Best examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio

Real examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio

Let’s start where recruiters actually start: your case studies. When someone skims your portfolio, they’re scanning for quick, understandable examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio. They want to see:

• What problem you were trying to solve
• What research you did
• What you learned
• How that shaped the final product or decision

Here are several real examples of how you can bring UX research to life in your portfolio without drowning people in jargon.

Example of a discovery research story that actually gets read

Imagine you worked on a mobile banking app where sign-ups were low. Instead of simply writing, “I conducted user interviews,” you turn it into a short, clear research story.

You might frame it like this:

New sign-ups were 40% below target. The team had many opinions but little data, so I led a short discovery research sprint. I interviewed eight new customers remotely, using a semi-structured script to understand how they chose banking apps and what made them abandon sign-up flows.

I then affinity-mapped their quotes into three themes: trust, clarity of fees, and fear of making a mistake. This research led us to prioritize transparent fee explanations and a step-by-step progress indicator. After launch, new sign-ups increased by 23% over six weeks.

This is one of the best examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio because it:

• Names the method (interviews)
• Shows your process (script, affinity mapping)
• Connects insights directly to design decisions
• Includes an outcome (even if it’s approximate)

You can adapt this structure for any discovery project: a B2B dashboard, a nonprofit service, a health app—whatever you’ve worked on.

Examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio without NDA violations

Many UX researchers and designers are bound by NDAs. That doesn’t mean your portfolio has to be vague. You can still provide examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio by:

• Redacting client names and sensitive numbers
• Describing the user type instead of the exact product
• Focusing on your process and decisions, not proprietary details

For instance:

I partnered with a U.S.-based healthcare organization to understand why patients were missing follow-up appointments. Over three weeks, I conducted 10 remote interviews and analyzed anonymized appointment data. I found that reminder messages were being sent at inconvenient times and used confusing medical jargon. I co-created new reminder flows with patients, using plain language aligned with health literacy best practices from the CDC. Missed appointments dropped by double digits after rollout.

No confidential UI screens, no internal metrics spelled out—but it still reads as a strong, concrete example of showcasing UX research in your portfolio.

Turning messy usability tests into clear portfolio examples

Usability testing is one of the easiest examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio because it’s so relatable. Everyone understands “we watched people try to use it, and they struggled here.” The trick is to show you did more than just watch.

Example of a moderated usability test case study

Maybe you tested a new onboarding flow for a productivity app. Instead of a generic bullet like, “We ran usability testing,” walk the reader through your thinking:

Our onboarding completion rate stalled around 55%. To understand why, I planned and moderated five remote usability sessions using Figma prototypes. I wrote a test script focused on three core tasks: signing up, creating a first project, and inviting a teammate.

During sessions, I used think-aloud protocol and time-on-task measures. Three out of five participants hesitated at the “workspace” concept, asking if they were creating a team or a personal account. I synthesized findings into a short report and prioritized changes: clearer labeling, an explanation tooltip, and an example workspace pre-filled with sample tasks.

After implementing changes, our analytics (via Mixpanel) showed onboarding completion increased from 55% to 72% over four weeks.

This kind of detail turns a generic line into one of the best examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio: it shows planning, execution, analysis, and impact.

Examples include unmoderated tests and prototype feedback

You can also highlight unmoderated tests or quick-feedback loops, especially if you’re working lean.

For example:

With limited time and budget, I set up an unmoderated usability test using a clickable prototype. We recruited 12 participants from our mailing list and asked them to complete three tasks. I used a short post-task survey with a 5-point ease-of-use rating and an open comment field.

Patterns emerged quickly: users struggled to find the filter controls and misinterpreted the “Save” icon. I created a highlight reel of key moments and shared it with stakeholders, which helped secure buy-in for layout changes.

Again, the point isn’t the tool you used. It’s that you can show, in plain language, how research informed decisions.

Examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio using data and analytics

Many hiring managers want researchers who can blend qualitative and quantitative insights. Your portfolio is a perfect place to show that you don’t treat analytics as an afterthought.

Consider a mixed-methods example of showcasing UX research in your portfolio like this:

Our team noticed that a large share of users dropped off on step three of a four-step checkout. I partnered with our data analyst to review funnel analytics and confirmed that 38% of users abandoned the flow at the shipping options step.

To understand why, I followed up with five short customer interviews and a one-question in-product survey. Users said the shipping options felt unpredictable and expensive. I used this insight to recommend clearer default options, upfront cost estimates, and better microcopy.

After the redesign, we saw a 15% relative increase in checkout completion and fewer support tickets about shipping.

If you’re newer to UX research and don’t have deep analytics access, you can still talk about how you used basic metrics, surveys, or even public data. For instance, referencing user behavior insights or general statistics from sources like Pew Research Center or USA.gov can show that you understand context and trends.

Story-driven examples of long-form UX research projects

Sometimes you work on longer studies: diary studies, longitudinal research, or multi-phase projects. These can be some of the best examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio if you present them as a clear story instead of a wall of methods.

Example: Diary study for a wellness app

Picture a wellness app trying to understand why users stop using it after two weeks. You might describe the research like this:

Retention dropped sharply after day 14. To understand long-term behavior, I designed a two-week diary study with 18 participants. Each day, participants logged how they used the app, what motivated them, and what got in the way. I supplemented this with two check-in interviews per participant (at the start and end of the study).

I coded entries into themes: motivation, friction, context (time of day, location), and emotional state. A key insight emerged: users felt guilty when they missed a day, and the app’s streak-based messaging made that worse.

I partnered with our content strategist to redesign notifications around encouragement instead of punishment, drawing on behavior-change principles also discussed by organizations like the National Institutes of Health. Three months after launch, our 30-day retention improved and app store reviews mentioned feeling “supported instead of judged.”

This kind of narrative shows you can handle longer timelines, complex data, and sensitive emotional topics—very strong examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio.

How to structure your case studies around research (with real examples)

You don’t need a fancy template. You need a clear structure that makes your examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio easy to skim.

A simple, effective flow looks like this:

Context and role
Briefly explain the product, audience, and your responsibility. For example:

I was the primary UX researcher on a cross-functional team redesigning a B2B analytics dashboard for marketing managers.

Problem and hypothesis
State what you were trying to learn:

Stakeholders believed that users found the dashboard “too complex,” but we didn’t know which parts were confusing or why.

Methods and participants
Spell out what you actually did:

I ran six remote contextual inquiry sessions with existing customers, then conducted a survey (n = 82) to validate patterns. Participants were mid-level marketing managers at U.S.-based companies.

Key insights
Highlight 3–5 insights, not every detail. For instance:

Users struggled to compare performance across campaigns because filters reset unexpectedly.

Impact on design and business
Tie it all together:

These insights led us to redesign the filter behavior and add a comparison view. After launch, average time to insight dropped by 30%, and user satisfaction scores on the dashboard improved.

If you follow this structure for each project, you’ll naturally create multiple real examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio that feel consistent and easy to follow.

2024–2025 trends to reflect in your UX research portfolio

Hiring managers in 2024–2025 are looking for more than “I ran some interviews.” They’re scanning for a few patterns in your examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio:

Remote and hybrid research
Show that you’re comfortable with remote tools, but keep the focus on people, not software. Mention how you:

• Adapted sessions across time zones
• Handled tech issues gracefully
• Ensured accessibility for participants with different needs

Accessibility and inclusion
Portfolios stand out when they show thoughtful work with diverse users. Maybe you:

Recruited older adults for a telehealth study and adjusted font sizes, contrast, and instructions based on accessibility guidance from sources like Mayo Clinic.

Ethical research and privacy
If you’re working with health, finance, or education, note how you handled consent, anonymity, and data storage. You don’t need legal language—just show you’re thoughtful and responsible.

Cross-functional collaboration
In 2024–2025, UX research rarely lives in a vacuum. Strong examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio often mention how you:

• Co-created research questions with product managers
• Aligned with data analysts or marketing
• Facilitated workshops to turn findings into decisions

These details signal that you’re not just a “lab researcher,” but a partner in building products.

Common mistakes when showcasing UX research (and how to fix them)

Even talented researchers fall into a few traps in their portfolios. Watch out for these:

Mistake: Listing methods without meaning
“Interviews, surveys, card sorting, usability testing.” That’s a toolbox, not a story. Fix it by pairing each method with why you used it and what you learned.

Mistake: Hiding behind the team
It’s good to acknowledge collaboration, but hiring managers need to know what you did. Instead of “we conducted interviews,” try “I planned and moderated eight interviews, then led a synthesis workshop with the team.”

Mistake: No outcomes at all
Not every project has perfect metrics, but you can still talk about impact:

• Design changes adopted
• Stakeholder decisions influenced
• Roadmap priorities shifted
• User feedback improved

Even a small outcome helps your examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio feel grounded and real.

FAQ: Practical examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio

How many research projects should I include in my portfolio?
Most hiring managers only have time to look at two or three in depth. Aim for two to four strong case studies that each include clear examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio, rather than ten shallow ones.

Do I need a separate “UX research” section if I’m a product designer?
Not necessarily. Many product designers weave research into each case study. Just make sure your examples include a visible “Research” or “Discovery” section so readers can quickly spot how you worked with users.

What’s a good example of showcasing UX research if I’m a student or career-switcher?
You can use class projects, volunteer work, hackathons, or self-initiated projects. For instance, you might:

Recruit five classmates to test a campus app redesign, run short interviews, and show how those findings changed your design.

The key is to walk through the process clearly, even if the project was small.

Can I use an example of UX research that didn’t lead to a big success metric?
Yes. Not every project ends with a huge conversion jump. It’s perfectly fine to say something like, “We didn’t see a major change in sign-ups, but usability scores improved and support tickets about this feature dropped.” Honest, nuanced outcomes often read better than exaggerated ones.

Should I include raw research artifacts as examples of showcasing UX research in my portfolio?
You can, but keep them light and well-curated. A photo of a sticky-note wall, a screenshot of an affinity map, or a short video clip (if allowed) can support your story. Just avoid dumping entire interview transcripts or 50-slide decks. Your job is to synthesize, not overwhelm.

If you treat every project as a story—problem, research, insight, impact—you’ll naturally create strong, memorable examples of showcasing UX research in your portfolio. Start with one case study, tighten the narrative, and build from there. Your future hiring manager will thank you for making their life easier.