How to Approach a business problem using research in UX portfolio projects

If you’re trying to do one FinTech project, one EdTech, one SaaS, and one HealthTech just to “cover all domains” in your portfolio — pause. That’s not how hiring works.What recruiters and teams actually look for is your thinking process.Can you take a business goal, talk to stakeholders, understand user pain points, and turn all of that into a meaningful experience? That skill applies everywhere — regardless of the industry.Instead of chasing variety for the sake of it, go deep on a few strong projects.Make sure they reflect how you think, how you solve, and how you connect your design to outcomes. That’s what makes you stand out — not just the domain label on the project.

“Why doesn’t my company value design?”Wrong question. The right one is: What have I done to show how design can impact the business?Most people get it wrong. They think companies are supposed to value them first. But here’s the uncomfortable truth — nobody gets valued by default. Not designers. Not developers. Not anyone.Value doesn’t come with your role. It comes from the impact you create.So if you ever feel like your work isn't respected — don’t wait for permission. Show them what you can do. Ask yourself: “What have I done to make them see the power of design?” Because the world doesn’t reward you for what you know. It rewards you for what you prove.And no — big companies aren’t special. They just have more people who’ve learned to speak the language of business. If you learn to listen, understand the experiment behind the chaos, and use design to reduce the risk of that gamble — you’ll always be valued. Not because of your title. But because you helped the team win.

I often use this analogy when talking to my students about building design Systems for their dummy projects : Stop trying to build a five-star kitchen when all you want to make is Maggi.A lot of designers struggle with naming styles or building systems because we think there’s an “ideal” way out there — like Material Design — that we must strictly follow. But truth is, systems aren’t handed down like textbooks. They’re built project by project, file by file, one messy screen at a time. When you're creating something small, don’t copy-paste frameworks built for massive teams and global products. You’re just making Maggie — you don’t need a Michelin-star kitchen for that.Start with whatever is in front of you. Name things based on what makes sense to you. Black-1. Brown-1. Done. Over time, your system will grow, and so will your clarity. Then, when you’re in someone else’s design file — or a bigger org with a design system — you’ll not only survive, you’ll know why it’s built that way. You’ll respect the kitchen because you’ve built your own. That’s how system thinking evolves — not by memorizing rules, but by cooking through the chaos.So next time you're stuck figuring out the "right" way to name a text style… just name it. Get your hands dirty. The real clarity comes after the mess.

A common question I get from beginner designers: “Should I make separate designs for iOS and Android?” “Am I following the right system?” But here's something nobody says loud enough — your value doesn’t come from knowing all the rules. Most of the greatest ideas didn’t come from perfectly following the rulebook — they came from someone questioning if the rule even mattered in the first place.When you’re starting out, you’re not here to hand off pixel-perfect developer files. You’re here to shape the North Star — the most ideal version of the product, unconstrained by budget, timelines, or tech. That’s not naive. That’s where design begins. Let the systems catch up later. Let the developers bring you back to earth. Your role is to first dream beyond the current limitations.So don’t stress about memorizing every HIG or Material spec in the beginning. Yes, learn them over time. Yes, observe how iOS and Android behave differently. Stop second-guessing your process. You're not behind just because you don’t know the "handoff-ready" version. Your ability to dream without limits is not a flaw — it’s your superpower. And when the time comes to work within constraints, you'll already know what you're fighting for — because you’ve seen the future first.

One of the biggest mindset shifts in design happens when you stop thinking, “What’s the right way to organize styles?” and start asking, “What’s my way, and will it scale if someone else steps in?”Text styles, color tokens, icon grids — they aren’t about rules. They’re about clarity, repeatability, and ease of collaboration. But just like a kitchen, not every space needs to be labeled and shelf-ready. If you’re cooking a quick meal on a holiday, organize just enough. But if you’re running a long-term kitchen with multiple people? You’ll wish you labeled those jars.So define what you need now. Call it “Name Color” or “Accent Text” or “Inverse Text” — don’t wait to find the perfect system. Systems get better through usage, not by overthinking from Day 1. You can always clean it up later. That’s the beauty of design tools like Figma — and honestly, the beauty of design thinking itself.

Stop thinking of interviews as exams. They're not. One of the most powerful things you can do in an interview is say: “I don’t know.”Not because you’re clueless, but because you're self-aware. Because you’re honest. Because you're someone who knows when to pause, ask, and learn.Most interviews are not tests of how much you know. They’re tests of how you handle uncertainty. That’s the real game. Will you try to bluff your way through a topic you barely understand? Or will you accept it, ask for context, and show curiosity? Trust me — that curiosity often leads to “Oh wait, I have worked on something like this, I just didn’t know it was called that.” Happens all the time.The ones who grow fast in this industry aren’t the ones who know everything — they’re the ones who don’t freeze when they don’t. The ones who admit gaps, ask questions, stay grounded, and show their hunger to learn. That’s what gets remembered. That’s what gets hired.

Most people think learning is about having a linear structure, about following a textbook, checking off every concept, and mastering it all before they feel "ready." But that’s not how real learning—or real growth—happens. The truth? Learning is messy. It’s random. It happens in fragments, in moments of curiosity, in experiences that force you to think differently.The problem isn’t time. The problem is the mental model we have about how learning should happen. You don’t need to complete everything to be valuable. You don’t need to master every UX term before you’re hireable. You need to engage, think, and connect the dots as you go. The industry doesn’t reward people who “know everything.” It values those who know how to think and adapt.So drop the perfectionism. Let go of the backlog in your head. Absorb what you can, when you can, and trust that your brain will make sense of it over time. Learning isn’t a linear process. It’s a lifelong practice.

The best designs don’t just function well. They feel right. They don’t force users to think—they guide them effortlessly. The difference? - Intention. When a product understands the user’s journey before they even take the first step, that’s when design becomes invisible. That’s when it works.I recently saw a project that didn’t just add features—it completed the experience. Every click had purpose. Every decision was thought through. Not just screens and buttons, but the flow of thought itself. That’s the real job of a UX designer—not just to create, but to anticipate.So here’s the real question: Are you just designing? Or are you creating something that people instinctively trust? Because when UX is done right, users don’t just navigate it—they live it.

The difference between those who succeed and those who stay stuck isn’t talent. It’s not intelligence. It’s action. Most people wait—waiting for the perfect plan, the perfect moment, the perfect level of confidence. But the ones who move forward? They start with what they know. They put something down, take the first step, and figure things out along the way. Because progress isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about moving, refining, and adapting as you go.The truth is, you’ll never feel fully ready. If you wait until you have the perfect idea, the perfect strategy, or the perfect conditions, you’ll be left behind. The most successful people don’t have more time than you. They don’t have fewer obstacles. What they have is a mindset—start now, improve later. You don’t need weeks to make an impact. You don’t need every answer before you take action. You just need to start.So here’s the real question: If your opportunity got taken away tomorrow, would you have something to show? Would you have proof that you made the most of the time you had? Or would you still be waiting to begin? The world doesn’t reward ideas that never leave your head. It rewards action. So stop waiting. Start now.

Ever wondered why some designs just click while others feel off? It’s not just about colors, layouts, or typography. It’s about how effortlessly everything comes together—how it feels to the user. The difference between good and great design isn’t in flashy visuals but in the thought behind every tiny decision.Designers often obsess over colors, but let’s be real — Choosing a color isn’t about personal preference—it’s about making things clear, intuitive, and seamless. It’s about contrast that doesn’t strain the eyes, harmony that makes the interface effortless, and decisions that don’t make the user think. The best designs don’t scream for attention. They just work.But here’s the real challenge: knowing when to stop. A designer’s job isn’t just to refine—it’s to decide. There is no perfect answer, only the best decision for the time you have. And that’s what separates a designer from someone who just moves pixels around.