Welcome back, my Caffeinated Creatives!
If you’ve been following my blog, you’ve probably noticed a theme. Coffee isn’t just my beverage of choice; it’s a core part of my personal brand. From my blog Fresh Brewed UX to my LinkedIn, portfolio, and even a few well-placed hints on my resume, I’ve intentionally woven coffee into my professional identity. And why not? As a UX designer and creative strategist from Seattle—the birthplace of Starbucks—it just makes sense. Coffee, much like UX, is brewed with care, intention, and just the right amount of boldness.
But this isn’t just about me—it’s about you and the personal brand you’re building, whether you realize it or not. The question is: are you actively shaping your brand, or is it shaping itself? If you’re not intentional about your professional identity, you might be missing out on career opportunities, networking advantages, and recognition in your industry. So, let’s talk about what your personal brand says about you as a designer—and how you can make sure it’s saying the right things.
Your Personal Brand: More Than Just a Logo
A personal brand isn’t just about having a cool logo, a custom color palette, or a trendy typeface on your portfolio. It’s about your reputation, how people perceive your work, and what they remember about you.
Why should you care?
- Your brand influences career opportunities—employers and clients look for designers who stand out.
- It helps you build credibility and trust—just like a well-designed user experience.
- It makes networking easier—people recognize and remember you, making connections more meaningful.
- It’s the UX of you—how others experience and interact with you as a designer.
Just like a good UX design ensures users remember and enjoy an interface, a strong personal brand ensures people remember and respect you in the industry.
How Are You Branding Yourself as a Designer?
Your personal brand isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about how you show up in the design world. Ask yourself:
1. Your Portfolio: Is It More Than Just Pretty Pictures?
Your portfolio is your storefront, and first impressions matter. Is your work clearly presented? Does your site load quickly? Does it tell the story of how you think, or does it just showcase final screens? A great UX portfolio doesn’t just say, “Look at what I made!” It says, “Here’s how I solve problems.”
2. Your Online Presence: Are You Showing Up?
Are you active on LinkedIn, Dribbble, or Behance? Do you engage in design discussions, share insights, or connect with other creatives? If a recruiter Googles your name, what do they see—an empty LinkedIn profile from 2017, or a designer who’s passionate about their craft?
3. Your Content & Voice: Are You Sharing Your Perspective?
Posting your work is great, but do you explain your thought process? Do you write about design trends, share case studies, or break down challenges you’ve overcome? Your content is a way to show your expertise and personality.
4. Your Visual Identity: Are You Consistent?
Your brand’s aesthetic should align with your work. Are you using the same style, typography, and overall look across your portfolio, social media, and resume? Consistency builds recognition—whether it’s in UX design or personal branding.
The Power of Personal Branding in UX/UI
If you think personal branding doesn’t matter in UX/UI, think again. The design industry is competitive, and those with a strong brand identity stand out. Here’s why:
- Employers and clients look for designers who differentiate themselves. A recognizable brand makes you easier to remember and recommend.
- A clear personal brand can help position you as a specialist. Want to be known as a minimalist UI designer? A UX researcher? A creative generalist? Your brand should reflect that.
- Trust and credibility matter. Just like good UX builds user trust, a strong brand makes clients and hiring managers confident in your abilities.
Your brand is an extension of your work—it’s how you design yourself in the professional world.
Common Personal Branding Mistakes
Before you rush to redesign your portfolio, let’s talk about what not to do:
- Being inconsistent across platforms. If your LinkedIn looks corporate, but your portfolio screams “indie artist,” it creates confusion.
- Focusing only on aesthetics. A sleek portfolio means nothing if there’s no clear message about who you are and what you do.
- Not showcasing your process. UX is about problem-solving—don’t just show polished UI screens. Show how you think.
- Ignoring engagement. Interacting, commenting, and being part of the design community is a big deal.
Your brand should be authentic, clear, and aligned with your goals. It’s not just about looking good—it’s about being recognizable and memorable.
How to Build a Personal Brand That Reflects Your Work
So, you’re a designer. Great! But what does that actually mean to the outside world? Are you the pixel-perfect, hyper-organized type who dreams in grids? Or the bold, rule-breaking creative who throws brutalist design at every problem like it’s the solution to world peace? Your personal brand should make that clear—without requiring people to dig through your entire portfolio like it’s a UX escape room.
1. Define Your Unique Value
Your personal brand isn’t just about what you do—it’s about how you do it. What’s your design superpower?
- Do you have a sixth sense for typography that makes bad kerning physically painful?
- Are you the UX advocate who fights for accessibility like a hero in a cape (or at least a well-structured design system)?
- Do you inject humor into your work, making error messages actually worth reading?
Figure out what makes you you and lean into it. The best designers aren’t just skilled; they have a perspective that makes their work recognizable.
2. Align Your Brand with the Work You Want to Attract
Your brand should be a magnet for the kind of projects and roles you actually want.
- If you dream of working in fintech, your online presence should reflect clarity, professionalism, and trustworthiness (maybe skip the neon Comic Sans experiment).
- If you’re obsessed with experimental, boundary-pushing design, make sure your portfolio feels like a glimpse into the future, not a corporate PowerPoint.
- Want to land gigs designing for sustainability-focused companies? Show that you care about ethical design, green UI, and eco-conscious branding.
Your brand is your preview trailer. Make sure it’s giving off the right vibes for your dream audience.
3. Keep Evolving—Brands (Like UX) Require Iteration
Let’s be real: if your design style, skills, and interests evolve, your brand should too. Your 2018 Dribbble shots might still be fire, but if they don’t reflect your current work, it’s time for a refresh.
- Regularly audit your portfolio. If you wouldn’t be excited to do that kind of project again, why is it still on your site?
- Update your case studies. Add process shots, user insights, and results—because “Made This” doesn’t cut it anymore.
- Keep your bio fresh. If your LinkedIn still says “aspiring designer” but you’ve been in the game for years, it’s time for an upgrade.
4. Audit Your Online Presence (a.k.a. Google Yourself, but Brace for Impact)
Ever Googled yourself? If not, now’s the time. What pops up? Your sleek portfolio? That old blog where you passionately ranted about why dogs are better than cats? A random Twitter post about your love for breakfast tacos? Hiring managers, clients, and future collaborators will absolutely do this, so take control of your online footprint.
- Make sure your LinkedIn, website, and portfolio actually reflect where you are now.
- If you have old projects lurking in search results that don’t align with your brand, either update them or bury them with newer, better content.
- And if you’re still using an embarrassing email from your teenage years (looking at you, xX_DesignNinja_Xx@gmail.com), it’s time for a grown-up rebrand.
Your Brand is a Living, Breathing Thing—Treat it That Way
A personal brand isn’t a one-and-done project. It’s an ongoing, evolving representation of who you are as a designer and where you want to go. Just like good UX, it’s all about iteration, testing, and refinement.
So, what does your brand say about you right now? And more importantly… is it saying what you want it to say? If not, it’s time for a redesign.
The Caffeine Kick: Personal Branding Stats You Need to Know
Before you take another sip, here are four key statistics that highlight why personal branding matters for designers:
- 92% of people trust personal recommendations over brands.Source
- Your personal reputation holds more weight than any corporate branding. When people recognize your name and work, they are more likely to refer you to others.
- Building a strong brand means that word-of-mouth and organic recognition can open doors without you even realizing it.
- If you’re applying for jobs or pitching clients, your reputation could be the deciding factor.
- 77% of consumers prefer to buy from brands that share their values.Source
- Employers and clients want to work with designers who align with their mission and vision.
- If your branding is unclear or inconsistent, you may not be attracting the right kind of projects or job opportunities.
- A well-defined brand ensures that you’re working on projects that excite and fulfill you.
- 75% of HR professionals say that a strong personal brand makes a candidate more attractive.Source
- A polished online presence can make you a top choice before you even get to the interview stage.
- Recruiters actively search for candidates online, meaning what they find can either help or hurt your chances.
- Whether through LinkedIn, a blog, or your portfolio, having a clear brand makes you stand out in a competitive job market.
- People form an impression of you within 7 seconds.Source
- Just like UX design, first impressions matter—and they happen fast.
- If your website, resume, or social presence doesn’t immediately communicate who you are and what you bring to the table, you may lose potential opportunities.
- Make sure your brand is intentional, engaging, and clearly represents your expertise.
Final Sip: What Does Your Brand Say About You?
Think of personal branding like UX for your career—it shapes how people experience you. Whether you’re actively crafting it or letting it happen by accident, your brand is speaking for you. What is it saying?
Take a moment and do a quick audit:
- Google yourself. What comes up?
- Look at your portfolio. Does it communicate who you are?
- Check your LinkedIn and social presence. Are you engaging in conversations or just lurking in the background?
Your personal brand is more than just a polished resume—it’s your professional identity in the design world. Make sure it’s saying what you want it to say for it to work the way you want it to work.
Have you established a personal brand for yourself? Is it bold, intentional, and uniquely you? Top off your coffee and let’s chat in the comments!
freshbrewedux.com 
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