Preparing a portfolio can be exciting, but at the same time, it can also be agonizing, demanding and time-consuming. It is similar to having a CV, only that here you are showcasing your projects, past achievements, and skills. A lot of details go into making the perfect design portfolio. How you go about it will determine whether you get hired or not.
Below are tips on how to make a design portfolio.
- Choose a Good Design Layout
How do I want my design portfolio to look like? This should be the first question you ask yourself before embarking on designing your portfolio. The end result should display your overall personality as a designer. How many pages would you like your portfolio to have? What colors palette or fonts will you use? These questions will help to guide you in settling for your perfect portfolio layout. The layout should be authentic, creative and simple and one which will allow for easy navigation. Let your ideas flow in a systematic manner from start to finish. With a proper layout, your portfolio will achieve consistency and solid organization. All your portfolio pages should be appealing and inviting. Do not congest everything on one page. Spread them out.
- Showcase the Best Work
Quality rather than quantity is a big plus for any design portfolio. As a designer, you probably have worked on lots of design projects to date and you have your best designs and the not so good designs. It can be tempting to include all the design projects you have ever worked on. But, remember the less you use the better. Make a list of your best designs that you feel will showcase your design skills better. Congesting all your design projects will make your portfolio lose that sense of personality. Put your best forward. You will not want potential employers to see the not so good design as it will aid in you losing points. The essential thing is to showcase the kind of work you want to be hired for. If you are not sure, always feel free to seek advice from an expert portfolio designer.
- Dedicate a Page for Yourself
Showcasing your work is good. However, remember that potential employers would also like to have a sneak preview of who you are as a person. Having an “About Me” will be a perfect way to do just that. Include your picture in it and then write a short bio profile about yourself. Do not talk about everything concerning you. Just say enough to catch the attention of your potential employers.
Having a resume section within this page will be a plus, as it will help give your potential employers extra detail about yourself. Be sure to list your relevant competencies, interests, employment history and training. Lastly, your current contact details that include the address, email, and phone numbers should not miss.
- Pay Attention to the Organization
No one would want to waste their time looking at a disorganized design portfolio. How you organize your work within your portfolio is crucial. The good organizational sequence should help tell a story, build a case and make a strong impact for you. A good way to organize your work would be either chronologically, category or industry. For instance, you could place all your e-commerce designs in one category or arrange your designs in the order of time you did them. The important thing is to have an end result that is memorable and approachable.
Take Advantage Of The Growing Field Of Design
The broad field of design offers plenty of opportunities for the creatively-minded, with many high-growth career options to choose from. Jobs at the intersection of design and technology have a particularly promising future—fields like web design and development are growing much faster than the average for all occupations. In graphic design, nearly 300,000 design jobs were available in the US as of 2018; beyond this, design also offers the opportunity to work freelance or remotely with clients anywhere in the world. With the most successful senior designers earning up to six figures, training as a designer can be a lucrative way to use your creative skills.
There is a lot to think about when starting on a new career path, whether you are a student just beginning your journey or an established professional looking for a career change. You will need to first decide if design is right for you, and then, should you choose to pursue it, make a plan for how to achieve your goal.
