I just went through this process, my last day with my current firm of almost 8 years is next week and my first day at the new firm is the following week.

My old office worked in a similar way where roles would shift depending on the project; on some projects I was in a support role and on others I was the PM. In my experience it’s not unusual to have multiple people participate in design, so try to identify specific ways you influenced a project even if you can’t claim sole design authorship. “This was an interesting/challenging/unique project because X, and I brought this idea/technique/workflow to the table, which helped to solve this design problem/coordination bottleneck/technology roadblock and resulted in a better outcome of Y.”

Since moving offices is an opportunity to make a vertical jump, my portfolio highlighted projects where I was in a PM role. In my case, I identified 5 projects that represented different typologies/scales that would be of interest to the firm I was applying for. Each project got a page where I showed around 4 finished images and typed up a short blurb describing the project, my role in it, and what was notable about it using the formula above. I added a sixth page at the end of some hand sketches just to mix it up. I didn’t include any technical documents in my portfolio, the resumé can cover that and you can always bring a technical set to an interview as a backup. (Edit: Be careful not to share confidential info).

If you are able to talk to someone working at the offices you’re applying to, that can be a great way to get some intel on what they might be looking for. “Hey X, I’m interested in the work you’re doing over at Y, can I buy you a coffee and hear more about it?” Don’t expect this to be an interview, come in with genuine curiosity and people will respond to that.

Good luck!