Welcome to the lab.
Ship a portfolio you’re proud to share.
In eight weeks, you’ll move from “I’ll fix it soon” to a live site that sounds like you and gets interviews.
What we fix
(and what you leave with):
Endless procrastination → weekly live sessions, mid-week check-ins, and personalized reviews.
Template look-alike → a brand kit (voice, type, color, image style) that feels like you.
Rambling case studies → two tight stories with outcomes, not just process, plus repeatable templates.
Frozen homepage → a clear above-the-fold promise that passes the 10-second skim.
NDA lock-ups → redacted/re-drawn artifacts and clean narratives that still show your decisions.
Ready for a site you’re excited to send?
Only 5 Spots • Rolling Acceptance • Early Bird ends 12.12
Applications now open for Jan-Feb 2026!
in 8 weeks, you'll have:
01
A live portfolio site that feels like you
02
Two polished case studies with clear outcomes
03
your brand kit (voice, color / type, image style) + photos plan
04
A homepage that passes a 10-sec skim (promise, proof, CTA)
05
Panel feedback from a recruiter, design lead, and product lead
Only 5 Spots • Rolling Acceptance • Early Bird ends 12.12
Have 2+ real projects and want a site that reflects your strengths, not a clone
Are starting or in a job search and need momentum + honest feedback
Can join a weekly 90-min live session and submit drafts each week
small cohorts
Max 5 seats per cohort = more time for personalized review, and faster progress.
brand-first
We start with your voice and strengths, so your site doesn’t look or read like everyone else’s.
outcome-driven
Design and build for an easy skim and conversion, with outside review from our final week panel.
Here's What We'll cover
week one
Brand DNA + Portfolio purpose
Outcome: Define your audience, role target, and site goal.
What you ship: One-liner, project picks (2–3), simple IA sketch.
week two
Voice + visual direction
Outcome: Lock a voice and visual system so your site feels like you.
What you ship: Style tile (type / color / image), photo brief, hero copy.
week three
Homepage 10-sec Test
Outcome: A clear above-the-fold that passes a 10-second skim.
What you ship: Hero wire + promise, proof, and primary CTA.
week four
Case Study #1: Story Spine
Outcome: A crisp narrative (problem → key decisions → outcomes).
What you ship: Outline + assets list + NDA plan; 90-sec Loom.
week five
Case Study #1: Visuals & Proof
Outcome: A readable case study with evidence (before/after, metrics).
What you ship: CS#1 draft and case study template.
week six
Case Study #2 or Services Page
Outcome: Build a second case study or a client-facing services page.
What you ship: CS#2 outline or Services draft with CTA.
week seven
Build, QA, Conversion
Outcome: A working site with clean nav, forms, and basic analytics.
What you ship: Staged site link + QA/a11y checklist pass.
week eight
Panel Review + Polish List
Outcome: Notes from actual decision-makers that you can act on.
What you ship: YOUR BRAND-NEW WEBSITE! 🎉
Only 5 Spots • Rolling Acceptance • Early Bird ends 12.12
Check back soon for panelist announcement!
Recruiter
Design Lead
Product Lead
don't just take
my word for it
Maria gave me super helpful feedback on my presentation. Her insights were constructive and sharp, and she has a keen eye for identifying what really matters. She helped me narrow down the key points to highlight in my deck, especially when it’s tough to decide what to showcase. I’m so grateful for her insights!
Maria gave me exactly the help I was looking for. She showed me how to make my introductions shorter and speak more clearly and confidently.
Maria has a true gift for mentorship. Her calm presence and thoughtful listening made me feel genuinely heard and supported.
Maria is an absolute gem when it comes to mentoring. She's quick-witted and incredibly kind and supportive, making every conversation feel both productive and comfortable.
Her feedback helped me express my ideas with more confidence and have strong opinions that can help me stand out from the crowd.
Maria’s ability to communicate with clarity and empathy truly sets her apart.
Her approach is wonderfully structured, which provides clear guidance, but she also has an effortless way of making her advice relatable and easy to apply.
She took the time to understand my individual situation and goals, offering ideas that aligned with the direction I want to take in my career.
Hey, I'm
Maria
co-founder + principal designer, north & form
Over my 10+ years in the industry, I've coached dozens of designers through job searches and portfolio overhauls, and I keep seeing the same blockers: meandering case studies, generic sites with no personality, and the repeated "I know I need to update it."
I started The Portfolio Lab to fix that. We lead with your voice, tighten the story, and ship a site you’re proud to send, with no time for procrastination. I’ve been on both sides (hiring and applying), and yes, I redesign my own site… a lot. Let’s make yours the one reviewers remember.
3x $525
Private group commuity
Professional panel review + feedback
Home page, About page, and 2 case studies
Templates & worksheets
Weekly 90-minute live sessions
Payment plan
Early bird pricing ends Dec 12!
$1500 $1350
Private group commuity
Professional panel review + feedback
Home page, About page, and 2 case studies
Templates & worksheets
Weekly 90-minute live sessions
single payment
Payment options
bonus:
All participants get 2 FREE 30-min private mentorship sessions ($240 value)!
Only 5 Spots • Rolling Acceptance • Early Bird ends 12.12
You've got Questions.
We've got answers.
What are the dates?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through Dec 17 (or until 5 seats are filled). Cohort runs Jan–Feb 2026.
How much does it cost?
$1350 early bird or $1500 one-time payment, or three monthly payments of $525.
How much time should I budget?
Expect to put in 3-5 hours/week outside of the weekly live sessions.
I can't make it to all the live sessions. Will they be recorded?
Each live session will be recorded, but if you're going to miss more than 1, we ask you to consider waiting for a later cohort that works better with your schedule.
I’m very early in my UX career. Should I apply?
If you have 2+ real projects (freelance, volunteer, or on the job) and you can commit to weekly drafts, yes.
What if I can’t share work due to NDAs?
We'll discuss how to craft a compelling story without violating your NDA, including redaction and redraws.
Will my site be live by the end?
You’ll have a published site or a staged site with a short punch list. BONUS: Everyone gets 2 x 30-minute private sessions!
What platforms do you support?
Figma/Framer are recommended, but Webflow/Squarespace/others are fine. The focus is content, story, and brand; the platform is a container.
Jan–Feb 2026 • Only 5 Spots • Applications close Dec 17