Mailbag: “Should I add a redesign to my portfolio?”
tldr; redesigning products isn’t the best idea for getting new work.
For context, sometimes designers redesign popular applications like Facebook or Spotify. The redesign is added to a splashy case study on their portfolio, or a post on Dribbble. In lieu of calling someone out, just search “redesign” on Dribbble. A redesign can bootstrap some virality, as people are more likely to share a design from something they are familiar with, but it falls short of a true product design process.
For visual execution, it can be good practice. Like a chef cooking a recipe, it’s good to learn from executing something you typically wouldn’t. That said, I wouldn’t recommend redesigning a popular app and using it in your portfolio. The signal it sends might not be what you intended.
Why you shouldn’t redesign a popular app and publicly post it
It’s a misconception that this is a good way to get clients, or a product design job. The reason? It’s antithetical to a proper product design process.
We have to be careful here. There is no strict product design process. But, as a product designer, part of your job is to synthesize business objectives, strategy, internal constraints, research, and more. When you redesign a product without having this internal information: you’re ignoring these limitations. You become a lickspittle. Clearly defining a problem and solving it is a pre-req for product design.
Redesigning your favorite music application and adding it to your Dribbble profile might get you likes and views. It will also deter design managers and product people who are looking for serious product designers.
If you don’t have any clients—or aren’t able to show work you’re proud of—consider creating a product instead. While creating a product doesn’t involve taking on outside constraints (from clients for example). Inherintently, you’ll have your own constraints on capability (what are you able to build), budget, and timeline. It will demonstrate a better product-sense and ability to define and solve problems. Which in my opinion, demonstrates a much stronger product designer.
Redesign if you must, just be aware of the tradeoffs.