Today: Jordan Putnam

Jordan Putnam’s portfolio is a standout example of how to combine clean aesthetics, compelling structure, and confident storytelling.

Hailing from Australia and having completed his MSc in HCI in London, Jordan has already landed a role — and it’s easy to see why. His portfolio reflects a clear eye for design, solid process thinking, and a storytelling instinct that goes beyond the norm for junior designers.

Let’s dig into what he’s done particularly well — and where there’s still a bit of room to refine things further.

The Good

Storytelling That’s Structured, Clear, and Visually Engaging

Jordan’s Trader Wallet case study is a prime example of how to structure a case study well.

He doesn’t just tell a good story — he designs the story.

Every section is clearly signposted, making use of layout and typography to break things up, guide the reader, and surface key takeaways. Even at a skim, you can easily understand what problem he was solving, how he approached it, and what came out of it. That’s no small feat — especially in portfolios where long blocks of text or unclear visuals are the norm.

You can also tell Jordan understands how to simplify complexity. Rather than getting stuck in granular details, he brings clarity through smart formatting, concise text, and sharp visuals. This kind of thinking isn’t just helpful for portfolios — it’s exactly what makes for strong communication on the job.

Finally — A Spotify Feature Addition That Actually Works

Jordan also pulls off something that’s notoriously difficult: a speculative feature for an existing product (Spotify) that doesn’t feel off-brand or unnecessary.

His Rabbit Holes feature is designed to enhance music discovery through genre-driven recommendations. The concept feels grounded in actual user need, and more importantly, it’s executed in a way that feels like a natural extension of the Spotify ecosystem.

His process is thoughtful — from how he frames the problem, to how he looks at adjacent solutions, to how he validates the idea with users. The final designs are backed by interaction demos and motion that elevate the case study without distracting from the content.

This is exactly how unsolicited redesigns should be done — rooted in real insight, scoped thoughtfully, and with clear respect for the original product’s DNA

(For another great example of this kind of work, check out Dexter Sulit’s Spotify Community feature.)

The Potential

More Visual Polish — Especially in the Spotify Case Study

Jordan’s overall taste is strong. His layout, typography, and design decisions show a clear eye for visual quality — but some execution details could use another pass, especially in the Spotify case study.

For instance:

• Some of the animated prototypes are shown with visible Figma UI or clunky mockups that feel slightly out of place in an otherwise polished page.

• A few screenshots (especially from the real Spotify app) are oddly cropped or lack context, making them feel more like placeholders than deliberate design artifacts.

• The prototype clip at the end is a nice touch, but its current format (embedded video) feels less engaging than a short, well-integrated GIF of a complete flow.

None of this takes away from the strength of his ideas — but a bit more finesse in these areas would help elevate the presentation to the same level as the thinking. I recently recommended a range of tools to enable you to pull things like this off in a clean way (and for free!).

Surface the Business Thinking — Even If the Project Was Paused

In the Trader Wallet case study, Jordan notes that the project was ultimately paused before shipping — which is fair and transparently communicated. But even if the project didn’t go live, there’s still an opportunity to show impact thinking.

For example:

• What would success have looked like?

• What would you have measured?

• What business or user outcomes were you aiming to achieve?

You don’t always need real-world data — but showing that you’re thinking in terms of results and KPIs demonstrates maturity and a business-aware mindset.

And this applies to fictional projects too. Even in the Spotify or Barbican work, a short note about potential success metrics would instantly add another layer of depth.

Final Thoughts

Jordan’s portfolio is a fantastic case study in how to blend narrative, layout, and design to tell a compelling story.

He balances aesthetic clarity with structured storytelling, and brings a fresh take to speculative work without losing credibility. A little more polish on visuals and a stronger nod to impact would take it even further — but it’s already a great example of what “ready to hire” looks like for someone early in their career.

If you want to learn how to turn your case studies into actual stories — not just process checklists — Jordan’s portfolio is absolutely worth studying.

This portfolio (like so many others) was made with Framer

Still struggling to get your portfolio off the ground?

Don’t want to spend weeks learning yet another tool? Framer is my top recommendation for building your portfolio — fast, clean, and without the usual headaches.

Jordan’s portfolio was made with Framer too and as he has very well proven, it enables you to create stunning results, interactions and layouts.

If you’re just starting out (or even if you’re not), I think Framer is a perfect fit. Here’s why:

• Flat learning curve: The interface feels familiar if you’ve used Figma — plus, there’s a plugin to bring your designs straight in.

• Plenty of learning support: Framer Academy is packed with free tutorials, videos, and guides to help you go from zero to published.

• A huge template library: Tons of high-quality (often free) templates in the marketplace to help you launch quickly without starting from scratch.

And that’s just scratching the surface. I wrote more about why I recommend Framer here—but honestly, the best way is to try it for yourself.

Affiliate disclaimer: I only recommend tools I personally believe in. Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase — at no extra cost to you.

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