Internship Case Study: Turning a Cafe Barista Shift into a UX Research Portfolio (2026)

Internship Case Study: Turning a Cafe Barista Shift into a UX Research Portfolio (2026)

Hook: One student used barista shifts to fund and research real-world UX experiments. The result: a portfolio that landed a competitive summer internship. This case study shows the methods and microcredentials that made it possible.

Project origin

Short on time and cash, the student ran an experiment at a campus cafe: they tested a redesigned takeaway menu and measured choices, wait times and staff feedback. The project generated data, interview transcripts and a small A/B test—ideal for a UX case study.

Research methods and evidence

• Rapid interviews with customers using advanced elicitation techniques to surface tacit needs (Advanced Interview Techniques).
• Versioned design changes with before/after metrics—orders per item and basket size.
• Staff feedback loops that informed iteration and operational feasibility.

Building the portfolio case study

The student used a three-section format: problem, process, outcome. They added short video walkthroughs, annotated transcripts and a downloadable one-page summary. The portfolio was hosted with SSR for fast load times and clean social previews.

Microcredentials and credibility

To strengthen academic credibility, the student completed a microcredential in applied UX methods, plus a short module in research ethics. Employers valued the combination of real-world data and documented method.

From portfolio to internship

1. Lead with the outcome metrics in the application summary.
2. Offer a short live walkthrough during interviews, using elicitation techniques to narrate decisions.
3. Use microcredentials and documented data to answer integrity and contribution questions.

Related resources

If you run small events or markets as part of your research, the street-market playbook has logistics and scaling advice (Street Market Playbook). For interviewing and eliciting reliable responses under time pressure, the advanced interview guide is indispensable (Advanced Interview Techniques).

“Practical evidence beats polished theory. Employers want to see what you actually measured and what you changed because of the findings.”

Takeaways for students

• Use paid shifts as labs for low-cost experiments.
• Document everything—version control and transcripts matter.
• Invest in one microcredential to signal methodological rigour.

This case study shows that with curiosity, methodological care and clear storytelling, everyday work becomes a career-making portfolio.