Outstanding examples and progressive approaches for contemporary designers
This research analyzed 40+ portfolios globally and identifies a fundamental shift in how designers present their work: from showcasing polished finals to documenting iterative thinking.
The distinguishing question has changed from "What did you make?" to "How did you think?"
Hiring managers increasingly want to see the messy middle—research methodology, failed experiments, decision rationale, and reflective learning.
Aim for 50–60% process artifacts and 40–50% final designs. Structure your case studies as:
Problem → Research → Iterations → Solution → Reflection
Most sophisticated portfolios combine 3–4 platforms:
The most compelling process-driven portfolios come from individual designers who treat documentation as integral to their practice, not an afterthought. These designers share several characteristics: comprehensive case studies that function as narratives, explicit documentation of research methodology, transparent discussion of failures and pivots, and reflective writing about learnings.
moritzoesterlau.de (Germany)
Exemplifies exhaustive process documentation. His case studies document every step from problem to solution—competitor analysis, interviews, surveys, user personas, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. His "Approach to Digitization in Education" case study leaves "no stone unturned," explaining the rationale behind each decision throughout the process. Viewers report feeling like they're "in the room" watching his process unfold.
priyanka.io (USA)
Publishes detailed case studies as full blog posts on Medium with over 1,000 followers. She documents unsolicited redesigns with complete process documentation including user research, testing, affinity maps, and iterations. Her work includes dedicated "design learnings" sections reflecting on what could be improved. This approach goes "above and beyond" typical process documentation by treating even speculative work with professional rigor.
simonpan.com (USA)
Writes extensively about design process and career development on Medium, publishing articles on "reflection, growth and the art of the case study." He documents the messy, real aspects of design work with detailed breakdowns of how problems were identified and solved. Pan is known for thoughtful reflective writing about design practice and career development, treating portfolio work as an opportunity for professional reflection.
lalizlabeth.com (USA)
Combines visual process artifacts with bite-sized reflections. Her case studies include photos of virtual Post-it note walls, actual survey forms sent to participants, and early-stage prototypes. She adds personal insights in different font/color alongside main text (e.g., "It was cool seeing how differently teachers would use this dashboard"), creating a layered narrative. Lin runs "design is a party," an alternative design school where she teaches prototyping with AI and visual design skills.
lolajiang.com (USA/Google)
Emphasizes metrics-driven process documentation. Her case studies document detailed post-relaunch analysis with concrete data, showing iterations and explaining decision-making process. In one project, she documented a 68% task time reduction (from 19 minutes to 6 minutes) and 139% satisfaction improvement, demonstrating both the process and its measurable impact.
niyawatkins.com (USA/National Geographic)
Documents the complete design process: personas, card sorting, information architecture, sitemaps, interaction design, wireframes, prototypes, and user testing. She includes links to InVision prototypes for hands-on exploration, allowing viewers to experience the work interactively. Her personal "About" section contains a reflective narrative about her career journey—telling the story of an "accidental path to UX."
adithyaholehonnur.com (India/Microsoft)
Includes dedicated "Reflections" sections at the end of each project. He uses animated GIFs showing design evolution and iterations, presenting results achieved at the end to show design impact. The portfolio emphasizes "stepping into users' shoes" and maintains a continuous learning mindset visible throughout the work.
karoliskosas.com (UK/USA)
Balances showcasing results with demonstrating the "how"—the process that achieved those results. He focuses on explaining his role and contribution to each project, documenting user research and UX design process comprehensively. The portfolio features clean presentation with a focus on storytelling, making complex processes accessible.
Additional notable individual portfolios include Daniel Autry (USA), who works in the mental health space with a focus on meaningful impact, featuring just 4 main case studies to showcase range while keeping content manageable; and Olivia Truong (USA), whose rich case studies include supporting materials beyond finished products—photos/videos of design process in action, user interviews, card sorting, affinity mapping, and sticky notes from brainstorming sessions.
Progressive design studios distinguish themselves by making their process transparent, publishing detailed methodology, and treating case studies as opportunities to educate the design community. These organizations demonstrate that process transparency builds client trust and positions them as thought leaders.
ideo.com (Global)
Pioneered and extensively documents the Design Thinking methodology that transformed the industry. They operate a dedicated Design Research portal inviting public participation in research studies, publicly share their research ethics approach and methodologies, and document "A Day in the Life of a Design Researcher" content. With over 40 years of documented innovation methodology, IDEO literally wrote the book on design thinking and continues to evolve it publicly.
clearleft.com (Brighton, UK)
The first UX agency in the UK, they publicly document their research and design process extensively. Their blog features detailed articles on "researching in the open," with case studies showing step-by-step methodology from stakeholder workshops to delivery. Clearleft is explicitly committed to transparency, stating "We believe in being transparent about our work and processes." They show the messy middle—including pivot points and decision-making rationale—and document failures and learnings alongside successes.
ajsmart.com (Berlin, Germany)
Extensively documents and teaches the Design Sprint methodology. They share their complete Design Sprint 2.0 process publicly, maintain a YouTube channel with hundreds of process videos, and publish free guides like the "Ultimate Guide to Remote Design Sprints." Working directly with Jake Knapp (Design Sprint inventor), they've evolved the methodology and documented these improvements transparently.
rndr.studio (The Hague, Netherlands)
Takes process transparency to another level by open-sourcing their fundamental creative coding framework, OPENRNDR, which won a Dutch Design Award. They extensively document their approach to interactive media design, with case studies showing process from concept to interactive installation. Project pages include methodology, technical approach, and development stages.
outwitly.com (Canada)
Produces detailed case studies showing service design and UX research methodology. They include service blueprints and journey maps in case documentation, showing both current-state analysis and future-state design. Case studies show problem → research → insights → design → outcomes, documenting work with complex stakeholder ecosystems in government, education, and healthcare.
frog.co (Global/Capgemini Invent)
Maintains 40+ years of documented design methodology. They publish the "frogThink Toolkit" with publicly available creative collaboration methods and maintain a DesignMind blog featuring process articles and methodology. Harvard Business School created a case study on their design and development process, demonstrating their industry influence.
ustwo.com (Global)
Documents their evolution from waterfall to Lean/Agile processes. As an employee-owned B-Corp, their transparent values are evident throughout their work. Known for the Monument Valley game, they're equally transparent about process, having published the "Pixel Perfect Precision" book codifying their quality approach. Their 20 years of breakthrough digital experiences include documented approaches for Android Wear, The Body Coach, and Fresenius Medical Care projects.
blog.tubikstudio.com (International)
Maintains an extensive blog with 100+ detailed case studies. Each shows concept → sketches → iterations → final design with work-in-progress documentation, not just polished finals. Articles are tagged by process stage and explain decision-making rationale throughout projects.
pentagram.com (Global)
The world's largest independent design consultancy with case studies spanning 50+ years showing design evolution. Project pages include design rationale and strategic thinking, documenting both process philosophy (like "Type has Spirit") and heritage-based approaches. Annual identity projects like Shakespeare in the Park demonstrate 30 consecutive years of campaign evolution.
Despite closing in 2023, they published a complete SaMD Playbook documenting their entire way of working and open-sourced their company operations manual. Their documentation of transparency practices and their self-set salary model represents exceptional process transparency that continues to influence the design community.
Designers increasingly leverage platforms in innovative ways to document process, often combining multiple platforms to create rich, multi-modal documentation. These approaches demonstrate that process documentation doesn't require expensive custom websites—thoughtful use of existing platforms can be equally effective.
Remains a primary platform for process-driven work when used thoughtfully. High-performing case studies typically include 50+ process images showing iterations, user research documentation, wireframe progressions, multiple design alternatives explored, usability testing results, and before/after comparisons. The platform's artboard system (recommended 1400px width) allows designers to create comprehensive visual narratives.
Emmanuel Akpan (Nigeria) documented his entire Behance presentation creation process in a Medium article, creating meta-process documentation that shows how to create process documentation.
Ales Nesetril advocates combining different media formats in case studies through his article "How to build a better Behance case study." He recommends breaking projects into blocks to show process chronologically, including sketches, "making of" videos, GIF animations, unused experiments, internal documents, research data, and behind-the-scenes photos.
An emerging trend for process-focused designers. Notion's strengths include free access, gallery views for project preview, customizable templates, and organizational tools like kanban boards. The platform excels at text-heavy content. Limitations include visual sameness and primarily static content (90% images and text). However, Super.so plugin adds custom domains, fonts, SEO, and navbar customization. Notion works best for designers prioritizing content over flashy design.
cargo.site enables experimental process portfolios with unconventional layouts showing design thinking, horizontal scrolling to show process timelines, custom interactions revealing process steps, layered design showing iterations simultaneously, and animation-driven storytelling. The platform's extreme customization allows designers to use site architecture itself to demonstrate process thinking.
read.cv is specifically designed for showing career evolution and thought process rather than just final work. Features include timeline-based presentation showing project evolution, reading-focused interface emphasizing written reflection, integration with other platforms (Medium, GitHub), and work-in-progress showcase sections. The timeline format naturally emphasizes "becoming" rather than just "being."
are.na serves as "a platform for creative thinking and research that is open to everyone." The distraction-free space for collecting and organizing, community-driven channels for collaboration, and no-ads environment make it excellent for personal knowledge management. Designers increasingly use Are.na channels as research repositories integrated alongside other portfolio tools.
coroflot.com serves industrial designers with process-focused portfolios. The platform's strong emphasis on industrial design process includes physical prototyping, showing technical skills through CAD documentation, brainstorming and sketches pages, 3D CAD model exploded views (Solidworks, Keyshot, Rhino), and physical model construction documentation.
The most effective process documentation employs multiple approaches simultaneously, recognizing that different audiences process information differently.
Documents daily design thinking through sketches, annotations, and visual notes using hand-drawn doodles, scrapbook-style layouts, sticky note compilations, and whiteboard documentation. The chronological documentation of design decisions with contextual notes—using timestamps and dated entries showing evolution—demonstrates reflective practice and learning journey. Tools include Notion databases with date properties and Are.na channels organized chronologically. The effectiveness lies in showing authentic problem-solving process and building trust by revealing "messy" thinking.
Takes multiple forms. Time-lapse process videos showing design evolution from sketch to final work achieve high engagement by demonstrating speed and fluency, typically embedded via YouTube or Vimeo. Screen recording walkthroughs with narrated explanations of design decisions allow designers to guide viewers through complex thinking—recording Figma/Sketch work with voiceover explaining rationale.
Problem-solution narratives structure case studies as: problem framing → constraints → process → solution → impact → learnings. Emotive language creates context, like Olivia Truong framing problems relatably: "coming up with ideas was not the easiest thing to do in our busy lives." Post-project analysis includes dedicated "learnings" or "reflection" sections with templates like "Because of this project, we realized the importance of prototype testing..." showing growth mindset and ability to learn from experience.
Makes design evolution visible. Side-by-side comparisons show before/after or multiple versions with explanations of what changed and why. Lola Jiang documented task time reduction: "With the original design, the set of tasks took 19 minutes. With the new design...6 minutes. Nearly 68%." Failed experiments documentation shows discarded solutions with rationale—as one hiring manager noted, "I'm curious to know what isn't in the design and why, just as much as I'd like to know why elements made it in."
Includes process artifacts like sketches, sticky notes, whiteboard photos, rough prototypes, and paper wireframes—"real artifacts from your project, not just illustrations." Workshop/collaboration documentation with photos of team sessions, facilitation evidence, and stakeholder workshops demonstrates soft skills. Tool and method transparency shows actual tools and recruitment methods used.
Combine modalities for maximum impact. Text paired with visual artifacts follows the best practice: "Visual and textual storytelling should work together to demonstrate your UX design process." Video combined with written case studies accommodates different learning styles. Interactive prototypes with explanatory text use Marvel, Figma embeds, or coded prototypes.
The fundamental difference lies in narrative focus and what information is privileged. Process-driven portfolios answer "how I thought" while traditional portfolios answer "what I made."
Focus on journey over destination with case studies containing detailed process sections. They include 50-60% process artifacts and 40-50% final designs, with substantial explanations, reflections, and rationale. Content shows messy work, iterations, failures, and learning. Structure follows problem → research → iterations → solution → reflection. Each project functions as a teaching document, demonstrating methodology and decision-making.
"Don't just show me the finished product. I want to see the messy process and all the work and research that was put in to land on that shiny polished design." — Hiring Manager
Designers explain WHY specific methods were chosen: instead of "I did interviews to get to know the users," process-driven portfolios say "I conducted interviews to find out: [specific details]," showing they "know exactly which to pick."
Emphasize final deliverables with gallery-style project displays showing 90%+ final visuals and brief descriptions only. They focus on visual design skills, aesthetic sensibility, technical execution, and brand work. Content consists of finished designs with minimal context.
German designers like Moritz Oesterlau tend toward comprehensive, systematic documentation covering all methodology steps. US designers often combine quantitative metrics with personal storytelling. Indian designers like Adithya Holehonnur frequently include dedicated reflection sections emphasizing continuous learning. UK agencies like Clearleft emphasize transparency as an explicit value. Dutch studios like RNDR open-source their tools and frameworks, treating code itself as documentation.
Several forward-looking approaches are reshaping how designers document process, driven by new technologies and evolving professional expectations.
Designers now use AI tools that "analyze your entries and generate insightful questions based on your content," creating dialogue with one's own design thinking. This represents a shift from documentation as archival to documentation as active reflection tool.
Becoming standard expectations rather than differentiators. Clickable prototypes, animated transitions showing state changes, and scroll-triggered reveals that progressively disclose information allow portfolios to practice what they preach about interaction design.
A 2025 design trend toward "bold minimalism"—clean layouts with powerful central images that let work breathe and reduce cognitive load. This approach recognizes that process documentation doesn't require visual complexity; clarity serves process narratives better than ornamentation.
Connects design process to business outcomes more explicitly than ever before. Designers increasingly quantify process effectiveness. The integration of business context for process decisions reflects design's increasing strategic role in organizations.
Shows emerging ethical consciousness. Designers now document accessibility considerations throughout process—color contrast decisions, keyboard navigation testing, screen reader optimization—rather than treating accessibility as final-stage compliance.
Rather than post-project reconstruction. As one practitioner notes: "In a perfect world, you would be documenting your work as you create it." Tools like Notion with built-in version history and Are.na's channels for ongoing research collection support this approach.
The most novel insight from this research: The portfolio itself demonstrates process thinking when built thoughtfully. HOW you build your portfolio communicates as much about your process orientation as WHAT you include. The medium becomes part of the message.
Outstanding process-driven portfolios serve dual purposes: they demonstrate individual capability while contributing to collective design knowledge. The most progressive examples function as teaching documents, helping the design community understand not just what solutions worked but why they worked and under what constraints.
The international examples reveal a maturing global design community increasingly committed to transparency. Whether through IDEO's 40+ years of documented methodology, RNDR's open-source frameworks, or individual designers like Priyanka Gupta publishing comprehensive case studies to 1,000+ Medium followers, the pattern is clear: process documentation has become a form of professional generosity and thought leadership.
The practical takeaway for evaluating portfolios: Look for specific evidence of design thinking—research rationale, iteration with explanation, constraints documentation, honest reflection on what didn't work, and quantified or clearly described impact. The ratio of process to polish should favor process (around 50-60% process artifacts), but never at the expense of demonstrating outcomes.
The 40+ examples documented here—spanning from individual designers in Nigeria and India to global agencies with decades of experience—demonstrate that process documentation transcends geography, company size, and design specialization. What unites them is commitment to showing the "becoming" of design work: the iterations, failures, learnings, and evolution that constitute actual design practice.
| Designer | Why Notable |
|---|---|
| Moritz Oesterlau | Exhaustive methodology documentation—"no stone unturned" |
| Priyanka Gupta | Medium case studies with 1,000+ followers; treats speculative work with rigor |
| Simon Pan | Thoughtful reflective writing on design practice and career |
| Elizabeth Lin | Visual process artifacts with layered personal insights |
| Lola Jiang | Metrics-driven with concrete impact data (68% task time reduction) |
| Niya Watkins | Complete process with interactive InVision prototypes |
| Adithya Holehonnur | Dedicated "Reflections" sections; animated GIFs showing evolution |
| Karolis Kosas | Clean storytelling balancing results with process |
| Studio | Why Notable |
|---|---|
| IDEO | 40+ years of documented Design Thinking methodology |
| Clearleft | First UK UX agency; committed to "researching in the open" |
| AJ&Smart | Design Sprint 2.0 methodology; hundreds of process videos |
| RNDR Studio | Open-sourced OPENRNDR creative coding framework |
| Outwitly Inc. | Service blueprints and journey maps in case documentation |
| Frog Design | 40+ years methodology; frogThink Toolkit publicly available |
| ustwo | Employee-owned B-Corp; "Pixel Perfect Precision" book |
| Tubik Studio | 100+ detailed case studies with iteration documentation |
| Pentagram | 50+ years of design evolution; strategic rationale in projects |
| Hanno | Open-sourced entire operations manual (historical reference) |
| Platform | Best For |
|---|---|
| Behance | Visual case studies with 50+ process images; community engagement |
| Notion | Text-heavy content; free; organizational tools (use Super.so for customization) |
| Cargo Collective | Experimental layouts; horizontal scrolling; animation-driven storytelling |
| Read.cv | Timeline-based career evolution; reading-focused interface |
| Are.na | Research repositories; distraction-free collecting; no ads |
| Coroflot | Industrial design; CAD documentation; physical prototyping |