Mastering the Art of Presenting a UX Case Study in Job Interviews

Learn how to present a UX case study in job interviews with practical tips and insights. From understanding the purpose of the case study to showing your passion for UX design.

Christopher Nguyen
4 min readAug 12, 2024
How to present a UX Case Study in job interviews

A Comprehensive Guide to Presenting Your Case Study Effectively

Hello my UX friends,

Securing your dream UX job often hinges on your ability to effectively present a UX case study during an interview (UX case study presentation).

This isn’t merely a display of your skills and experience, but a demonstration of your thought process, problem-solving prowess, and your approach to design challenges.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the art of presenting a UX case study in job interviews (UX job interview case study), offering practical tips and insights to help you excel in your next UX interview.

Let’s go 🚀

Understanding the Purpose of Your UX Case Study Presentation

The initial step in preparing your UX case study for an interview is comprehending its purpose.

🔸 It’s your opportunity to exhibit your:

  • Design process
  • Problem-solving capabilities
  • Approach to feedback and iteration.

For example, when I presented my case study on redesigning an HR website, I emphasised how I integrated user feedback into each design iteration.

Choosing the Right UX Case Study

Not all case studies are equal.

Select a project that highlights your strengths, demonstrates your problem-solving abilities, and aligns with the type of work you aspire to do in the future.

🔸 Choose a case study that underscores your skills in this area. If you’re applying for a role that requires extensive user research, for instance:

  • Problem-solving capabilities
  • Approach to feedback and iteration.

Telling a Compelling Story

Your case study should narrate a compelling story.

Begin with the problem you aimed to solve → explain your process → conclude with the results.

🔸 Be sure to spotlight any challenges you encountered and how you solved them.

In my case study on developing a mobile app for an international airline, I discussed the challenge of designing for a diverse user base and how I utilised user personas to tackle this issue.

Perfecting Your Presentation: Practice Makes Perfect

Rehearse your presentation until you can articulate your case study confidently and lucidly.

🔸 Personally, I rehearsed my presentation numerous times before any interview, focusing on my tone, pace, and body language.

Preparing for UX Case Study Interview Questions: What to Expect

Be prepared to answer questions about your case study, including ones that may seem unexpected.

Interviewers may inquire about your decision-making process, the tools you used, how you handled feedback and more.

🔸 Real-life example:

When I interviewed any designer on a UX case study, I usually asked why they chose a particular colour scheme.

This was to see if the designer could justify their design decision based on the brand’s identity and user preferences.

Showing Your Passion: The Key to UX Design Interview

Finally, let your passion for UX design shine through.

Exhibit enthusiasm for your work and its impact on users and businesses.

🔸 Extra tip:

Throughout an interview presentation, I always make sure to express my excitement about the potential of UX design to improve people’s lives (and it worked!).

Summary

Here’s how you can master your next UX case study in any job interview step-by-step:

  1. Understand the Purpose of the Case Study
  2. Choose the Right Case Study
  3. Tell a relevant Story
  4. Practice Your Presentation
  5. Prepare for Questions
  6. Show Your Passion

Remember, a well-presented case study can distinguish you from other candidates.

It’s your opportunity to show potential employers not just what you can do, but how you think and approach design challenges (especially in UX portfolio case study).

Best of luck with your next UX job interview! ☘️

Do you want to dive deeper into the insights UX design job interviews?

If so, grab a bowl of popcorn, settle into your comfiest chair, and watch this playlist:

UX Interviews Masterclass Trailer

There, you’ll find a few insightful videos that explore the ins and outs of the UX design job interview process. It’s packed with valuable tips, real-life examples, and expert advice that will help you navigate this exciting journey with confidence.

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📥 Email hello@uxplaybook.org if you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions.

Hey 👋 I’m Chris, the Founder of UX Playbook.

Here’s more about me:

👨‍🏫 I’m a Ex-Head of Design, with 10 years of experience in tech, building products & teams

🦄 I worked with Fortune 100s like Google, Nike, Coca Cola, 21st Century Fox, and startup unicorns

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 I’ve built a community of over 62,000 designers

🤝 I’ve supported over 11,000 designers with my free UX resources, blog posts, and mentorship

🚀 I’ve been the founding designer for 8 startups

💸 I previously grew my own freelance one-person UX consultancy to $26,000/month then burnt out

Want more from me? Follow me on LinkedIn.

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Christopher Nguyen
Christopher Nguyen

Written by Christopher Nguyen

I help UX designers go from Fuzziness to Focused to Freedom

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