How to Build a UX Portfolio — Without Clients

It can seem like a Catch-22 to get your first UX job when you’ve never had a UX job before. Whether you want to apply for UX jobs or start a freelance career, potential clients and hiring managers will want to see your work. And that’s why it’s essential to have a well-crafted portfolio where you showcase your skills, process, and business impact.

Now, this can be challenging if you have never actually worked on a professional UX project before.

So, what are some ways you can add work to your portfolio to showcase your process and also your ability to adapt to business needs and constraints?

Potential projects can fit into two main buckets:

1. Fictional work. The goal of this type of project is to give you the opportunity to showcase your process step by step and how you’d approach a challenge under ideal circumstances. It also allows you creative freedom and the chance to display your personal style.
2. Real client work. The goal here is obvious. The purpose is to showcase your ability to work within business constraints and adapt to a real client’s needs. How did you solve the problem, and what was the impact you had on the business?

Fictional work