After a couple of years working as a front end engineer, I am realizing I would like to tra nsition to product design. Things that I could potentially include in my portfolio are: * A calorie tracking mobile app I recently designed and built as a solo side project. It is very simple but the simplicity is very intentional. I made it for a target audience of two (myself and my partner) * An abstract PC action game I designed and built as an independent project, in collaboration with a musician * The scalable animated vector font I built for the game (to match its vector graphics aesthetic). This could include an interactive font tweaking demo and/or a discussion of the C library API design & documentation * A prototype of a social mobility iOS app that I created as a side project for a design comp in collaboration with a graphic designer. I led the product thinking, worked on the copy and UX, and implemented the interactive prototype. This project won an award and we sold the license, BUT it was a few years ago and I no longer have the prototype itself - only the pitch deck * CLI (command line interface) designs for a couple tools I've built for work / school Which of these, if any l, would be appropriate for a portfolio? Do I have any chance with a portfolio made up of side projects like this or do I need to find some way to do product design at my actual day job?
4th one for sure. The others you can leave off in a section of your website for side projects, or keep one or two in your back pocket in case you want to show more work in an interview.
Thank you! Another question if you are in the mood: I have an MFA in game design, which seems highly relevant to me. Do you agree? If so do you have any advice on whether/how to work that into the conversation?
First and fourth are good the best to highlight - assuming the places you apply have mobile products. You might have to take screenshots from your pitch deck and recreate new screens in design software. That should be no problem for a skilled product designer.
Thank you! That should be fun to whip up