I’ve been pulse-checking hiring managers on how much of a candidate’s case study they actually read.The answer surprised a lot of designers.At the screening stage, they skim. Headlines, images, bold text. Maybe the first few lines. If nothing catches...

Sunday is family day for us. My wife and I take my son out to explore. He’s three now, and everything feels like an adventure to him.Yesterday he spotted a pair of kids’ sunglasses. He slipped them on, looked up at me, and gave the biggest grin.Throu...

My first portfolio was a mess.Back in 2006 (almost 20 years ago!), I was still an industrial design student. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just dumped a bunch of images into PowerPoint slides. Screenshots from my internship. A few poster boards....

I hear this a lot from clients:“I hate working on my portfolio.”Not because they don’t have good work. But because it feels like a mountain they’ve been putting off for years.Here’s the hidden truth.Most designers start in the wrong place. They jump...

Most designers spend weeks or months reworking a portfolio. Some put it off for years.Not because they can’t design, but because it’s heavy. Messy projects, multiple phases, too many screens, conflicting advice.The result is a case study that feels l...

Yesterday I shared the poll results on what designers think matters most for landing interviews. Portfolios came out on top. No surprise there.Design leaders often talk about craft. Can you design clean interfaces. Do you have good taste. Does your w...

Yesterday I asked a simple question on LinkedIn:👉 Which job search asset matters most for landing interviews & offers?After 139 votes, here’s where we’re at so far (screenshot above):Portfolio / Case Studies — 61% (85 votes)Networking message —...

When I was a design student in Singapore, I kept asking myself one thing:“How do I stand out when there are 400 new design graduates every year?”At first, it felt impossible.I didn’t come from money. Both my parents are wheelchair users. From young,...

I turned 38 today.Birthdays always make me reflect — not just on what I’ve achieved, but on what I’ve learned (and re-learned).Here are 38 lessons from design, career, and life.Some are personal. Some are professional.I hope at least one resonates wi...

When I relied only on my resume and portfolio, it felt like shouting into the void.Sure, a good portfolio might get me past the recruiter screen. Maybe land me a first call with a hiring manager.But here’s the problem:If the role was in mobile or e-c...