low-fidelity mock-ups, prototypes, sketches, personas, user journeys, research, mood boards, and style guides. This platform allows you to display your design preferences and unveil the progression of your ideas. Hiring managers are interested in more than visually appealing screens; they want to observe the depth of your ideation and how you navigated the decision-making process.
Final Outcome and Project Alignment:
Finally, reveal the result. Prioritize projects closely aligned with the goals of the company you are applying to, highlighting your strengths and passion in areas that align with the organization's objectives. Avoid including projects that don't align with your future career goals. Concentrate on showcasing your capabilities and enthusiasm that align with your desired path within the prospective organization.
Additionally, I would like to include a recommended case structure for those seeking a general overview below. This structure can be adjusted based on the specific case study for ID projects or UX-UI projects. I have outlined the overall steps along with what should be included and demonstrated in each phase.
If you're seeking personalized guidance for your professional journey, explore personalized professional guidance at Co-Hub, where I'm a Co-founder. We champion social consciousness and diverse perspectives, fostering continuous growth through workshops, initiatives, trend reports, and engaging events. So don’t forget to check it out!
Thank you for reading!
Sila