What are Case Studies?
Case studies are a type of research method that involves identifying a situation or problem, typically within a business or designing context. Case studies usually focus on a particular event, decision, or process and involve collecting and analyzing data from various sources, such as interviews, surveys, and observations.
In graphic design we use case studied to build our portfolio, they showcase your skills, expertise, and approach to design problem-solving. These demonstrate your ability to understand clients' needs, develop creative and effective design solutions, and communicate your ideas clearly and persuasively.
Steps in writing a case study
Problem: What is the business problem/opportunity and why is it a problem?
Process: Describe what went into the design process. Why were those decisions made, what changed from the beginning to the final product?
Solution: What is the final product? Describe how you came to that conclusion, were there other possible solutions?
Impact: How did this impact the company? Boost sales, increase engagement, etc. This is where you can include statistics if applicable to discuss things you learned while completing this project.
Since these case studies are such a vital part of a designers portfolio, these are ways to create effective ones that will showcase you and your work the best.
Choose relevant and compelling projects: Select projects that are relevant to the types of clients and industries you want to work with
Use visuals: Include high-quality visuals, such as sketches, wireframes, mockups, and final designs, to illustrate your process and showcase your skills.
By including case studies in your portfolio, you can provide potential clients and employers with a clear understanding of your design process and problem-solving skills, and demonstrate your ability to deliver effective and impactful design solutions. When seeing a finished design product whether that be an ad, print product, website, or social media post the viewer doesn’t get to see all the behind the scenes work that goes into it, and how long the process really takes. In the case studies we get to show our thinking and the evolution of a final design.
