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How would you write a project case study in the most professional way?

Hi guys!

I am looking at writing case studies for the projects on my personal website, and I want to make sure that it's very professional and appealing to recruiters.

What format do you use?
Do you have any recommendations on what the best format is? Or do you have any resources I can reference that can help me learn how to best write?

If you've written it before, I would also appreciate it if you shared how you did it for your projects.

Thanks, guys!🙏

posted to Icon for group Developers
Developers
on February 11, 2023
  1. 3

    Your case study should answer the following questions:

    • What’s the underlying problem?
    • Why is it relevant and for whom?
    • Describe your way to the solution.
    • Describe the solution and write it in terms that resonate with whomever the case study is relevant for.
    • How does the solution solve the problem and what are the benefits of having the solution in place.
    • What does this mean for the future?

    This shows that you understand the subject matter, proves your way of thinking and problem solving abilities.

    Add examples and resources where necessary.

    Also adding some social proof like testimonial from previous employer / client / project partner helps.

    1. 1

      Thanks for your contribution @nilskoppelmann

      Honestly, this is going to be super helpful. I didn't even consider that direction - that I could outline a number of questions and address within the case studies.

      Thanks again, man. I really appreciate🙇‍♂️

  2. 3

    If you're targeting recruiters then you'll want the case studies to be digestible and visual.

    I'd include 3 images 1 showcasing before, 1 showcasing after, and 1 showcasing what you did in between

    I'd also include quick easy to skim bullet groups on what the problem was, how you solved it, and the outcomes that happened for the client/project

    It can be overwhelming or tedious for a recruiter if there's too much info, and I also recommend using font formatting (bold, italics, etc) to highlight key info for them

    1. 1

      Thanks for the very clear and concise tips @vintually

      This is going to be very helpful

      1. 2

        Awesome! Glad it'll help :)

  3. 2

    I would recommend doing some research on how Harvard Business School builds case studies. Whether you (or this community) feels like they have perfected it or not, there's no reason you need to reinvent the wheel if HBS has already done much of the heavy lifting on what makes a good case study. There's many books by former professors on talking about the process - I haven't found very many YouTube videos that do it justice though.

    1. 1

      Sure @BeingDvB

      I will do some research on that.

      Do you know any websites that I can refer to?

  4. 2

    Not sure if this is helpful but I asked ChatGPT how to do a case study the other day. Will share here if interested:

    Response from ChatGPT:

    Creating a good UX (user experience) case study involves several steps, including:

    Define the problem: Start by clearly defining the problem that you are trying to solve with your design solution. This will help you stay focused and ensure that your case study is relevant to your target audience.

    Conduct research: Gather data and insights through user research, surveys, focus groups, and other methods. This information will help you understand the needs and wants of your target audience and inform your design decisions.

    Design the solution: Develop a design solution that addresses the problem you defined in step 1. Ensure that your solution is user-centered, and that it takes into account the research you conducted in step 2.

    Test and iterate: Test your design solution with real users and iterate on it based on their feedback. This step is crucial for ensuring that your solution is effective and meets the needs of your target audience.

    Document the process: Document the entire process, from problem definition to solution, including all of the research, design, and testing steps. This documentation will form the basis of your case study.

    Ingredients for a good UX case study include:

    Clear and concise writing: Write in a clear and concise manner, using language that is easy to understand. Avoid using technical jargon or overly complex terms.

    Relevant and compelling data: Include relevant and compelling data, such as user research findings, testing results, and metrics that demonstrate the effectiveness of your design solution.

    Visual aids: Use visual aids, such as screenshots, wireframes, and prototypes, to help illustrate your design solution and demonstrate how it works.

    Real-world examples: Provide real-world examples of your design solution in action, such as user stories or testimonials from satisfied customers.

    Actionable insights: Conclude your case study with actionable insights that other designers and stakeholders can learn from and apply to their own work.

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