The Design Portfolio Glow-Up template by Janine Loo is a structured, end-to-end portfolio audit designed to help designers refine their work through the lens of a hiring manager. It guides you step by step through evaluating your portfolio, identifying gaps, clarifying impact, and improving visual and storytelling quality so your work communicates clearly and confidently.
This template takes you through a thoughtful review of your portfolio, from first impressions and case study coverage to measurable outcomes and polish. By working left to right, you move from reflection to concrete improvements, making it easier to prioritize what to revise, what to keep, and what to remove. It is built for designers who want a clearer narrative, stronger case studies, and a portfolio that reflects their true level of skill and growth.
Template Features
Portfolio Snapshot and Goals
Set context by defining your target roles, industries, career stage, and what you want hiring managers to remember about your work.
First Impression Audit
Quickly assess visual polish, story clarity, skimmability, and role clarity to identify the most critical areas for improvement.
Case Study Inventory
Create a complete overview of your existing case studies to spot gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for revision or replacement.
Case Study Snapshot Framework
Break down each case study into clear sections covering context, problem framing, decisions, process highlights, outcomes, and learnings.
Impact and Metrics Translator
Turn project outcomes into clear impact statements by articulating what changed, who benefited, and what success looks like.
Visual and UX Polish Checklist
Review typography, layout, hierarchy, spacing, and clarity to ensure each case study meets a high visual standard.
Connected Flow Summary
Use a final document view to synthesize insights across sections and ensure your portfolio tells a cohesive, compelling story.
Benefits
Improve the clarity and structure of your portfolio narrative
Identify which case studies strengthen your story and which ones hold it back
Translate design work into outcomes that hiring managers understand
Raise the overall visual quality and professionalism of your portfolio
Create a repeatable process for ongoing portfolio improvement
Ideal For
UX, product, and UI designers at any career stage
Designers preparing for job applications or portfolio reviews
Career switchers building or restructuring their first portfolio
Designers seeking clearer storytelling and stronger impact articulation
