π Note: I am a huge proponent of side projects as a way to learn new research methods and practise design. As far as I can recall, my very first UX design case study was a side project. It helped me go through the whole process and share my thoughts.
Of course, if you can also build and release the resulting product, this will be so much more valuable for your portfolio. But even if you can focus only on the UX design and research, I highly recommend having at least one. From the hiring manager's point of view, this can also mean that you show initiative and bias for action, and many companies value this.
Contents: 8 posts, 1 video.