Playbook 5 – Create Case Studies from Scratch
How to Show Your UX Research Thinking, Tell Clear Stories, and Build a Portfolio That Gets You Hired

You’ve learned how to plan, run, and communicate UX research. Now it’s time to bring everything together and show the world what you can do. Playbook 5 – Create Case Studies from Scratch is your practical guide to turning projects into compelling stories that highlight your skills, thinking, and impact.
This book helps you bridge the gap between doing research and presenting it confidently. You’ll learn how to turn your work—whether from client projects, volunteer roles, or personal studies—into professional case studies that attract attention and open doors.

Inside, you’ll discover how to:
• Choose projects that best represent your strengths and goals
• Structure clear, engaging case study stories
• Write in plain, confident language that connects with employers
• Turn research findings into visual summaries and narratives
• Build case studies from personal or small-scale projects

Every chapter includes a Practical Exercise and Reflection Worksheet so you can apply what you learn immediately. By the end, you’ll have more than polished examples—you’ll have a portfolio that shows your growth, clarity, and professional identity as a UX researcher.

About the Series
This playbook is part of the How to Make a Career Change into UX Research series—a 15-part collection designed to guide you from beginner to confident professional. You can read it on its own or as part of the complete journey.
If you’re just starting out, explore the earlier books:

• Playbook 1 – Learn UX Research Fundamentals
  Understand what UX research is and how to think like a researcher.
• Playbook 2 – Applying UX Research in Practice
  Learn to plan studies, recruit participants, and gather meaningful insights.
• Playbook 3 – Analysing and Synthesising User Data
  Turn findings into evidence-based conclusions that shape design.
• Playbook 4 – Communicating Insights and Influencing Stakeholders
  Share research persuasively and guide teams to act on user evidence.

Then continue with Playbook 5, where you’ll learn how to present your journey and show your unique approach to research.

Why This Book Matters
Employers don’t just hire skills—they hire stories. Your case studies are your voice when you’re not in the room. This playbook helps you make that voice clear, credible, and confident. You’ll move beyond describing what you did to showing why it mattered and how your work created change.
Whether you are building your first portfolio or refining an existing one, this book gives you the structure, mindset, and confidence to present your research professionally.
Your UX career deserves to be seen and understood. Start writing the case studies that will get you noticed, trusted, and hired.

Perfect for: Career changers, aspiring UX researchers, design students, and professionals ready to showcase their work with clarity and confidence.