Presenting the work behind the work - My thoughts on great portfolio storytelling
I’ve spent years crafting products that solve complex problems, leading design teams through ambiguity, and shaping systems that scale. But one of the most unexpectedly difficult things to design has been... my own story.
Whether you're interviewing for a new role, sharing a case study internally, or presenting your portfolio on stage, there's a moment where you have to turn the lens on yourself. That moment is powerful, and a little uncomfortable.
Over time, I’ve come to appreciate that great presentations aren’t about impressing people. They’re about connecting with them. They’re about showing the thinking behind the work, the people behind the pixels, and the why behind the choices.
Here’s what I’ve learned along the way, and what I keep reminding myself when it’s my turn to step up and present.
1. Lead with story, not slides
A portfolio isn’t a pitch deck or a product demo. It’s a narrative. The best ones feel more like sitting around a campfire than reading out bullet points.
Start with a problem. Set the scene. Help people understand why it mattered, not just what you did. This matters even more if you’ve spent a long time at one company or in a niche industry (like telematics). The context that feels obvious to you probably isn’t obvious to the audience. Use plain language. Keep it human.
If I can explain a case study to a non-designer friend, and they get it - I know I’m on the right track.
2. Balance is everything
The sweet spot in a presentation is somewhere between leadership and craft, team and individual, strategy and execution.
Too high-level? You risk sounding detached.
Too in the weeds? It can feel like you're not thinking big enough.
A structure I’ve found helpful is to break a case study into two layers:
Vision: What was the big-picture goal? What user and business needs were at stake?
Execution: What did we do? How did we adapt? What were the results?
And most importantly, what wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been involved? That’s not ego. That’s clarity.
3. Show how you think
This is where you can make a big difference.
Most designers talk about what they did. But great presentations show how you think.
What questions did you ask early?
What trade-offs did you navigate?
How did you approach ambiguity?
How did you lead others through it?
One of the most memorable stories I ever told in an interview wasn’t about a launch, it was about a project we decided not to ship, because the research told us something uncomfortable. That decision built more trust than the polished deliverables.
4. Your voice matters
Your presentation is one of the few times in design leadership when the spotlight is fully on you. Embrace it. Use it to show people who you are, how you think, and what you care about.
That could come through in the typography you choose, your tone of voice, the way you explain a tough call you had to make, or a principle you kept returning to when things got hard.
For me, I try to reflect the values that guide my work, curiosity, clarity, collaboration. And a bit of mountain grit, if I’m honest.
5. Refine like you mean it
Your presentation deck is yours. No cross-functional dependencies. No stakeholder rounds. Just you, your story, and your bar for quality.
Design it like you would any product, with intention. Think about flow, layout, pacing. Don’t just “throw together a deck” and hope your words carry it. This is part of how you’re evaluated, especially as a design leader.
Ask yourself: Would I be proud to send this to a hiring manager at a company I love?
6. Keep it real
Please, don’t read from a script. Don’t rush. Don’t undersell your work by saying, “It’s just a quick example.” If it made your highlight reel, it deserves confidence. Speak naturally. Take your time. Let the pauses breathe.
And when you talk about your motivation, why you’re excited about a company or opportunity, be specific. Generic enthusiasm is forgettable. Real curiosity isn’t.
Final thoughts
There’s no perfect formula for presenting your portfolio. Every audience is different. Every company values slightly different things. But the presentations that have stayed with me, both ones I’ve given and ones I’ve watched, had one thing in common:
They were clear, honest, and human.
So if you’re preparing for your next interview, don’t start by opening Figma or Keynote. Start by asking yourself:
What am I proud of?
What did I learn?
What would I want someone to remember about me after I walk out of the room?
Then build from there.
The goal isn’t to impress. It’s to resonate.
View my Leadership Deck here.
