Showcasing Work Under NDA

You just finished the best project of your career. Strategic thinking, complex problem-solving, measurable results—everything a portfolio case study dreams of.

One problem: the NDA means you can't show any of it. Your portfolio stays stagnant while your best work stays invisible.

This frustration hits almost every designer eventually. The most interesting projects often come with the strictest confidentiality requirements. But here's what most designers miss: NDAs restrict specific assets and information, not the underlying skills you demonstrated.

Understanding What NDAs Actually Restrict

Before strategizing around confidentiality, understand what your specific NDA actually prohibits. NDAs vary enormously. Some restrict only proprietary visual assets. Others prohibit mentioning the client's name. A few genuinely prevent any public discussion.

Read your agreements carefully—or have a lawyer do it. Many designers assume broader restrictions than actually exist. When genuinely uncertain, ask your client. Most companies will clarify what's permissible when asked professionally.

The Process-First Approach

Even when visuals are completely off-limits, your design process remains yours to share. How you approach problems, structure research, synthesize findings, and make decisions—these skills transfer across projects and demonstrate capabilities independent of any specific client's assets.

Document your process thoroughly during projects, not after. Capture anonymized research insights, decision frameworks, stakeholder management approaches, and iteration rationales as you work. This creates portfolio material that was never confidential to begin with.

Anonymization Techniques

Many NDAs permit showing work if client-identifying information is removed. Replace logos, brand names, and distinctive color schemes with generic alternatives. Swap real product names for descriptive placeholders. Remove any data that could identify the specific company.

Be thorough about anonymization. A stray logo in a corner, recognizable photography, or distinctive UI patterns can reveal client identity even when you've removed obvious identifiers. Review anonymized materials carefully.

Writing About Work You Cannot Show

Written case studies work when visual materials are impossible. Describe the challenge, your approach, and the outcomes without revealing proprietary specifics. Focus on the transferable insights and demonstrated skills rather than the particular client context.

Structure these text-heavy case studies carefully. Without visuals to break up content, readers need clear section divisions, concise paragraphs, and compelling narrative flow.

Metrics and Outcomes Focus

Results matter more than artifacts. If you can share outcomes without revealing sensitive specifics, do so prominently. "Increased conversion by 47%" communicates capability regardless of whether viewers can see the actual interface that achieved it.

Aggregate or approximate metrics when exact figures are sensitive. "Approximately doubled user engagement" conveys impact without exposing proprietary data.

The Personal Project Alternative

When client work truly cannot be shown, personal projects fill portfolio gaps legitimately. Strategic personal work demonstrates capabilities that confidential professional work proves but cannot display.

Choose personal projects that mirror your professional challenges. If you do complex enterprise dashboard design under NDA, create a personal dashboard project showcasing similar thinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my NDA prohibits all discussion of the project?

Focus on the skills and processes you used without referencing the specific project. Invest in personal projects that demonstrate equivalent capabilities.

Can I show work from companies that no longer exist?

Usually yes, but verify. Acquisitions transfer NDA obligations. Bankruptcies may release them. When uncertain, consult legal advice.

Should I mention I have NDA work I cannot show?

Yes, briefly. Acknowledging confidential work explains portfolio gaps and signals experience with serious clients.

Building a portfolio around confidential work? Wonderlist's portfolio templates provide professional structures that emphasize process and outcomes—perfect for NDA-constrained case studies.