Inside the Judging Room: The Design Portfolio Mistakes I See Again and Again

Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash

I’ve just finished judging a national student design competition for Design Truth.

It’s been brilliant — energising, inspiring, and full of promise. But it also surfaced a few design portfolio mistakes I see far too often when reviewing graduate portfolios.

So while it’s fresh, here’s the advice I wish every emerging designer could hear.

Show Your Thinking, Not Just the Outcome

In the age of AI, your render isn’t the part that stands out. The bit we’re really interested in is how you got there — the decisions you made, the iterations you went through, the values that guided you.

If you jump from brief to solution without showing your process, it leaves a gap. Because what we’re really looking for is your human judgement. Your story.

Design for Real People

Empathy isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of good design. That means listening to users, staying open to what they really need, and not just going with what looks cooler on a slide.

Some of the most memorable moments from judging came from those who had a personal connection to the product — people who had lived through the problem themselves, or taken the time to understand what it felt like for others.

That depth matters. It’s what makes your work meaningful.

Pick Your Moments

You’ve got maybe 6 to 10 pages of someone’s attention. Use them well.

Don’t show every step you took — show the ones that made a difference. What insight changed your approach? What prototype surprised you? What feedback helped you pivot?

We don’t need the whole journey. Just the parts that prove you understand the journey.

(Think: Run Lola Run, not Return of the King – Director’s Cut...... Look it up.)

Think Beyond the Object

Consider the whole story — products are more than just objects, they are experiences also.

The difference between a good and great solution is one which has considered what could happen before and after the product's use that can also make the real difference.

Don’t Just Make It Pretty — Make It Work

Yes, a beautiful visual can catch the eye.

But what we really want to know is: can it be made? Can it be used?

Usability, cost, materials, assembly — they all matter. Your job isn’t just to create something elegant. It’s to create something that works in the real world.

Understand How It’s Made

Design for manufacture isn’t just an exploded view at the end. It’s about the whole internal logic of the product — how it fits together, how it’s built, how it holds up in use.

My background is in product design engineering, and I often describe this as designing from the inside out. Ribs, wall thicknesses, direction of assembly — these things tell us whether you’ve thought it through.

Be Intentional About Gender

Whether we realise it or not, design often carries gender cues — from fonts to textures to colour palettes.

Sometimes that’s appropriate. But often, a gender-neutral approach is more inclusive, more future-facing, and just… better.

So think about the signals your design sends. Ask yourself whether they serve the product — or just reflect what you’re used to seeing.

Avoid the design portfolio mistakes

Your portfolio doesn’t need to be perfect. But it does need to be intentional.

Show us your thinking. Show us that you care. Show us what makes you different — not by saying it, but by letting it come through in how you approached the work.

Because when everything flashy can be generated, what we’re really looking for is what only you can bring.

If you're working on your graduate portfolio, what’s been the hardest part to edit down?

Or if you're hiring, what's the one thing you wish every young designer knew?

Drop me a comment below.