If you’ve been a subscriber to my Substack for a while you’ll see that I love to bang on about the importance of having not just one, but two portfolios.

You’ve heard the whole spiel on why having two portfolios is the golden ticket to landing interviews. But you’re probably wondering, “What should my very first portfolio even look like?” Good news! Today’s your day. I’m handing you a Figma template to kick things off. But before we dive in, let’s break down the structure of my portfolio and why I’ve chosen to organise it this way.

Slide 1: The cover page

This may seem obvious but, the first slide is the first thing people are going to see when they crack open your PDF or presentation. No need to go all out — just your name, what you’d call this file (I like to call it ‘Portfolio Preview’), and the date will do.

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I’ve made the decision to step away from Medium, however nearly 300 of you who are following me on medium and I’d hate for you to miss out. So please take the time and come join me on Substack where you’ll get a email each Tuesday with awesome content that provides guidance and support, tailored to both aspiring and established designers.

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Liz

When I first joined Medium in 2018, it was a new chapter in my journey through various platforms — from Wordpress for in-depth blogging, to Tumblr for quick thoughts, and Twitter for timely updates. Now, I’m turning a new page, and it’s important to share why I’m bidding farewell to Medium.

The Shifting Sands of Medium

Over the years, I’ve noticed a significant shift in Medium’s environment. The writing, editing, and posting process became increasingly challenging, particularly with the emphasis on paywalled content. This change, subtly pushing creators towards a monetisation model, seemed to impact my engagement levels. While it’s not always clear if such changes directly cause a drop in engagement, it’s worth pondering whether creators are inadvertently penalised for not aligning with the platform’s growth strategies.

Writing to Inspire, Not Just to Earn

My core motivation in writing has always been to inspire and help others. Through the wisdom and knowledge I’ve gained from various writers and creators, I’ve always aimed to pay it forward. This is where Medium’s focus on paywalled content started to diverge from my vision. I write to make a difference, not solely for monetary gain.

Why Substack Feels Like Home

And this leads me to Substack. What a breath of fresh air! Here, there’s a real sense of community over competition. Writers collaborate, supporting one another to reach wider audiences and hone their craft. Unlike Medium’s often repetitive and trend-driven content, Substack thrives on genuine connections and heartfelt writing.

Join Me on a New Adventure at Substack

With these thoughts, I warmly invite all 282 of my Medium followers to join me on Substack. I’ve already kickstarted my Substack journey with a fair few posts I’ve not shared here, but particularly my first every post that contains free Figma portfolio template — a hit with over 487 users! It’s my most successful piece to date, and I’d love for you to check it out and share your feedback.

As we move into the new year, I’m eager to enrich my Substack offerings with more valuable resources and guides. Whether you decide to subscribe or just drop by, I cherish the thought of our paths crossing again.

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As we’re speeding towards the end of 2023, I’ve started to remember those lofty New Year’s resolutions, like reading a ton of books? This year, I aimed for 23 but hit a wall until a 12-week productivity hack reignited my reading habit.

The books I focused on reading revolved around work-life balance and the power of rest. These books led me to a recurring thought: “Why don’t I write anymore?” Back in university, I was an avid blogger. My transition to the working world saw me move to Medium for more polished articles. But then I stopped, particularly when the pandemic hit. With our lives in chaos, writing about Design seemed insignificant. But was there more to it?

The Commute Connection

After thinking it through, I realised my writing hiatus correlated with working from home.

Before the pandemic, I’d been commuting for almost a decade. My days included a good amount of walking and 40 minutes on a train — time I now see as fertile ground for ideas and motivation to write.

For years, I saw commuting as a time sink, something that stole moments from my personal life.

However, that ‘stolen’ time was actually a gift.

Commuting gave me the boredom and space to think. In this always-connected era, tweets and TikToks easily fill the gaps. I used to capture thoughts in a notes app during my commute, providing a springboard for later writing.

My mind isn’t wandering anymore because the digital world has filled that space.

The Solution to Lost Thinking Time

So, how do you replace that lost thinking time?

I’ve started to simulate a commute by walking each morning. I don’t force myself to write, but I typically that ‘boredom’ space seems to reignite my desire to do so.

I’ve also found starting my morning off with “Morning Pages” has helped me mull over thoughts and feelings about my work, career and the state of design, which end up becoming a fertile field of potential blog posts and articles.

What I’ve learned is that idle moments, like those during a commute, can be goldmines for creativity. While remote work offers benefits, the absence of these transitional moments might be stifling our innovative sparks. Keep that in mind the next time you wish away your commute, as you might be wishing away more than just time.

Do you miss your commute? How have you recreated thinking time? Let me know!

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Originally published at https://lizhamburger.substack.com.

Caught in the decision-making dilemma of your next career move? Can’t decide between an agency gig or an in-house role? Having seen both sides (typically I’m an agency designer but recently have done a 9-month startup role) here are my learnings from both.

The Pace: Same Beat, Different Rhythm

Regardless of your choice, be prepared for a quick tempo — but the melody varies.

In an agency, clients often pour significant funding into a project, expecting a team to deliver rapidly. In-house, particularly in a startup, speed is crucial to outpace competitors and satisfy investors. However, agencies offer natural breaks between projects and a changing roster of clients, providing a touch of variety.

Question your own work rhythm: Are you someone who needs a new challenge every six months? Perhaps contracting or agency work might be more appealing to you.

Versatility: Juggling Hats or Specialising

How many roles are you ready to play? Your environment will probably decide for you.

In a startup, you’ll shift from UX design today to investor presentations tomorrow. Particularly in early-stage startups, you might be the lone designer doing it all. Agencies, however, often channel you into projects that align with your expertise.

Do you want to grow across different skills or focus on one? Then the multifaceted nature of startups might be right for you, but be warned, you could end up with a hat you didn’t want to wear.

Depth Over Breadth: A Common Myth

Challenging the stereotype — agency designers can dig deep when allowed.

There’s a notion that agency designers can’t go as deep into projects as their in-house counterparts due to shorter timelines and focus on quick delivery. I get the sentiment, but from experience, I know agency work can be as in-depth, provided there’s time and budget.

Be prepared for this bias if you’re contemplating the agency-to-in-house leap. Prep your portfolio to ensure you’ve covered problems deeply.

Ultimately, your next move should bring you professional happiness and personal fulfilment.

In my journey, whether it was agency or in-house, what mattered most was finding a role that aligned with my need for pace, diversity, and depth.

Switching between in-house and agency isn’t some irreversible life choice; it’s more like a career experiment. We often put unnecessary weight on our next job move, as if it’s make or break. But guess what? If you don’t vibe with your choice, switching back is always on the table. Plus, a bit of job hopping between sectors can spice up your CV and portfolio, showcasing you as a more versatile player in the design game. No harm done to your career progression — just more experience under your belt.

Have you worked both in-house and agency? What’s your preference? Let me know!

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Finding your next role can often feel like a job in itself. As a designer with a decade’s experience and countless roles under my belt, I’ve navigated this process more than a few times. So, let’s cut through the noise and dive into three key strategies that will help you land your next design job.

Strategy 1: Shout it from the (Digital) rooftops

It’s amazing how many of us keep it a secret when we’re job hunting.

I totally get it too. If you’re British like me, we seem to think that asking for help is a sign of weakness — when in reality, it’s a smart move. Go on, lose the ego; it won’t pay the bills! Share your job-seeking status on LinkedIn (if you can), ask your network for leads, and let the world know you’re open for business.

Trust me, people are more willing to help than you’d think.

Strategy 2: Don’t spray and pray applications

I hate to say it. But I cringe every time I hear or see that someone’s applied to 300+ jobs in one go.

It’s a scattergun approach that rarely works. Are you genuinely a perfect fit for those 300+ roles? Didn’t think so. Yes you may be desperate to find the next contract or job. But concentrate your effort on positions that genuinely interest you and align with your skills.

Anything else is just a fast track to burnout, from trying to spread yourself far too thin.

Strategy 3: Be the hunter, not the hunted

Let’s face it, the best opportunities often don’t even make it to the job boards.

Your network is your most powerful tool, so don’t shy away from using it. Reach out to potential employers or former colleagues and let them know you’re available. Unfortunately it doesn’t matter how great you are as a designer, sometimes getting a role is about being in available for something new at the right time.

It’s worked for me a couple of times, so give it a go — You’d be surprised how this direct approach pays off.

Finding your next role can be stressful but remember finding a job you love can be a marathon, rather than a sprint.

But why go it alone when you can tap into the collective wisdom of those around you? Use your network, be selective, and take the proactive approach. Your next design role or contract might just be a message away.

Have you used any of these approaches before? What’s worked for you? Let me know!

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Ever been stumped when someone asks, “Where do you want to be in 5 years?” Yep, me too. We’re all used to being grilled about our future roles, long-term goals, and what ‘success’ means to us in job interviews. If you’re a designer like me, fretting over your career choices, let’s pause for a moment. After a decade in the industry, I’ve decided that I’m ditching the traditional career-planning model as I step into the next chapter of my life. Here’s why you might want to as well.

You can plan yourself into a corner

If you don’t plan, you plan to fail. That’s what we’re told. But what if this isn’t always true?

Recently, I’ve had conversations with mentees who have been panicked and stressed about what to do next. Either they don’t know whether to pivot careers or whether to carry on and push through. There’s been a few who have had two job offers yet they just don’t know which one to pick because they’re conflicted about how both would impact their long-term goal.

Instead of plotting out your life like a chess game, trying to pick the right thing learn to adapt and improvise; it’s more like jazz than you think.

Stop focusing on the path others have taken

So often I hear people say, “Am I doing the right thing? What would you do? What was your career path like?”

Everyone is different; our previous experiences, education, and network all differ. What was right for me does not mean it will be right for you. If you’re dead set on copying someone else’s career, you’re most likely not going to enjoy it as much. And you’ll probably still have a different outcome to them.

Instead blaze your own trail; imitating someone else’s path might lead you to someone else’s destination, but not one that is truly yours.

How you feel trumps how your CV looks

What’s the priority — a prestigious brand name on your CV or daily job satisfaction?

It may seem obvious, but many folks are so focused on looking good on paper that they forget to ask themselves if they even enjoy what they’re doing. Your career is a long game, people. Don’t you want to look back without regrets?

When you shift your focus from impressing other designers or recruiters to finding what lights you up, incredible doors start to open. Passion, joy and happiness are incredibly infectious.

Stop obsessing over the ‘perfect’ five-year plan. Instead, lean into what sparks joy and excitement in your daily work life.

That’s what I’m doing now — chasing roles that genuinely excite me rather than fussing about brand names or prestige. I measure success by the quality of my day-to-day experiences. If I can close my laptop each evening and feel content, then that’s the career plan that works for me. And maybe, just maybe, it could work for you too.

Have you struggled with the 5 year plan? Or are you someone who goes with the flow? Let me know!

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Ever considered a role as the solo design star in a tech startup? You’re not alone. That’s the gig I accidentally snagged. When signing the contract I was thinking about how exciting it was going to be, being part of a dynamic designer duo.

But spoiler alert: It ended up being just me.

So if you’re a designer mulling over going solo, lean in. With a decade in design under my belt, I’ve got a few nuggets from my recent nine-month stint that you won’t want to miss.

Lesson 1: Impostor Syndrome is just a fear of the unknown

So there I was, contract signed, ready to work with another designer by my side.

Fast forward a month, I was now a design team of one. Cue the nerves, right? But when I thought about where my nerves were coming from: it wasn’t about my skills or lack of experience in start-ups; it was about stepping into unknown territory.

And let me tell you, that fear? Total waste of energy. If you’ve a few years experience behind you, you have the design chops for this.

Lesson 2: Just say it — Communication is key

Look, we’ve all been there — bogged down because we didn’t speak up when we should’ve.

Learning to be upfront about what I don’t know has been a game-changer. I’m neurodiverse and, as I’ve learnt more about it and become more confident, I’ve learnt the importance of being honest when I’m confused or overwhelmed. Why? Because if you don’t, you’re going to slog through unnecessary struggles.

Trust me, it’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a shortcut to getting sh*t done.

Lesson 3: Lone wolves miss the pack

I missed the buzz of bouncing ideas off another designer, the creative friction that sparks something new.

At first, it was fine. But after a few months, the solitude wore on me. The fix? I would phone a friend — or a former colleague. And don’t be too proud to ask your developer buddies for their thoughts too!

There’s more to design than just designers, after all.

As the days count down on this contract, I’m mindful that these aren’t just one-off lessons; they’re building blocks for what comes next. A startup isn’t just a gig; it’s a crash course in real-world design.

This isn’t just about clocking in and doing a job; it’s about growing into a better version of yourself. So whether you’re fresh out of design school or a seasoned pro, taking the solo path really does prep you for whatever the universe throws your way next.

Have you worked as a solo designer before? Thought about it, but yet to take the leap? Let me know!

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Getting feedback early may feel unintuitive. Most of the time we focus on perfecting our work before showing it to the world. As who wants to show something half finished. But here’s the thing, showing your work early in the design process can help you save time later on. It can seem a waste getting feedback on your ideas if they aren’t fully fleshed out or the visual design isn’t quite right yet, but I promise it’s not.

By only showing your work after you’ve slaved away for hours perfecting pixels and choosing the right colours isn’t a sure fire way of preventing negative feedback. You’re still probably going to hear from your team or client that actually they don’t like the colour blue or that the interaction pattern feels wrong.

I’ve been there, protecting my work for too long until I’ve felt that it is ready for the world to see, only to have feedback that has meant my work needs to go in a new direction because it’s not fully hit the brief or there’s actually a better solution that I hadn’t thought of.

Introducing others to your ideas and work early for feedback allows you to get a pool of ideas and perspectives that you can use to your advantage. Making use of others’ great ideas as a springboard to enhance your ideas even further is a great way to craft innovative concepts and designs.

Get comfortable with feedback to save your sanity

You’ll always be getting feedback. If you’re working in a design team or for clients, they’re going to have opinions. So you might as well rip the band aid off early and hear their thoughts, feelings and criticisms because you’ve poured your heart and soul too deeply into the work.

When we spend a lot of time on a project it’s really easy to get too attached to ideas or the design, which makes it so much harder to respond positively to negative feedback as we’re already sold on our design solution.

However, by getting feedback early you’re no longer spending hours of time on a route or design that may need to be changed dramatically anyway. But most importantly showing rough work that you’re not too emotionally or spiritually attached to means you’ll be more open to feedback, trying new things and should fast track you to the best design solution.

Becoming aware as a designer of when to show work to others and when to spend a bit more time crafting, is a skill that can take a number of years and you won’t always get it right. One aspect I’ve learnt from good designers is that they know not to spend all their creative energy and time on only one idea before showing their work to others for feedback. Good designers anticipate changes so by showing work early they protect their time, energy and creativity that can be used once they are on the home stretch of a project.

Positive or negative — Feedback will improve the quality of your work

Regardless of whether feedback is positive or negative, hearing others thoughts and perspectives will no doubt improve your work. Even if you don’t agree with the feedback you hear, purely being challenged on your ideas forces you to reflect and firm up your decisions and opinions on what you’ve created.

Being open to feedback allows you to stress test your work before it goes to the real world. If those closest to you are struggling to understand your user flow you’ve designed or how the logo relates to the brand then it could be possible that the target audience will struggle with this too.

When seeking feedback it’s also important to get a balance of the positive and negative. The phrase, ‘don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater’ is important here. If we only ever hear or seek negative feedback it’s easy for us to change parts of our work that were working well in the attempt to fix what isn’t.

Feedback in teams is a positive sign of safety

Teams who are proactive in sharing and asking for feedback are teams that have a high level of psychological safety. When people aren’t comfortable to challenge what is, or they don’t feel safe to speak up or suggest new ideas, it means that team dynamics have big underlying problems.

Working in a team where you feel safe to try things and hear what others have to say, will help you become a better designer, as it’s rare that we create good work if we’re not having the best time.

If you don’t want to ask for feedback from those who you’re working with, it’s a good idea to ask yourself why that might be. Is it because you’re worried about criticism, perhaps you’ve had a negative experience before. Or maybe you don’t value the feedback from the people you’re working with. Either way getting to the root of why you’re not keen on getting feedback from the people around you is important.

In conclusion, seeking feedback early and often can save you time and improve the quality of your work. By being open to feedback and taking the time to reflect on it, you can create better designs and become a better designer overall. So don’t be afraid to show your work and ask for feedback. It can only make your work better in the long run.

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Online shopping has been around since the mid-90s. Over that time, we’ve seen huge improvements in the online shopping experience, with whole product teams dedicated to ensuring incremental improvements that convert OKRs to cash.

When you didn’t think there could be much more for industry-changing features, ASOS, the British online shopping brand, has three awesome features you’ll want to steal if you want to improve your online shopping experience.

Feature #1: Can’t describe an item? Don’t worry! Just take a photo

I’ll be honest. This feature blew my mind. Never have I seen such a good and useful implementation of searching via a photograph.

As someone who loves buying the same version of what I’ve already got, this feature means I can take a photo of an existing item of clothing I have, and it will find matching or similar items. Also, I tried drawing a Nike T-shirt as an experiment, and it did a pretty good job. You can watch the video below. It might not have shown the exact item, but the options were great.

Imagine the possibility of seeing a celebrity you admire, and you could easily upload a photo of their outfit and quickly piece together something just as good.

Feature #2: Lengthy wishlists become shareable boards

Curated wishlists, known as boards, are a game changer for ASOS customers.

With the ability to have multiple boards, customers can manage items without getting bogged down with huge lists. Now customers can use the boards to curate outfits in separate spaces, perfect if you’re looking to save outfits for work while also trying to collect gym gear. The boards are also shareable, an aspect I love when looking for advice from my better-dressed friends.

By allowing customers to spend a longer time on the site crafting groups of clothes, customers will no doubt place a higher value on the items they’ve so carefully selected. Also, sharing boards with friends could help create a new customer base, as there is no better recommendation than one from a friend.

Feature #3: Suggesting sale pieces on favourited items

How often have you added an item to your wishlist because you loved it, but the price was steep?

ASOS have saved many customers' purchasing dilemma, which is that they might not be able to afford an item right now, so they add it to the wishlist to save for later, perhaps payday. To combat this blocker on purchases, ASOS have included a handy product area called For You on the homepage, which has a selection of categories but one being similar items you’ve liked in the sale.

I didn’t take a screenshot at the time, but also the wishlist area when I had no items in the sale. I was recommended similar items from the sale in that space too. This is a genius idea. Not only does it help the customer buy an item they like and within their budget. But ASOS can clear older stock and maybe create more purchases.

This a prime example of focusing on the customer's needs and pain points.

The team at ASOS are doing a wonderful job, and it shows that when you focus on user problems rather than just metrics of improving purchases, you can’t help but make more sales as a result.

What other great features have you seen on ASOS? What have I missed? Let me know!

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Recently a friend told me that they were nervous about applying for a new job because it had senior in the title and they weren’t called a senior in their existing role.

Designers are obsessed with labels

This fixation with the senior title in the design industry seems to have become more apparent in recent years.

I suspect social media maybe the issue. We’re now exposed to not just the designers in our companies but now designers across the world. LinkedIn is a flurry of designers gaining new titles and promotions at breakneck speed and it’s so easy to feel like you’re being left behind in your career when your peers are jumping to more senior titles every year. And I was just like this. When I was 7 years into my career I was yet to be called a senior designer.

Getting the title upgrade was my primary focus which overtook what really mattered: doing good work.

Titles depends on context of others and actions

3 years later I can tell you I’ve now had the title of Senior Designer, Lead Designer and Design Partner.

And what I can tell you is that my role and the job I did day to day barely changed. So why is that? Well for one, a title in one company or agency will differ from another. To be able to truly label something we need a contrast, something to compare it to. If you work in a small agency you might quickly go through the ranks verses a larger company that needs a slower pace of title change otherwise everyone would be senior which makes a whole other operations, people and ego problem.

At the end of the day, it’s your behaviours and your actions that truly dictate your seniority not your title. I’ve worked with junior designs who acted like seniors and I’ve worked seniors who are shockingly bad.

Just because you have a title doesn’t automatically make you that thing.

Okay! Titles are useful sometimes…

Now if I put my wider perspective hat on, I do understand the importance of titles. They help give context as to who is expected to be responsible for what. Titles also help people like women be taken more seriously.

Known as the authority gap, it is assumed that if a woman doesn’t have senior in her title and she is working with a male peer of the same title she will assumed to be less experienced.

I’m not saying don’t try to go to the next title level, titles and pay are interlinked. So by all means get that new title if it earns you more money. But don’t think that a new title is a one way ticket to happiness or automatic confidence.

Confidence and seniority comes from self belief. Not a title on LinkedIn.

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