Case Study Storytelling - A Product Designer’s Guide To Crafting and Presenting Compelling Stories

Case Study Storytelling is a book to help new product designers craft and present a compelling case study step by step.

A great case study presentation is the most important key to landing a great job as a product designer. It was also an area that I personally struggled the most. I wish there were practical and in-depth resources online about it. Storytelling in case studies is not just about telling a compelling story out of what you have. It's much more than that. It is a strategic tool that can help you stay focused, prioritize tasks, save time, and gain clarity.

This is probably the most comprehensive guide you can find on this topic.

What’s Covered in the Book

✅ The essence of case study storytelling.

✅ How to frame problems for case studies.

✅ How to craft and present compelling solutions.

✅ How to draft and incorporate various story components.

✅ How to tackle the overall structure of the presentation.

✅ How to plan your case study strategically and get better results.

✅ How to improve the visuals of your presentation.

✅ 8 common mistakes in case studies and how to avoid them.

✅ 5 tips to enhance verbal delivery.

✅ A Worksheet to craft a compelling story.

And much more…

Kind Words

"Xinran has superpower to convert complex concepts into practical, small, actionable steps for case study presentations. This book can be renamed to "Playbook" since it's got nuggets of gold on every page. I'm truly enjoying these series and look forward to the next one." — Cat Lo, Senior Product Designer at Amazon

"If you're a product designer like me, pulling your hair out over how to nail a UX design case study presentation, this book is a total lifesaver! It's like having a super detailed recipe book for crafting killer presentations. What's really cool is it doesn't just lay out the steps; it spills the beans on those secret sauces—the tips and tricks that really make your case study storytelling pop. Furthermore, it includes concrete examples that enriches the reading experience, making it exceptionally easy to comprehend and implement. In essence, this book equips product designers with the tools needed to elevate their case study presentations to the next level." — Yuan Zhang, Product Designer at Flyhomes

Xinran's 'Case Study Storytelling' is a must-read. It's like a roadmap for mastering case study presentations. Xinran breaks down the process so it's easy to grasp, guiding you through creating a compelling story and presentation. What sets this book apart is its practical advice—it's not just theory, but actionable tips you can apply. For fellow designers, whether you're prepping for a presentation or simply aiming to enhance your storytelling skills, I highly recommend this book. It's a valuable resource! — Neha Sehgal

"This book is an excellent guide for product designers, especially if you're transitioning careers or have just completed a bootcamp. It teaches you how to excel in presentation interviews, where you typically have a short time for 1-3 case studies. The book provides insights into the slides to use and offers tips on capturing attention with a compelling storyline, adding substance and flair ('Meat & Sauce'). The storytelling tips are truly inspiring and have significantly enhanced my case study pitch deck!" — Fei Landzberg

"Strongly recommend for any designer looking to make a transition into UX. I really enjoyed the clear, concise strategies that are depicted to differentiate a UX/UI portfolio from portfolios in other design fields. The visuals provided are also simple and effective at getting the points across."

Chapters

PART 1: START WITH THE CORE

• Chapter 1: The Essence of Case Study Presentations
• Chapter 2: The Core Storyline
• Chapter 3: Gather the Solution
• Chapter 4: Write Down the Problem
• Chapter 5: Strengthen the Core

PART 2: ADD SAUCES

• Chapter 6: The Introduction of Sauces
• Chapter 7: Key Design Options
• Chapter 8: Key Constraints
• Chapter 9: Key Events

PART 3: PUT THINGS TOGETHER

• Chapter 10: The Introduction of Structures
• Chapter 11: Two Types of Overall Structures
• Chapter 12: Add Context
• Chapter 13: Enhance the Visual Delivery
• Chapter 14: Enhance the Verbal Delivery
• Chapter 15: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

A Little About Me

My name is Xinran Ma, a product designer, mentor, and speaker. I was a mid-career architect, trying hard to break into product design with a busy full-time job and a newborn, with only a maximum of 15 hours a week to spend on my career change. After countless trials and errors and after interviewing with all kinds of companies, I finally made it. 

Since 2020, I have carved out time almost every week to talk with product designers and career changers. I am honored to have received ADPList Top 1% Mentors in Design five times and have 40+ articles curated by UX Collective. My mission is to help you maximize your limited time to land your dream job in product design as soon as possible.

I have given many talks on Case Study Storytelling at many places such as Pratt Institute, ADPList, Luma, Beginex. Also published a series of short posts about this topic two years ago on LinkedIn.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

If you're unhappy with your purchase (for any reason), you'll get your money back. Simply ask for a refund within 30 days of buying it, and I'll get that processed for you. No questions asked.

*The book's Paperback version is available on Amazon.