1. Decentralized teams want generalists
If you are targeting embedded product roles, show breadth: research, definition, design, validation on one surface. Centralized agency work wants depth in a specialization instead.
2. AI fluency is part of staying relevant
We opened the session noting that helping designers grow with AI tools is part of the mission now. Portfolios that ignore AI entirely miss a signal many job descriptions already ask for.
3. Freelance without senior mentorship shows
Several candidates had client work but no experience under a design lead. The portfolio has to compensate — show self-directed critique, clear process, and business framing you would normally learn from a senior.
4. Webflow because ChatGPT said so
Picking a platform because an LLM recommended it is fine for starting. Understanding why you chose it — and what trade-offs you accepted — is what belongs in your about page or case study meta.
5. Storytelling is the whole game
Words, presentation, and how you bring a reviewer along matter as much as the pixels. Objective feedback on a portfolio is really feedback on whether you are showing enough thought.
