Make your experience prove you're right for the role you want next
A polished portfolio won't help if it doesn't show the right evidence for the role you want next.
Instead of spending weeks redesigning and guessing what hiring teams want, this course gives you a practical process for deciding what your portfolio actually needs.
Through hands-on exercises, you'll work with real job descriptions and your own projects to identify the hiring signals that matter, find the strongest evidence in your work and evaluate where your portfolio is falling short.
We'll work through everything from positioning and project selection to case study storytelling, portfolio UX, NDAs and how you present your work.
By the end, you'll have more than a list of best practices. You'll have a clear portfolio strategy and a prioritized action plan for what to keep, change, remove or build next.
What you’ll learn
Learn how hiring teams evaluate portfolios, then use that knowledge to position yours.
Decode real job descriptions to uncover the signals hiring teams are looking for.
Turn those signals into clear priorities for your portfolio.
Identify which projects and experiences provide the strongest evidence for your target role.
Reframe your work to make your strengths, level and contribution easier to see.
Build case studies around decisions, trade-offs, collaboration and impact, not just process.
Tell strong stories even when your best work is under NDA or you don't have perfect metrics.
Structure your portfolio so your value is clear quickly.
Make intentional choices about content, layout and motion instead of adding them for aesthetics.
Learn directly from Justine
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Who this course is for
Experienced designers improving their portfolio
Designers preparing for their next career move
Designers moving into a specialisation
What's included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Justine Montgomery in a real-time, interactive format.
1:1 portfolio review
Get dedicated time with me to review your portfolio, work through what’s unclear and decide what to prioritise next.
Portfolio strategy toolkit
Work through practical frameworks and exercises to decode roles, identify hiring signals and build your portfolio strategy.
Portfolio + case study audit
Evaluate your existing portfolio and projects against the roles you want, and identify what to keep, change or strengthen.
NDA storytelling framework
Learn practical ways to communicate confidential work, your contribution and impact without revealing what you can’t share.
Guided exercises using your own work
Apply everything during the course using your target roles, projects and portfolio so you leave with decisions, not just notes.
Your portfolio positioning plan
Leave with a prioritised plan connecting your target role, hiring signals, strongest evidence, portfolio gaps and what to work on next.
Maven Guarantee
Your purchase is backed by the Maven Guarantee.
Course syllabus
Week 1
Nov
24
🧭 Session 1: Position yourself for your next role
Nov
26
🔎 Session 2: Turn your work into evidence
Week 2
Dec
1
🛠️ Session 3: Build your portfolio with intent
Schedule
Live sessions
6 hrs
Three interactive sessions covering portfolio strategy, case study storytelling and building your portfolio with intent.
Tue, Nov 24
6:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)
Thu, Nov 26
6:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)
Tue, Dec 1
6:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)
Apply your strategy
2-3 hrs
Work through the exercises and frameworks using your own target roles, projects and portfolio between sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Maven for Teams
Reimbursement
Get your company to pay
Everything L&D needs: email template, receipts, and certificate of completion.
Get reimbursedTeam discount
Learn with your teammates
Save 20%+ when 2 or more teammates enroll in the same cohort.
Save 20%+ with a teamPrivate cohort
Run a cohort for your org
A dedicated cohort with a custom schedule and curriculum, tailored to your team.
Book a private cohort$399
USD