Case studies are the real product

"Designers at every stage - whether seasoned professionals or juniors just starting out - tend to place enormous emphasis on the final artifact. The polished app mockup. The slick responsive website. The cleverly executed logo. These artifacts feel like the fruit of our labor, and naturally, we take pride in them. A finished design is tangible. It's something you can click, hold, or admire on a screen. It feels like proof of progress and evidence that you did something real."

"Most designers will admit that case studies are important. But too often, they still get treated as an afterthought - an appendix tacked on once the "real" work is done. The reality is that the case study isn't just important, it's the most important artifact you'll ever create. It doesn't just show what you built-it reveals how you think. And that's what separates a decorator from a true designer."

Designers often prioritize polished artifacts like mockups, websites, and logos because they are tangible proof of progress. However, the case study is more important because it reveals the reasoning, trade-offs, and impact behind those artifacts. A finished product serves users, while the case study serves a designer's reputation. Many designers treat case studies as an afterthought or appendix after project completion. A strong case study demonstrates evidence of thinking, shows user-centered decision-making, and separates surface decoration from true design. Reputation-building through case studies aligns with the idea that professional presentation combines service to others with self-interest.

Read at Medium