How Many Case Studies a UX Research Portfolio Really Needs

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

When I first started building my UX research portfolio, I faced a common question: how many case studies should I include? It’s tempting to showcase every project I’ve worked on, but I quickly learned that quality matters more than quantity. A portfolio packed with too many case studies can overwhelm hiring managers and dilute your strongest work. On the other hand, too few case studies might leave gaps in demonstrating your skills and process.

In this post, I’ll share what I’ve learned about the ideal number of case studies for a UX research portfolio. I’ll explain why focusing on a few well-crafted projects works best and how to choose which ones to include. Whether you’re just starting out or updating your portfolio, this guide will help you present your work clearly and effectively.

A UX researcher’s workspace showing notes and digital tools for case study preparation

Why Less Is More in UX Research Portfolios

When I began, I thought more case studies meant more proof of my skills. But I found that hiring managers don’t want to read through a dozen lengthy projects. They want to see your ability to tell a clear story, explain your research methods, and show impact.

Three to five case studies is a good range to aim for. This number lets you:

• Show a variety of research methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys)

• Highlight different types of projects or industries

• Demonstrate your problem-solving and communication skills

  
  

Too many case studies can make your portfolio feel scattered. It’s better to focus on a few projects where you can dive deep into your process and results.

How to Choose Which Case Studies to Include

Selecting the right case studies is key. I recommend picking projects that:

• Showcase your strengths: Choose work where you had a clear role and made a strong contribution.

• Cover different skills: Include a mix of qualitative and quantitative research, or projects with different goals.

• Have measurable impact: Highlight cases where your research influenced design decisions or business outcomes.

• Tell a compelling story: Pick projects with interesting challenges and clear results.

  
  

For example, one of my case studies focused on improving onboarding for a mobile app through user interviews and usability testing. Another showed how I used survey data to identify pain points in an e-commerce checkout flow. These projects together demonstrated my range and impact.

How to Structure Each Case Study

Each case study should be easy to follow and focused. I use a simple structure:

• Context: Briefly explain the project background and your role.

• Problem: Define the research question or challenge.

• Method: Describe the research methods you used.

• Findings: Summarize key insights.

• Impact: Show how your research influenced the product or team.

  
  

This structure helps hiring managers quickly understand your approach and results. Avoid overwhelming them with too much detail or jargon.

When to Add More Case Studies

As your experience grows, you might want to add new case studies. I update my portfolio every 6 to 12 months to replace older projects with more recent work that better reflects my skills.

If you have a new project that:

• Demonstrates a new skill or method

• Shows work in a different industry or product type

• Has a strong impact story

  
  

then it’s worth adding. But remember to remove older or weaker case studies to keep your portfolio focused.

A tablet screen displaying a detailed UX research case study with charts and notes

Tips for Making Your Portfolio Stand Out

Beyond the number of case studies, how you present them matters. Here are some tips I’ve found useful:

• Use visuals like charts, personas, or journey maps to support your story.

• Write clearly and avoid jargon.

• Highlight your role and contributions explicitly.

• Include reflections on what you learned or would do differently.

• Make your portfolio easy to navigate with clear headings and summaries.

  
  

Final Thoughts on Portfolio Case Studies

Choosing how many case studies to include is about balance. Three to five well-chosen projects let you show your skills clearly without overwhelming your audience. Focus on quality, variety, and impact to make your portfolio memorable.