If your execution skills are still developing, focus on demonstrating strong design taste. Find portfolios you admire and deconstruct them, asking why specific choices were made around spacing, color, and timing. This process builds your design intuition and signals to hiring managers that you have a high quality bar and are coachable.

A polished design system or public claims about valuing design are meaningless if the product itself is poorly executed. Candidates will always judge the company by the quality of its product, as you can't fake a good user experience.

Showcasing a side project in a design portfolio has shifted from a "nice-to-have" to "table stakes." In an era of rapid technological change, these projects are the most effective way to prove you can learn new tools, embrace new processes, and quickly execute on an idea outside of formal work constraints.

The most promising junior candidates are those who demonstrate self-learning by creating things they weren't asked to do, like a weekend app project. This signal of intrinsic motivation is more valuable than perfectly completed assignments.

Tommy Smith intentionally featured his side project over professional work to escape being typecast. This strategy allowed him to demonstrate the skills he wanted to use in his next role, proving that personal projects can be more powerful than client work for career progression.

Designer Matt Sellers intentionally omitted process details and impact metrics from his portfolio. He operated on the belief that if he couldn't immediately convey quality and care through the work itself, no amount of explanation could save it. The final visual output was the only thing he wanted to showcase.

Contrary to the 'mobile-first' mantra, focusing creative energy on a rich desktop experience is more effective for design portfolios. The target audience—hiring managers—is overwhelmingly likely to review candidates on a desktop. This allows for complex, hover-based interactions that better showcase craft without being constrained by mobile limitations.

Instead of generic copy, use references that resonate with a specific audience. Matt Sellers' line about '12,800% zoom' was crafted to connect with experienced designers who've spent time deep in design tools. This acts as a powerful signal that builds rapport and filters for the right cultural fit.

To get hired at a coveted company like Bending Spoons, don't just be polite and professional. Go the extra mile with a surprising or creative gesture, like bringing a bottle of liquor to an interview. This makes a memorable impression and shows personality beyond a polished CV.