We Built Something New: Case Study Workshops

When talking to designers preparing for interviews, we kept hearing the same thing: "I want to practice, but I need to get my work ready first."

It made perfect sense. You want to put your best foot forward, even in practice. But here's what we learned: waiting until everything's polished means missing out on the feedback that could shape your story from the start.

The Gap We Discovered

There's this space between having work to show and being ready to present it formally. Designers were spending weeks in that gap, polishing alone, trying to figure out their narrative without any outside perspective.

Meanwhile, the designers who did practice early consistently told us they wished they'd started even sooner. Before spending all that time going in one direction. Before cementing a story that wasn't quite working.

We realized Practice Round was missing something. Not everyone needs mock interview practice right away. Sometimes you need help figuring out what story to tell in the first place.

Case Study Workshops

So we built something for that in-between space.

These aren't mock interviews. There's no formal presentation. You just bring whatever you have; half-baked ideas, rough drafts, work in progress. Doesn't matter.

You get 30-45 minutes with other designers who've been through this. People who can spot where your story gets confusing. Where you're burying the lead. Where you need more detail or less.

The whole point? Help you frame, iterate, and polish your narrative while there's still time to change it.

How It Actually Works

Book a workshop slot. Show up with whatever you've got. Could be rough slides, a Figma file, or just talking through your project.

You'll workshop with volunteer designers who know what makes a case study compelling. They'll ask questions. Point out gaps. Help you find the thread that ties everything together.

No judgment about how "ready" you are. That's literally the point; to work on things before they need to be ready.

Why This Matters

The best case study in the world means nothing if you can't tell its story clearly. And you can't learn to tell that story alone in your apartment, tweaking slides at 2am.

You need other humans. Fresh eyes. People who'll tell you when something doesn't make sense.

That's what these workshops are for. To get you unstuck. To help you find your narrative. To practice explaining your work when the stakes are low.

We're Already Seeing Results

Over 70 designers have joined Practice Round since March. The ones using these workshops are transforming their presentations in single sessions.

Not because we're giving them some secret formula. But because they're finally getting feedback while there's still time to use it.

One designer completely restructured their case study after a workshop. Another found the connecting thread between three projects they thought were unrelated. These aren't things you figure out alone.

Join a Workshop

Got a case study that needs work? Book a workshop.

Want to help other designers figure out their stories? We need volunteers for that too.

Check your calendar and sign up at practiceround.co/signup

Bring whatever you have. Seriously. The messier, the better. That's what workshops are for.

What's Next

This is just the beginning. We're building Practice Round based on what designers actually need, not what we think they need.

Case Study Workshops came from listening to you. From understanding that preparation isn't one-size-fits-all. Our next features will come from the same place.

Thanks for being part of this community. For showing up. For helping each other. For being vulnerable enough to share work in progress.

That's what makes this whole thing work.