Project Inspiration: 30 prompts to get you started

People who are just getting started in UX often struggle with finding projects to put in their portfolio, since they have not worked with real clients or companies yet.

One of the ways you can get started is to build your portfolio up with personal projects. It shows that you are self driven, and can give a preview into your UX process. It will also set you up for success when you encounter design exercises while applying for jobs.

Here’s a list of 30 prompts to get you started. They’re framed in the d.school convention of How Might We, a framework designed to provoke ideas. Feel free to shift things around and of course, create your own!

Here are some tips for coming up with your own prompts:

1. What’s something you wish you could change? What’s a problem you wish was solved?

2. What is a process you’ve gone through that was inefficient or cumbersome?

3. What’s a cause you care about? How could you contribute by creating a better UX?

4. Name an app or website you found difficult to use. What parts of it could be redone?

5. Ask friends the same questions as above and note their responses.

Without further ado, here are the prompts!

How might we…

1. Help teachers memorize their student’s names more quickly and efficiently?

2. Help connect prospective pet adopters find the right animal to adopt?

3. Connect commuters that are going to the same destination so that they can travel together?

4. Help writers get feedback on their book drafts before submitting to publishers?

5. Help journalists collect, consolidate, and synthesize information for articles they plan to write?

6. Enable ride sharing passengers to purchase items (for example, beverages) during their ride?

7. Help first-time travelers to certain countries feel safe and prepared?

8. Create a follow up experience for students that went on a class trip to a museum, in order to solidify what they’ve learned?

9. Create an easy way for design students to receive feedback on their portfolios?

10. Enable friends to watch tv or movies online together?

11. Help people looking for custom items discover local makers and artisans in their neighborhood?

12. Connect people looking to play sports locally to neighbors with the same interest, in order to set up real life games?

13. Help people discover subscription boxes that would be interesting to them based on their preferences?

14. Help doctors collect information on their patients in an efficient way during online video conferencing visits?

15. Help users find and make reservations at restaurants that support their specific dietary needs?

16. Help small businesses monitor the effectiveness of their advertisements, and offer solutions to improve targeting?

17. Help user researchers capture and synthesize information from field visits?

18. Help parents control their children’s access to computer/video games to ensure that they are age appropriate?

19. Connect people who play different instruments to form a band together?

20. Help busy parents create meal plans for their families?

21. Keep hospital patients updated on their appointments, doctors, medications, and diagnoses?

22. Enable users to share and discover new music with their friends and from influencers?

23. Prevent fraudulent art from being sold?

24. Help vehicle owners track their car’s condition and schedule appointments for maintenance?

25. Reduce the rate of students that drop out from University?

26. Encourage people to register to vote?

27. Help users discover Wines they might like based on their preferences and taste profiles?

28. Improve collaboration for international/remote teams?

29. Match professionals with Business Conferences that will be most beneficial for their career advancement?

30. Help people give feedback to local and state representatives on important issues?