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@itsdesignertom

Hiring managers read three Claude-default tells in design portfolios (eyebrow labels over every header, subtext under everything, cursor-following glow hover effects); even hand-built pages get judged as AI, so push past the first thing AI gives you and trim away.

149k plays · 28 Oct 2026

What they said

Tell 1 (caption and speech): a small label (eyebrow) above every header.
Tell 2: subtext under every label; "when there's an abundance of text, it just smells like Claude".
Tell 3: a glow that follows your cursor: ask AI for a mouse-tied hover effect and it is the first option, every time (frames show hover-effect cards demo, "Spotlight Card").
Caption: "Ridd found 3 AI defaults" while reviewing viewer portfolios live.
Even if hand assembled, it reads as default to the person hiring. "Get away from those defaults and push past the first thing AI hands you."
Eyebrow = "the em dash of the design world" (shown with a ChatGPT cover letter full of em dashes).
"AI gives you the big ball of clay. You trim away and you take away."
CTA: live show every Thursday 1 PM Pacific (Dive Club / designertom, with Ridd).

Try this

Designers and portfolio builders: Remove three common AI tells: a small label above every heading, subtext under every label, and a glow that follows the cursor.
Edit down: AI gives you a large block of clay. Cut text, remove effects and keep only what a viewer needs.
Push past the first idea: Ask for three or four alternatives, then choose one and change it.
Add personal detail: Real project stories, your own photos and process notes are hard to fake.
Test: Ask a friend to review your page for "AI feel" before you send it to a hiring manager or client.
Keep perspective: Some of these patterns existed before AI, so use them only when they serve the content.

Watch the original

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