If you are a freelancer in a creative field, you know that a portfolio is your key tool for winning over new clients. But how to make it best advance your business? It is one of the toughest things for some designers to put themselves out there and show who they are, and what they do. But it is at the same time essential. We’ve collected some golden guidelines that can help you succeed. Let these focus your attention on what matters most when crafting your portfolio and they’ll help you land the follow-up interview.
Name your target audience
Like any business, creative entrepreneurship also starts with planning. Name the styles, platforms, and kinds of jobs that you either like or master the most. Focus your efforts on this niche and think of the businesses, styles, and projects you want to attract when showcasing your portfolio. Narrow down your existing projects to this field and add mock projects if necessary.
Include mock designs
These are projects created for an imaginary client, that show your talent and style but were never actually used or sold to anyone. This one should only make it to your portfolio in case your made-up design is really strong and realistic or in case you are transitioning. Employers want to see your talent and style but also make sure that you can work together with your clients on real projects. Communication is one of the toughest tasks during the design process, so experienced employers from an agency will keep an eye out for this quality.
Judge yourself
It might sound harsh at first, but creatives can have a strong opinion of other’s work. Do the same when looking at your plans for putting a portfolio together. Only include the best work that you are proud of, appeals to your chosen target audience, and leads you to your goals.
Surely, you have a good collection of favorite designs, designers and projects. Be objective, look at your work from the outside, and design for yourself this time. Give insights like you are your own customer and guide your choices to a direction you are headed to.
Use high-quality mockups
You have two ways to go when creating project mockups. You can either go for super minimal, simple mockups for safety and clarity. Or chose high-quality well-designed sets and complex mockups. Drop mainstream mockups and arrangements that agencies and customers have seen a hundred times. If you can’t find anything unique, stick with the minimal idea.
Use high-resolution images
Not only your actual design work but the way you present it also speaks of how you work. Therefore the quality of the photos matters in your portfolio. They can support the idea of you being a great designer, or cause doubts in the viewer of your judgment.
Explain the exercise
While attention-grabbing pictures are essential they are not everything when someone seriously considers hiring you. They might want to have a complete understanding of the tasks and problems you had to solve, as well as your exact role in the project. Focus on the possible benefits of the reader. They might probably want to understand how you work alone and in a team, what kind of responsibilities they could delegate to you comfortably, how you adapt to concepts, and how you solve visual problems.
Show the process
…and the thought behind the design. If you created the logo, show the creative part of the process. Explain how complex visual elements developed into simple ones and how they reflect the brand name and identity. Make a connection between the logo design and the connecting graphical elements.
Show the mood
Beyond introducing the process, tasks, and your work, it is also important to make all these efforts appealing and fully meaningful. Add the professional photos the photographer has taken. Use big surfaces with the brand colors and logo. Don’t be shy to create a few mockups that would never be used in reality but boost the quality of your portfolio and the project.
Be up to date
A portfolio is a never-ending task that you have to keep working on as times and trends change. It is hard to let go of the hard work you’ve done creating the project mockups years ago, but it is essential for improving your business and proving that your skills and knowledge are up to date.
Show your talent
While keeping the big picture put together, try to showcase the range of your capabilities in the projects. Show your experience, and the kind of work you do or want to do. If you are having a hard time choosing your best projects, rank them and choose the best ones.
Introduce yourself
This is a tough place for some designers, but it is essential for personal connection. The people looking to hire you will also be interested in who you are beyond what you can do. Reach out to a copywriter if you are feeling insecure to create the about page of yourself.
Platforms to use
You will need to have a few different versions of your portfolio. Some people or companies prefer pdf files while others want to have easy access by a link. Pick the most appealing social platform to you like The Dots, Behance or Dribble. Create your own portfolio website via Wix or Squarespace.
Ask for opinions
It feels good to share work with the people we love, but this is time to get out of your comfort zone and turn to those who can give you useful insight. Seek a professional opinion. Ask your teachers, colleagues, designer friends what they honestly think of your portfolio. If you don’t have people like them around you, apply to jobs to see how employers respond. This trial of yours might lead to possibilities you might have never dreamed of.
0 Comments