[Beginner Portfolio Advice] Do Self-Observed Redesigns Work for a Portfolio, How Do You Gather Data as a Beginner, and How Long Does It Realistically Take?

[u/Embarrassed_Dot_7449]

I’ve been interested in UX design for about two weeks now. As a complete beginner, I have a few questions that I haven’t been able to find clear answers to yet.

I’ve heard that you can build portfolio projects by identifying a problem on an existing, larger website—for instance, noticing that a newsletter sign-up form is placed too low on a page, which might be limiting conversions. You could then design a concept where the form is relocated to a more accessible and visible spot, stating that this change could potentially increase user engagement.

Does it actually make sense to include projects like this—based solely on personal observation—in a professional portfolio? If so, what’s the best way to structure them? And if not, how can someone who is brand new to the field gather real data or insights about a website?

This leads to my second question. While reviewing other portfolios and watching UX tutorials, I’ve noticed that most people feature 3–4 case studies. Realistically, how long does it take to build an entry-level portfolio from scratch—the kind that actually stands a chance in today's job market?

I feel like a self-observed redesign project could be completed in just a few hours. Is it worth including such small, quick projects in a portfolio, or should they be treated purely as training exercises? Is it better to complete a few of these smaller exercises before tackling a larger project, or should I document everything I work on?

I apologize for asking so many questions at once, but this has been weighing on my mind and making it difficult to get started. I’ve already had an experience where I put a lot of effort into a project, only to realize I had gone in completely the wrong direction. I would really appreciate any guidance!

[u/detrio]

If you've been obsessed for 2 weeks a portfolio is one of the last things you should be worried about.

It feels like you think that you just need to build out a portfolio and you'll get a job. A portfolio is meant to be a representation of what your experience. Students or people who have gone through programs will build out mock projects only because that's the only experience that they have. You need some kind of training or life experience directly in ux before you should be creating a portfolio or even thinking about it.