Despite the push for mobile-first design, Shutterfly observes a clear behavioral divide. Customers use the mobile app for simple, quick products like prints and for uploading photos. However, they migrate to desktop for complex, time-intensive projects like photo books, demonstrating that different platforms serve distinct purposes in the customer journey.

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.

Instead of detailing every step of your design process, focus on showcasing the final work. Hiring managers often assume a process exists. Over-explaining it can introduce biases (e.g., you only show qualitative research) or provide reasons for disqualification. Let the work be the hero, not the process.

Lovable's Head of Design treats a portfolio not as a document but as a product. He looks for an immediate "gut reaction" based on fundamental design quality like typography and composition. A portfolio that fails this initial, milliseconds-long test is quickly discarded, regardless of the projects within.

Shift the mental model of a portfolio from a simple gallery of projects to an immersive experience. Designer Matt Sellers focused on making his homepage itself a demonstration of his craft and attention to detail, encouraging exploration even if visitors never click into a specific case study. The medium becomes the message.

A review widget that performs well on desktop by being large and comprehensive can be distracting and hurt conversions on mobile. On smaller screens, a more subtle, less intrusive social proof element is often more effective as it doesn't detract from the primary call-to-action.

To hire a founding designer, founders need a clear theory on how design will help the company beat its competition. This strategic framing is far more compelling than simply stating that design is important.

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.

Instead of showcasing a large volume of projects, radically cut down your portfolio to only the absolute best. Designer Matt Sellers cut over 87% of his work. This strategy ensures every piece raises the average quality, preventing weaker projects from creating negative signals for hiring managers.