How to Fix Boring Case Studies

The harsh truth

Be honest for a moment. Is your case study actually saying something worth remembering?

Most UX/UI case studies follow the same predictable structure:

• Challenge

• Research

• Empathy

• Prototype

• Final design

This isn’t storytelling. It’s a checklist. And recruiters have seen it hundreds of times.

The real problem

Case studies fail for the same reason again and again. They explain what you did but never prove why you matter.

• Process ≠ value

• Screens ≠ impact

• Effort ≠ relevance

Showing that you followed a design process doesn’t demonstrate judgment. Showing a polished UI doesn’t demonstrate decision-making. And showing effort doesn’t demonstrate business or user impact.

How to fix boring case studies

Your role as a designer is to convince. Treat every case study as an argument for your thinking, not a timeline of activities.

Use storytelling

A timeline is not a story.

“We conducted research, defined personas, ideated, tested, and iterated” is not compelling. Stories have tension. They have uncertainty, trade-offs, constraints, and moments where a decision could have gone wrong.

Frame your work around problems, risks, and turning points. Show where your judgment changed the outcome. If you wish to learn more about how to write a case study, you can check out our article on the topic.

Focus on standing out

Your case study should make it clear what you believe and why.

If your work looks like everyone else’s, you’ve already lost. Standing out doesn’t mean being loud—it means being opinionated. Make it obvious which decisions mattered and which insights shaped the direction.

• Use visual hierarchy, not decoration

• Show decision-making, not just polished Uls

• Repeat brand signals intentionally

The test

Before you publish, ask yourself:

• Would I read this if I weren’t me?

• Can someone easily quote a sentence from this?

• Is there a moment that makes the reader pause or think differently?

If the answer is no, the case study still needs work.

Don’t scream “hire me”

Great case studies don’t beg for attention.

They quietly leave the reader thinking: This person sees things differently. That thought is far more powerful than any call to action.

Final thoughts

A strong UX/UI case study isn’t about proving you followed the right steps. It’s about proving you can think, decide, and influence outcomes under real constraints. Recruiters don’t hire processes or screens—they hire judgment.

When your case studies shift from documentation to persuasion, they stop blending in. They start signaling how you think, what you value, and why your decisions matter. That’s what turns a portfolio from “fine” into memorable.