Revitalise your design portfolio: Join my 6-week collaborative cohort!
Register your interest to join a unique adventure to refresh your work, connect with peers, and unlock new design potentials — are you in?
Last year, I managed to avoid a huge, annoying, and painful task for 12 months. It's the same task that I’m sure 99.9% of designers also hate doing. You guessed it — updating my portfolio!
To be truly honest, I haven't updated my portfolio in the last two years as I've been fortunate enough to rely on a handful of slides to secure freelance projects. However, I don't want to keep riding that wave of good luck, so this year I’m tackling the portfolio head-on.
But, here’s the thing, I’m world-class procrastinator with a neurodivergent brain. To get things done I need a sense of urgency, novelty, accountability, and the right level of challenge. So, with that in mind, I’m planning a 6-week collaborative cohort to refresh and revitalise my portfolio, and I hope some of you will want to join me in this journey.
🤔 What is a design cohort
Cohort, Mastermind, Community, Accountability Buddies – call it what you like. The definition of 'cohort' goes like this:
Cohort noun [ C, + sing/pl verb ]
A group of people who share a characteristic, usually age.
In our case, the shared characteristic is that we’re all designers looking to work on our portfolios – it's as simple as that.
In my view, a design cohort is essentially a group of people working together on their own projects, but with the support of others. This could mean sharing feedback, asking for help with specific challenges, or simply having a group to vent to when things get tough. The primary purpose is that you're not going through this process alone.
❓Why I’m running a design cohort
The seed was planted in December after I attended an online writing workshop. What really struck me was how participants spontaneously started helping each other in the chat after questions began to appear. I absolutely loved that collaborative spirit — that we can all help each other regardless of if we’re still learning too.
My primary reason for starting this cohort is, admittedly, a bit selfish. I need help staying accountable to get this portfolio done! But at the same time, I'm aware that running a cohort could really benefit others. I really enjoy hosting mentoring sessions, facilitating meetings and workshops, so combining all these elements seemed like a natural step into organising a cohort.
Second to this, I really want to scale my ability to help other designers. Through running these sessions I feel that it will lay a solid foundation to start creating standalone courses, templates, or more workshops, complementing the mentoring I already provide.
🧑🎨 Who is it for
This cohort is ideal for a broad spectrum of designers - whether you're just starting your journey in design or you're an experienced professional seeking to inject some fresh energy into your work.
For this first run, the group will be intentionally small – just five participants plus myself. This is to ensure a focused, intimate setting where everyone can receive individual attention and we can collaboratively iron out any initial challenges. It’s about setting a solid foundation for valuable shared experience.
So I'm looking for participants who are enthusiastic about collaborative growth. You should come ready to engage with others, share insights, and embrace feedback. The goal is to create an environment where everyone is actively contributing and benefiting from the collective experience.
📋 What we’ll cover each week
Over six weeks, I’d like us to embark on a collaborative journey to transform our design portfolios. This isn't your typical classroom setting. Think of it more like a creative online workshop, where each one of us is both a learner and a contributor.
Here’s a sneak peek at what each week will bring to the table:
🗓️ Week 1: Introductions and Goal Setting
We'll kick things off by getting to know each other. Each participant will share their background, current projects, and most importantly, set personal goals for the next six weeks. This session is all about building a foundation for our collaborative journey, understanding each other's aspirations, and establishing a supportive environment. I’ll set up a Figjam or Miro board before hand so we can all record our goals and I’ll share prep work for the following week.
🗓️ Week 2: Crafting a Standout Portfolio
This week delves into the essentials of a compelling portfolio. We'll explore strategies to effectively tell the story of our projects, discussing what makes a portfolio not just good, but great. Expect an interactive session with shared insights and examples, as we dissect the art of portfolio storytelling together.
🗓️ Week 3: Progress Sharing and Problem-Solving
Halfway through, we’ll regroup to share our progress. This session is about open collaboration - think of it as a group troubleshooting session. We'll address any roadblocks you've encountered and brainstorm solutions as a team. It's an opportunity to both give and receive advice and to leverage our collective wisdom.
🗓️ Week 4: Constructive Feedback Session
Feedback is gold, and this week is dedicated to refining our work through constructive critiques. Each participant will present their progress, and together we'll provide feedback aimed at fine-tuning and elevating each other's portfolios. It's a safe space to learn from each other and to see your work through fresh eyes.
🗓️ Week 5: The Grand Finale
We end on a high note with a showcase of our revamped portfolios! This is a celebration of all the hard work, progress (even if that’s not a finished portfolio!), and breakthroughs. It's not just about presenting your portfolio but also sharing your journey and sharing feedback about the last 6 weeks and your thoughts on the cohort.
🙏🏻 What I hope we achieve
I’m excited and really hopeful about this experiment. This cohort is more than just a series of meetings; it's a platform for growth, learning, and mutual support. Here’s a few things I’m hoping we can take away from the experience:
Portfolio revival: The primary goal is that everyone walks away from the 6 weeks with a revamped portfolio that truly showcases their skills and experiences.
Skill development: While the focus is on portfolios, I’m hoping that we can hone our abilities in areas like storytelling, giving and receiving feedback, and problem-solving – skills that are invaluable in any designer's toolkit.
Building a support network: Your network is your net worth. The biggest asset to your design career is who you know. And many people don’t know how to start building this network. So I’m hopeful this cohort is an opportunity to connect with fellow designers, creating a network of peers you can turn to for advice, feedback, and inspiration long after our six weeks are up.
💎 Interested in joining this journey and making your portfolio shine?
As this is the first time I’m hosting a recurring meet-up, I’d love for 5 people to join me on this experiment. It’s free – all you need to commit to is 1 hour of your time for online calls, once a week for 6 weeks. I’m looking to start the sessions the first or second week of February.
Register your interest below, and let's finally tackle those pesky portfolios together!
Before I go, here is this week's top jobs I found that I wanted to share with you.
🤑 Jobs
Motorway: Product Designer
Motorway is seeking a talented Product Designer to join our expanding team. Day-to-day you will be part of a cross-functional squad working alongside a Product Manager and Engineers, responsible for designing best-in-class experiences for car sellers.
Cuckoo: Senior Digital Designer
Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey with us? We’re on the lookout for a Senior Digital Designer who’s not just skilled but truly passionate about creating designs that resonate. Join us on our mission to disrupt the UK broadband market by prioritising service and customer experience.
Twine: UX/UI Designer
We're a thriving ecosystem of top-tier freelancers from around the world. Trusted by Fortune 500 companies and Silicon Valley startups, Twine is the go-to platform for mission-critical projects. We are seeking a UX/UI Designer for a London-based startup aimed at advancing the state-of-the-art of Artificial Intelligence.
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Got questions or just fancy a natter? I'm all ears! Drop me an email at liz@skyburgerstudio.co.uk or ping me a message on LinkedIn. Would love hearing from you!
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