Unleashing the "Power of Failure"
How your "failed" projects can be your strongest asset in securing your next UX role
Earlier this week, I stirred the pot a bit with a LinkedIn post discussing the value of including “failed” projects in our UX portfolios. It sparked a flurry of comments - some enthusiastic nods and some skeptically raised eyebrows.
Clearly, this is a topic that has struck a chord in our community, and it's worth diving deeper.
It seems unconventional to talk about failures when we're wired to showcase only our best, most successful work. However, I believe that our “failures” (in quotation marks, of course) can often be just as insightful, if not more so, than our successes.
In this post, I'll share more about why I believe in the “power of failure” and provide some creative ways to present these projects during a job interview, making you a memorable candidate.
So, you've got a job interview.
Exciting, right?
But you're also thinking about how to talk about those “failed” UX projects. Yes, you read that right, “failed” projects. They might not be the traditional go-to examples, but trust me, they can make you stand out from the crowd and leave a lasting impression. So, how do you go about it?
Let's dive in.
Why Talk About Failed Projects?
The journey to success isn't always smooth.
Sometimes, you stumble.
But it's the getting back up part that really matters. Failed projects show you can learn from mistakes, adapt, and move forward. Plus, they add an extra dash of realness to your story that interviewers appreciate.
Now, let's look at some unconventional, creative ways to present these projects during a job interview. I'll also share five examples to make it crystal clear.
💥 The Comic Strip Approach
Who doesn't love a good comic strip? They're fun, engaging, and easy to understand. Use this style to explain your project. Draw a simple comic strip showing the process and the result. Talk about the problem you faced and how it led to the project not going as planned. Then, highlight what you learned and how it impacted your future work.
Example: Let's say you worked on a mobile app for ordering pizza, but the app wasn't popular with users. Your comic strip could show the stages of creating the app, the user feedback, your surprised face at the 'failure', and then your determined face as you learn and grow from it.
📖 The Storyteller Approach
Everyone loves a good story. It's human nature. So, why not turn your project into an engaging narrative? Start with the project's goal, why it failed, what you learned, and how you applied these lessons in your future projects.
Example: You could talk about that time you designed a website for a new fashion brand. Despite your best efforts, the website failed to generate enough traffic. But this experience taught you about the importance of SEO in web design, a lesson that greatly benefitted your next project.
🕵🏻♀️ The Detective Approach
Present your project like a detective story. Discuss how you identified the 'culprit' (the reason for the failure) and your 'investigation' (the learning process). This not only makes your presentation interesting but also highlights your problem-solving skills.
Example: You were assigned to redesign an e-commerce checkout process. Despite initial user testing, the redesign led to a drop in conversions. You played detective, dug into the data, user feedback, discovered flaws in your testing process, and revised your methods for future projects.
🧭 The Comparison Approach
Use a side-by-side comparison to show the before and after of your project. This visual representation can effectively display the project's failure and your learning process.
Example: Let's say you redesigned an email newsletter, but the new design didn't improve open rates. You could present the old and new designs side-by-side, explaining your process, the failure, and what you learned about user preferences and email design.
🎛 The Prop Approach
Bring props to illustrate your project and its results. This could be sketches, models, or prototypes. They add a tangible element to your story and make your presentation memorable.
Example: If you designed a physical product that didn't work out, like a new type of ergonomic keyboard, you could bring a prototype to show the interviewer what went wrong, discuss user feedback, and explain your learnings from this 'failure'.
Remember, in a job interview, you want to be the person they can't stop talking about (for all the right reasons).
Speaking about your ‘failed” projects in these creative ways will not only make your story memorable but also highlight your unique skills and learning experiences.
Also, keep in mind that while you're presenting, it's essential to keep the atmosphere light and maintain your enthusiasm.
Show them that even though the project didn't work out, you're still passionate about your work and excited about the lessons you learned. This attitude will say a lot about your character and work ethic.
Finally, conclude your presentation by connecting the lessons learned from the failed project to the company or the position you're interviewing for. Explain how these experiences have prepared you better for the role, making you a strong candidate.
Let’s use the e-commerce checkout redesign from the “Detective Approach” as an example. You might say something like this:
In the process of redesigning an e-commerce checkout for a past project, I found that despite the initial user testing, the conversions actually dropped. It was a surprising outcome, but it led me to play detective. I dug deep into the data, evaluated user feedback, and discovered that there were flaws in our testing process that didn't capture some key user pain points.
This “failure” turned into a valuable lesson that completely transformed my approach towards user testing. It taught me to develop more comprehensive, user-centric testing methods, ensuring that we capture as much relevant user feedback as possible.
I know that creating intuitive and user-friendly products is a top priority here at XYZ Corp. The lessons I've learned have equipped me to implement thorough and effective user testing processes.
By capturing and addressing user pain points early in the design process, we can create products that not only meet user needs but exceed their expectations, thus driving user satisfaction and conversions for XYZ Corp. This way, my past “failure” can become a catalyst for future successes here.
This reframed narrative now emphasizes how your past lessons will benefit the potential employer, instead of focusing exclusively on your own growth.
It not only demonstrates your ability to learn from past projects but also shows that you have a keen understanding of the company's goals and how your unique skills and experiences can contribute to achieving those.
Presenting 'failed' projects during an interview can seem scary, but if done correctly, it can become your secret weapon.
It's an opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking, resilience, creativity, and most importantly, your ability to learn and grow.
These are qualities every employer seeks, and being able to present them in such a unique, engaging manner is sure to make you a memorable candidate, helping you land that dream job!
—Marina
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