Design
Nov 18, 2025
Design Your Portfolio Like a Product: Lessons from Wolt’s Tracy Tan
Most design portfolios don’t fall short because the work isn’t good, but because they don’t show the thinking behind the work. They highlight outcomes, but not the insight, decisions, and care that led there.
So I sat down with Tracy Tan, a Design Lead at Wolt, to unpack what makes a portfolio actually stand out. Tracy has reviewed countless portfolios throughout her career, and in this conversation, she breaks down what catches her eye, what makes her lose interest, and how designers can build portfolios that feel thoughtful, engaging, and true to who they are.
Our conversation became a masterclass in clarity, craft, and care — and a reminder that your portfolio is not just a folder of projects. It’s your product.
First Impressions Matter
When you look at a great design portfolio, what’s the first thing that catches your eye?
The way your portfolio is designed already shows your craft before I even read a single word. I notice it right away: the intentionality in your typography choices, how you balance hierarchy, whether your spacing feels deliberate or accidental, and the way interactions flow, how things move and respond. They all tell me how deeply you care. Every one of those decisions reveals your design maturity before I even get to your projects.
“Your portfolio is your first design project.”
Choosing What to Include
How should designers decide what to include?
Start with the projects you’re proud of. It shows me what good design means to you.
It doesn’t have to be all professional work. If you’ve done something personal that you’re really proud of — a side project, an app concept, an experimental redesign — include it. That shows curiosity and initiative.
Think about range too. Try to show projects that highlight different strengths and from different companies. Together, they help me see your depth.
And don’t forget to include something recent - we want to see how you think and design now.
Tip: Show what makes you proud and how wide you can go.
Reworking and Redesigning Projects
Sometimes we see portfolios where people redesign something that already exists or rework an old project. Do you think that’s useful?
It can be, if it’s done right. Looking back on your work and asking, “What would I do differently now?” shows growth and self-awareness.
What I love to see is when designers start from magic and then show the steps they’ve taken to make it real. What I wouldn’t recommend is creating something just for the sake of it. The best version is when you show the connection between ambition and execution — what you wanted to do and what you managed to achieve.
Showing Process Without Overdoing It
Let’s talk about the process. How much should designers show?
Enough for me to understand your decisions — but not every step.
Tell me the story behind it. Show how you framed the problem, what options you’ve considered, what decisions you made?For instance, don’t just show the double diamond, wireframes, sticky notes, and flowcharts to check the box. Show the moment you realised the first approach wasn’t working, the few directions you tried, and the interaction detail that finally made the solution click. Show a prototype where you went above and beyond — the magic version — and then how you brought that magic into reality. That’s where I see your taste and judgment.
Start with what you built. Then tell me how you got there.
Storytelling That Engages
When it comes to storytelling, how should designers present their work?
Imagine you’re telling a friend about something you love. You'd probably say, “Look what I made! Here’s how it works, and here’s how we figured it out.” That’s the kind of energy that makes a portfolio engaging.
It shouldn’t feel like a formal report. It should feel like a story.
Show, don’t tell.
The Most Common Mistakes
What are some of the most common mistakes you see in portfolios?
Oh, a few come to mind right away.
Relying only on static images. Design is interactive. If I can’t see how your product moves or behaves, I can’t understand the quality of your work.
Overloading text. I shouldn’t have to scroll forever before I find your design. Put your proudest work front and center.
Not making your role clear. If it was a team project, tell me what you personally did.
Hiding the good stuff. Sometimes the images are tiny or blurry, or the mockups are on tilted phones you can barely see. That doesn’t do your work justice.
These are small things, but they really change how your work is perceived.
Make your work visible and understandable.
Starting From Scratch
If someone is just starting to build their portfolio, what should they focus on first?
Think about the project that made you excited, even if they’re small. The moment you felt, “Yes, this is why I do what I do.” Start from there.
And honestly, when someone enjoys what they’re doing, it shows. No one can compete with a designer who’s having fun. You can see it in the details — how someone talks about their work, how they present it. Passion is impossible to fake.
"No one can compete with someone who’s having fun."
I really like that. Even from a recruiter’s perspective, I feel the same. Sometimes you can just tell when a designer cares: When they love what they do.
Exactly. I always say, you can tell when someone gives a damn. When they care about the craft and customers.
A strong portfolio isn’t about volume, it’s about intention. It tells the story of how you think, what you value, and how you turn ideas into something real.
As Tracy puts it, your portfolio is your first design project. Design it with the same love and thoughtfulness you put into everything else you create.
Treat it as a living product: iterate on it, refine it, and let it evolve as you do. Because your portfolio doesn’t just show what you’ve made, it shows who you are as a designer.
If you’re looking to put these ideas into practice, here are eight takeaways from Tracy’s advice — simple principles to guide you as you shape (or reshape) your own portfolio.
8 Tips to Build a Strong Design Portfolio
✅ Start with your best work: Show your strongest projects first — your work speaks before your words.
✅ Treat your portfolio like your product: Every layout and detail reflects your design taste.
✅ Show range and depth: Mix projects that show business impact, craft, and creativity.
✅ Lead with outcomes, not process: Show what you built, then explain how you got there.
✅ Tell stories, not reports: Keep it human, concise, and engaging.
✅ Show it in motion: Use prototypes or short clips to bring your work to life.
✅ Make your role clear: Specify what you personally did in each project.
✅ Let your passion show: The energy and care you bring to your work always stand out.
Your portfolio tells your story — and maybe the next chapter could be here with us! Take a look at our open design positions and see where your craft could make an impact. This is Wolt design.
A conversation with Wolt Design Lead, Tracy Tan
By Bato Tominaj, Talent Acquisition Partner at Wolt
