Product Design & UX Research Portfolio Accelerator

4.7 (7)

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3 Weeks

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Cohort-based Course

Hands-on portfolio workshops. 1:1 feedback. Case study slide templates. Proven frameworks that help you get hired.

Worked with / hired to

Capital One
Autodesk
Prudential
WSIB

Course overview

Craft your portfolio & case studies with confidence

The job market for product designers and UX researchers is more competitive than ever. There are hundreds of portfolios, dozens of interviews, and only a few coveted roles.


How will you stand out?


It’s the hiring manager who makes the final call, and I’ve been on that side of the table. I know exactly what makes candidates stand out, even in a crowded market.


In this 3-week course, I’ll help you craft compelling case studies and ace your interviews with confidence.


We’ll dive into everything you need to land your dream role, from building a standout tagline to refining your “About Me” section and mastering case studies using 6 storytelling frameworks proven to get you hired.


In the workshop How to Ace Portfolio Review Interviews, I’ll guide you through a real-life example of applying the storytelling framework to your case study, using an interview-ready case study slide templates. By the end, you’ll learn how to:  


- Capture and maintain the interviewer’s attention from start to finish.  

- Share compelling stories that highlight your design expertise, while showcasing your communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and empathy-driven insights with measurable impact.


Plus, I offer a 1-hour 1:1 session with me to answer any questions you have, provide personalized feedback on your current portfolio, to make your next interview prep a breeze.


Limited to 10 participants per cohort.


Once they’re filled, enrollment will close. I want to make sure I offer personalized guidance for every participant.


-------------------------------------------------


Success Stories


I’ve successfully mentored 30+ product designers and UX researchers, helping them land full-time roles at their dream companies.


Alumni are now working at: Service Australia, Hydro One, MetLife, One North, Precision Technologies, stealth startups, and freelancing globally.

This course is for...

01

Self-taught, bootcamp early-career product designers and UX researchers who want to break into UX design and land their first job.

02

Product designers and UX researchers with 1+ years of working experience who are looking to advance in their career.

03

This course is not for product design directors or VP-level design leaders. Its focus is also not on the leadership level job prospects.

What you’ll get out of this course (value $1,677)

Full access to the course (value $549)

Full access to the course content with recordings.

Guaranteed a 1:1 Session with me (value $250)

Get personalized, actionable feedback on your portfolio and answers to your interview questions, career advice, and personal branding.

3 interactive and hands-on workshops (value $680)

You’ll learn how to present your case study in a realistic interview setting, receive tailored feedback, and practice techniques that help you advance to the next stage of the interview.

Interview-ready case study Figma Slides Template (value $198)

Streamline your interview preparation with ready-to-use, professional slides that showcase your design and research impacts that impress hiring managers.

Lifetime updates and VIP access to all future cohorts


This course includes

3 interactive live sessions

Lifetime access to course materials

21 in-depth lessons

Direct access to instructor

7 projects to apply learnings

Guided feedback & reflection

Private community of peers

Course certificate upon completion

Maven Satisfaction Guarantee

This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.

Course syllabus

Week 1

Feb 10—Feb 16

    Feb

    13

    🎬 Workshop: 6 Storytelling Frameworks for Portfolio

    Thu 2/1312:15 AM—1:45 AM (UTC)

    Foundational Storytelling Frameworks for Portfolio

    3 items • Free preview

    Advanced Storytelling Frameworks

    2 items

    Improving Your Portfolio Quality from Good to Great

    4 items

    How-to: Crafting Emotionally Appealing Case Studies

    2 items

Week 2

Feb 17—Feb 23

    Feb

    20

    🎬 Workshop: How to Ace Portfolio Review Interview

    Thu 2/2012:15 AM—1:45 AM (UTC)

    A Step-by-Step Guide on Crafting Your Portfolio Presentation

    2 items

    Crafting Depth with Your Overview & Context

    1 item

    How to Talk About Impact

    1 item

    Presenting Your Case Study with Confidence

    2 items

Week 3

Feb 24—Mar 1

    Feb

    28

    🌟 Office Hour: Portfolio Feedbacks & Q&A

    Fri 2/2812:15 AM—1:15 AM (UTC)

    Personal Branding and Good Examples

    3 items

    Understanding Hiring Manager's POV

    2 items

    Frequently Asked Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

    3 items

    Book Your 1:1 with Me

    1 item

Bonus

    Advance Your UX Career: Ongoing Mentorship with Alicia

    1 item • Free preview

    🔗 Workshop: Portfolio Presentation Figma Slides Template

    1 item

4.7 (7 ratings)

What students are saying

What people are saying

        Meeting Alicia as my mentor has been one of the best parts of my UX journey. She has been supportive since day 1, creating a safe community for me as a fellow woman of color in tech. My favorite thing about her is her sincerity—Alicia is a mentor who isn’t afraid to give you critique and truly challenge you to become a better UX designer.
Lydia Han

Lydia Han

UX Strategist @ One North
        I recently switched jobs and joined MetLife insurance company. I am extremely grateful for Alicia's guidance during my initial learning journey and for all the valuable advice she provided. I often refer back to the notes she gave me while working on my portfolio to make it more compelling.
Haruka Minamino

Haruka Minamino

UX Designer @ MetLife
        Alicia was an inspiring and patient mentor, couldn’t recommend her highly enough. Her honest critiques, insightful guidance and words of encouragement were all incredibly valuable for me as a (not so young) whipper snapper making a covid-inspired career pivot into UX Design. Thanks Alicia!
Danny Melham

Danny Melham

Assistant Director - Lead Service Designer @ Service Australia
         I had the privilege of being mentored by Alicia. Her guidance was instrumental in shaping my understanding of UX. Beyond the curriculum, Alicia offered invaluable insights, encouragement and support not just professional but personal growth. I'm deeply grateful for her mentorship and the impact it continues to have on my journey in the field.
Le Trang Nguyen

Le Trang Nguyen

Product Designer @ le trang STUDIO

Meet your instructor

Alicia Zhong

Alicia Zhong

Alicia Zhong is a UX career mentor who is dedicated to helping BIPOC product designers and UX researchers advance in their career.


With almost 8 years of experience in UX design research, Alicia is the founder and principal user researcher at Future Insight Group. She specializes in cross-cultural research in APAC countries.


Alicia has collaborated with clients such as Capital One, Autodesk, Prediential, and WSIB. Her design work has been recognized and honored by the Core77 Service Design Awards.


Being an immigrant herself, she understands the challenges and obstacles that individuals face when trying to break into the UX industry. Her goal is to promote diversity and foster the growth of a more inclusive and ethical future.

A pattern of wavy dots

Join an upcoming cohort

Product Design & UX Research Portfolio Accelerator

Cohort 3

$549

Dates

Feb 10—Mar 1, 2025

Payment Deadline

Feb 10, 2025
Get reimbursed

Course schedule

4-6 hours per week

  • Week One: 6 Storytelling Frameworks for Portfolio Workshop

    7:15 PM—8:45 PM (EST)

    Interactive workshop where we'll talk through case studies storytelling frameworks + complete short activities designed to help you solidify what you've learned.

  • Week Two: How to Ace Portfolio Review Interview Workshop

    7:15 PM—8:45 PM (EST)

    I’ll walk you through a live demo of a B2B case study to show how storytelling keeps hiring managers engaged. We’ll focus on pacing your delivery, sharpening your narrative, and improving presentation clarity. 

  • Week Three: Portfolio Feedbacks & Q&A

    7:00 PM—8:00 PM (EST)

    On Fridays, we hold live portfolio feedback sessions and Q&As to address any questions you may have throughout the week. This is a great opportunity to listen and learn from your peers.

  • Guaranteed a 1:1 Session with Me (Value $250)

    1 hour 

    You will get a 60-minute 1:1 coaching session with me for personalized feedback on their portfolio, resume, career goals, and overcoming any career roadblocks.

  • Take-Home Project

    2 - 3 hours per week

    Complete the home assignments on time and get personalized feedback from me on strengths and areas for improvements!

Free resource

Foundational Storytelling Frameworks for Portfolio

Your portfolio isn’t just a collection of projects; it’s your story.

In a crowded UX job market, your ability to craft a compelling narrative is what sets you apart. This framework gives you a clear, actionable way to make your portfolio stand out and position you as the obvious hire. 


Download the framework now and get one step closer to landing your dream role.

Get this free resource

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

Frequently Asked Questions

A pattern of wavy dots

Join an upcoming cohort

Product Design & UX Research Portfolio Accelerator

Cohort 3

$549

Dates

Feb 10—Mar 1, 2025

Payment Deadline

Feb 10, 2025
Get reimbursed

$549

4.7 (7)

·

3 Weeks