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UK junior design hiring: portfolios over CVs, still

Published 21 July 2026 · Source dated 18 September 2025

UK design hiring coverage keeps pointing the same way — reviewers weight portfolio work and process explanation heavily for junior roles. Verify specifics per employer; don't take any single source as gospel.

General UK industry hiring commentary continues to stress that for junior and product designer roles, what gets you shortlisted is a portfolio that shows *how* you think, not just polished final screens. That's consistent across sources, though exact requirements vary wildly by employer and there's no verified stat here worth quoting — treat any specific number you see elsewhere with scepticism unless it links to a primary source. The safest move is checking live listings directly rather than relying on secondhand market takes.

Coach

Pick 3 live junior/product designer roles on a UK jobs board this week and note which portfolio pieces they ask to see first.

Source: designweek.co.uk ·