The before/after portfolio format is overdue for a redesign. UX Collective argues the classic side-by-side comparison, one of the oldest conventions in design portfolios, no longer shows employers what they actually need to see in 2026.
The problem is not the format itself. It is what the format omits: the reasoning, constraints, and decisions between the two states. Employers hiring in a tighter market want evidence of process and judgment, not just visual transformation.
The full article details what a updated version of this format looks like and how to implement it. If you maintain a portfolio or hire designers, the specific structural changes proposed are worth reading directly at UX Collective.
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