If you’re trying to break into tech, side projects are your secret weapon. They showcase your skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities in a way that a resume alone can’t. Plus, they’re a great way to learn while building something tangible.
But what should you create? Let’s explore some of the best side projects for aspiring developers and designers that can help you stand out to employers.
Meet Anya: Turning Projects Into Opportunities
Anya was learning web development and wanted to build a portfolio to impress employers. She started small, creating a weather app using an API and then a personal website to showcase her work.
When Anya applied for her first tech job, her portfolio stood out because it showed real-world problem-solving. Her projects weren’t perfect, but they demonstrated her skills and potential—and she landed the job.
Why Side Projects Matter
- They Show, Don’t Tell: Employers can see your skills in action, not just listed on a resume.
- They Prove You’re Self-Motivated: Creating projects on your own shows initiative and passion.
- They’re Great Practice: Side projects help you apply what you’ve learned and discover areas for improvement.
Side Project Ideas for Developers
1. Personal Portfolio Website
- Why it’s great: It’s your digital business card and a chance to showcase your best work.
- What to include: Your bio, projects, skills, and contact information.
- Tools to use: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or frameworks like React.
2. To-Do List App
- Why it’s great: It’s simple but demonstrates your ability to work with user input, storage, and basic UI.
- What to include: Add, edit, and delete tasks, plus optional features like due dates or dark mode.
- Tools to use: JavaScript, React, or Vue.js.
3. Weather App
- Why it’s great: It shows you can work with APIs (a key skill in many tech jobs).
- What to include: Fetch weather data for a user’s location and display it in a user-friendly way.
- Tools to use: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and the OpenWeather API.
4. Budget Tracker
- Why it’s great: It demonstrates logic, user interaction, and data visualization.
- What to include: Add and categorize expenses, calculate totals, and maybe include charts or graphs.
- Tools to use: JavaScript, D3.js for charts, or a Python backend.
5. Clone a Popular Website
- Why it’s great: Recreating a website like Twitter, Instagram, or Spotify teaches you how real-world apps work.
- What to include: Focus on one feature, like creating posts or searching for music.
- Tools to use: Front-end and back-end technologies of your choice.
Side Project Ideas for Designers
1. App Redesign
- Why it’s great: Shows your ability to improve user experience and interface design.
- What to include: Before-and-after mockups and an explanation of your design choices.
- Tools to use: Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch.
2. Branding for a Fake Company
- Why it’s great: Demonstrates your graphic design and branding skills.
- What to include: A logo, color palette, typography, and mockups of marketing materials.
- Tools to use: Canva, Adobe Illustrator, or Figma.
3. Interactive Prototype
- Why it’s great: Shows your ability to create functional, user-friendly designs.
- What to include: A clickable prototype of an app or website, with a focus on navigation and usability.
- Tools to use: Figma or Axure.
4. Design a Landing Page
- Why it’s great: Landing pages are in demand, and this project highlights your layout and visual hierarchy skills.
- What to include: A mockup for a product, event, or campaign.
- Tools to use: Figma, Webflow, or Adobe XD.
5. Case Study for a UX Problem
- Why it’s great: It shows how you approach real-world design challenges.
- What to include: Define the problem, show your research process, and present a solution with visuals.
- Tools to use: Figma and presentation tools like Google Slides.
Tips for Making Your Side Projects Shine
- Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
It’s better to have 2-3 well-executed projects than 10 unfinished ones.
- Document Your Process
Include notes on what you learned, challenges you faced, and how you solved them. Employers love seeing how you think.
- Share Your Work
Post your projects on GitHub, Behance, Dribbble, or a personal website. Share them on LinkedIn or in tech communities for feedback.
- Keep Improving
Even after you finish a project, revisit it later to add new features or refine your design.
Ready to Start Building?
Side projects are one of the best ways to learn, grow, and get noticed in tech. Pick one idea that excites you and start small. The more you create, the more confident you’ll feel—and the more impressive your portfolio will become.
Stay Inspired
Sign up for our newsletter for more project ideas, resources, and tech career tips. Let’s help you build a portfolio that gets you noticed.
