Thoughts
,
May 21, 2025

When You Can’t Show the Work (But Still Did the Work)

When You Can’t Show the Work (But Still Did the Work)

It’s one of the hardest parts of being a designer!
doing work you’re genuinely proud of
and not being able to show it.

Because of NDAs.
Because the agency owns the work.
Because your name’s not on it, even if your ideas are all over it.

And here’s the thing , I get why that happens.
I’ve signed the agreements.
I’ve done the client work under someone else’s brand.
I respect the boundaries.

But when it comes to applying for jobs?
That nuance doesn’t always translate.

“Can I See Your Portfolio?”

Sometimes people glance at a site for 10 seconds and move on.
No case studies? No screenshots?
They think there’s nothing there.

But behind the scenes?
I’ve done the strategy.
The design systems.
The prototypes.
The testing.
The reworks.
The stress.

I’ve put energy into projects that pushed me
stretched me
taught me
and yet… I can’t post them.

And after a long day solving problems for someone else,
the idea of spinning up a “fake” project just to have something pretty in a portfolio?
Yeah. It doesn’t always happen.

One Company Got It Right

I worked for a company once that set Fridays aside
Half the day was for improving your own skills
The other half? Making something better in the business

Looking back, that was golden.
That’s the time I could’ve used to build up my portfolio
but I didn’t always take it.

Because the truth is
when you’ve poured all your creative energy into the actual work
you don’t always have anything left over for the showing of the work

We Need to Talk About This More

Not all design is portfolio-friendly.
And not all brilliant designers have shiny websites.

Sometimes the best work happens behind closed doors
under someone else’s name
within systems that don’t allow public credit

And while I totally get the need for proof in hiring
I also think we need to leave room for conversation
for trust
for context

Ask us about the work
Let us walk you through the thinking
Even if we can’t post the pictures

Final Thought

If you’re a designer stuck in this space
You’re not alone
And it doesn’t make your work less valuable

Keep the notes
Keep the reflections
Talk about what you learnt
Even if you can’t show the screens

You’ve still done the work
And that counts

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