Design practice

Case Study Workshop

Structure, write, and get feedback on a portfolio case study

Start the exercise

01 / Prepare

What you’ll
work on.

Write a portfolio case study for a project you've completed, following a structured framework that demonstrates process and decision-making. Then get feedback from a peer or mentor using a provided critique rubric.

Before you begin

  • A completed design project (professional, personal, or from a previous exercise)
  • Screenshots, process artifacts, or Figma files from the project
  • One person willing to review your case study (peer, mentor, or community member)

02 / Practice

The work,
step by step.

Work through these 4 parts at your own pace. Keep your notes and work together so you can review them when you finish.

  1. Select and Gather

    30 min

    1. Choose a project — Pick one where you can show the full arc: problem → process → solution → outcome

    2. Gather artifacts — Screenshots, wireframes, research notes, prototypes, metrics if available

    3. Identify the narrative — What was the challenge? What did you learn? What was the outcome?

  2. Write the Case Study

    120–180 min

    1. Overview (2–3 sentences) — What the project was, your role, the outcome

    2. Context — The company/product, the problem or opportunity, why it mattered

    3. Research & Discovery — What you learned about users, the market, or the problem space. Include methods used.

    4. Process — How you explored solutions. Show sketches, wireframes, alternatives you considered. Explain why you chose the direction you did.

    5. Solution — The final design with enough detail to understand the decisions. Annotate key decisions.

    6. Outcome — Metrics, user feedback, team impact, or what you learned. Be honest about what worked and what didn't.

    7. Reflection — What you'd do differently. This shows self-awareness.

  3. Self-Edit

    30 min

    1. Cut anything that doesn't help the reader understand your thinking

    2. Replace jargon with clear language

    3. Ensure every image has a caption explaining what it shows

    4. Read it aloud — does it flow?

  4. Peer Review

    60 min

    1. Share the case study with your reviewer

    2. Give them the critique rubric

    3. Discuss their feedback

    4. Make revisions

03 / Review

Look at what
you’ve made.

Gather your deliverables, then use the criteria to find what worked and what you would change. They also give a peer something specific to respond to.

What to bring together

  • Written case study (1,500–2,500 words + images)
  • Peer review feedback notes
  • Revised version incorporating feedback

How to assess your work

Narrative structure
Clear arc from problem to outcome
Process visibility
Shows thinking, not just output
Honesty
Acknowledges constraints and lessons learned
Polish
Well-written, well-captioned, appropriate length

Choose your
next exercise.

Browse all exercises