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Introduction
A design portfolio is an ideal tool for helping you stand out and present your distinctive brand of design to the world, even though it may seem frightening to put your design work on display for all to see. Whether you are an experienced graphic designer or just getting started, having a professional portfolio is invaluable.
Although there is fierce competition for design jobs and freelance graphic design positions, you can take numerous doable actions to build out your portfolio, highlight your design abilities, and improve your chances of landing a job. Similar to your design resume and cover letter, portfolios are available in various formats. Online portfolio builders are one option, as is the more classic pdf portfolio, which can be printed or shown digitally. There are ways to make it appear professional and interesting regardless of your strategy.
Choose your work carefully
Keep in mind that the portfolio should not contain all of your work. An entire portfolio might be ruined by one subpar piece of work, which shows a lack of consideration for the highest caliber. Choose pieces that best reflect your skill and enthusiasm. Industry professionals don’t anticipate seeing every item of your work that you’ve ever created. Still, they want to see various unique pieces that showcase your skill, passion, and applicability. A variety of tasks that showcase your abilities and experience should be presented, so be mindful of this.
Make sure the work you are presenting closely reflects the skills you need to prove your relevance and “fit” for the role if you pitch for a particular project, just as you would adapt a CV for a role. Instead of having projects like graffiti in your portfolio, for example, if you’re asking for a design job with a company that has really elegant and clear branding, show that you have the skills to work with and interpret these clean designs. The purpose of your portfolio should be served.
Display your area of expertise
Stretching your work across several fields makes it difficult to develop a goal portfolio. Consider who your intended audience is. Do they primarily seek out work in logo design? Authentic packaging? A clear, concentrated presentation will result from developing a graphic design portfolio that focuses on the client work you wish to accomplish. You could want to focus your efforts on securing a position in in-house design or logo design, specifically with a focus on social media ad design. Let this objective show in your portfolio.
Use straightforward and tidy layouts
Only the most important items should be displayed at a time in your portfolio arrangement. Because we prefer to believe that all of our photographs and examples bring value, it may be exceedingly difficult for creatives to assess this. To maintain a clear, concise structure with a single focus on each page or viewing area, it might be essential to condense the case study summary or eliminate one or two more photos.
Layout your complete portfolio in rough draft forms before adding the final images and content. Making a plan for your portfolio is made easier by doing this. Once it’s drawn out, you’ll know how many images you might need to take or locate for each project. Additionally, you will know how much text space you allocate to each section and the potential number of client testimonials you need to provide.
Personalize it
Showcase your ability to adapt by outlining the strategy you would employ for a brand or product that is already in existence. This displays that you are talented when clients do not constrain you and that you are passionate about your profession. However, we advise against using recognizable brands. Use your imagination to create an outstanding and unique design for a nearby business or a company that you believe does not currently have a strong brand or visual identity.
Your capacity to examine many aspects of the marketing and branding of identity projects will then be able to be demonstrated, in addition to your technical production talents. This can be a crucial consideration when hiring a designer because their capacity to interpret the brand and take into account the audience and their ambitions can assist in establishing close relationships with customers
Show the narrative
Your portfolio will contain a variety of works, each of which will have a backstory. Showing your working drawings might assist you (or a client) explain why you choose a particular design or feel, so don’t be reluctant. Additionally, this shows that you can take criticism well. Using references from previous customers can be crucial when describing your relationship with a client’s aim and purpose. This will attest to your strong business and communication abilities, which are essential for a successful career in design.
Display your working method
Your graphic design portfolio should include a case study demonstrating your approach to a project from start to finish. If you need design inspiration, templates are online.
Creating a process book is another technique to demonstrate the work process. A project can be shown from conception to completion using a tool like Keynote. Your process book might include a mood board and examples of work from other designers. A process book can be completed with illustrations of color schemes, patterns, textures, and other design aspects.
Include recommendations and non-client work
Your ability as a designer can be demonstrated very effectively through side projects, freelancing work, and other self-initiated projects relevant to the position. Don’t believe that you must include client work to exhibit your professional abilities. Mentioning your versatility in working with different agents and industries will show that you have a distinct perspective.
Include testimonials from clients or employers who have been pleased. It offers credibility and provides evidence that you can keep your word. The work is done for you and speaks eloquently on your behalf when you have client testimonials.
Avoid going too far with the trend
Don’t copy the newest trends blindly. It won’t be long before people stop using oversized typefaces and translucent prismatic color overlays (we’re looking at you, TikTok). As a matter of fact, according to Johnson, work that defies design trends frequently makes the biggest impression: “You want to know that somebody knows the rules well enough to execute them, they understand conventions, etc., but they also know how and when to defy them,” he says. In light of this, there is a certain understanding and mindfulness of what is suitable in a certain setting.
Provide feedback
It is often helpful to acquire a second and third professional assessment to determine which works best represent your abilities and viewpoint. Obtain a critical assessment of your complete portfolio’s overall appearance and tone from a person whose judgment you value. When you know your work too well, it’s simple to miss its positive and negative aspects. To avoid being pigeonholed by any one theme or genre, it’s crucial to achieve a proper tonal balance. It is advisable to ensure the portfolio is neither too serious nor too lighthearted to gain a true feel of your capacity to work with various clients.
Your professional side-skills should be mentioned
Are editorial layout or illustration your only strengths? Obviously not. There’s a good probability that your design expertise can be applied to various tasks. Don’t ignore any more useful side skills you may have acquired accidentally. Simply mentioning in the supporting notes all the times you assisted with project management, the low-budget project you created, and how you inspired the team to meet a tight deadline. These are considered professional assets, and you might not realize their significance.
You must create a gallery and post images to your graphic design portfolio to publish your work online. First, ensure sure high-quality photographs represent the artwork you wish to display. Even though specialized photography can be pricey, many of your website’s photographic demands can be met by today’s mobile devices; ensure the images have a professional appearance and are stored in high-resolution files.
Customize your design
The design of a website affects its credibility by 75%, according to the most recent web design statistics provided by WebFX. Use your designer’s eye to make your web portfolio look and feel as professional as possible. To make it stand out, most crucially, give it individuality. This calls for a well-thought-out design, powerful brand aspects, and a wonderful user experience for visitors.
Use the best navigation practices
Make sure site visitors can access it quickly, whether it’s your contact information, a gallery of your work, or your resume. The best method to accomplish this is by including a website menu as your portfolio’s main navigational hub.
This is often placed in your website’s header (at the very top of your site). Add the most crucial websites from your portfolio or the ones you want people to land on while planning your menu.
Add a biography and contact information
Potential clients might be won over by your work alone, but they’ll probably want more details if they check your graphic design portfolio before getting in touch. An About page with your CV, bio, or other information that provides more context for your work can be included if you want to detail yourself and your professional background.
It’s best practice to include your contact information while creating a professional portfolio. Once site visitors have decided to work with you, they should have little trouble locating an email address or contact form on your page to send you a message.
Conclusion
Your calling card for potential prospects is your portfolio. The most crucial thing to show during a meeting or interview with a potential employer once your impressive portfolio has piqued their interest is your passion and interest in the job or project.
You should now feel reasonably secure about constructing a design portfolio after reading all of this graphic design portfolio advice.
