Building a portfolio that centers on the type of client work you want to do will create a concise, focused presentation. Spend time really thinking about your unique approach to design and ways you can convey that in your portfolio. The thing I enjoy most of all about being an instructor is seeing my students flourish and to be able to start careers that are passionate and rewarding. How to make a graphic design portfolio 1. He uses various graphic design portfolio templates that keep fresh materials on his site. Remember, don’t be too lengthy, just give little nuggets of information that can add value and can continue to build trust. Basically, it has to kick ass. This research helped to create a visual system that more closely related to XYZ’s demographic in new and dynamic ways. How to create a portfolio with these easy tips 01. Designers such as Brian Gardner and even design agencies like SocioDesign and AHA Design use WordPress to power their official portfolio websites. May 4, 2020. Use fewer photos and make them larger and easier to view. Greene Bean Design is the design studio of Rachel Greene, a graphic designer working and living in Philadelphia. You may have heard the phrase “jack of all trades but master of nothing.” This saying rings true when building your portfolio. So protect it from heat, rain, and abuse. This helps you create a plan for your portfolio. Actionable Tip: Try featuring 3-6 strong case studies or projects and leave the rest to another link, page or blog area. Have a suggestion? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 114,430 times. I enjoy seeing at least one personal project in a portfolio because personal work tends to better demonstrate passions and talents more than client work. Protect your printed portfolio at all costs! By using our site, you agree to our. For example, for the first page of a case study, ask yourself, “What helps tell the story here?” and “What shows off this work the best?”. A solid graphic design portfolio is your ticket to professional success. You should select at least six or seven good pieces, but no more than nine or ten. You can easily edit online this design portfolio layout to fit your style. You want to answer the question “If I hire this designer, what will my experience be like?”. You can demonstrate the brainstorming process of a logo design, perhaps raw sketches and concepts of a package design. To create this article, 18 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. I created a brand project for XYZ company that consisted of a logo refresh and new branded materials and brand assets. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you feel your portfolio needs some fresh new content, look at the various websites that offer design challenges. It’s a good idea to include a short bio and headshot on your About page, as well as any relevant skills or experience. It can also be a beautifully crafted client project image or personal project. Your life's work is in it! Curate your best work, and show a wide breadth of skill.. Lindsay Burke, a HubSpot Product Designer, emphasizes the... 2. Think of this image as a summary image that encourages the viewer to take a more detailed look at your case study. A portfolio is a place where you showcase your best work. How to create an impressive graphic design portfolio of your own As I mentioned at the very start of this post, creating a graphic design portfolio is pretty essential. Case studies can reveal your unique workflow and let the viewer get a glimpse of how you think and approach projects. This article has been viewed 114,430 times. Just make sure you flag up that it's a personal project on your portfolio site. Graphic design portfolio websites usually look similar. Though employers expect to see an online portfolio from candidates, students must be sure to protect the work they share. Actionable Tip: Sprinkle a bit about yourself between project photos on the homepage or the first few pages of your PDF portfolio. IMPORTANT! Set aside time to... 02. This saying rings true when building your portfolio. Your prints should be clean, with no marks on them. Story-driven narrative: Use color schemes to create style and appeal. Choose from our array of well-designed templates to avoid the hassle of creating one yourself. Be thoughtful about what you include Also, make sure to include a high-quality, professional photo of yourself somewhere in your portfolio. 04. A good portfolio website doesn’t have to be complicated. I have had the pleasure of teaching over 200,000+ students globally online. Portfolios come in a few different flavors: there are online portfolios with interactive elements and then you have the traditional pdf portfolio that can be either digital or print. Strong graphic design portfolios feature a few projects (typically your best work) and present them well with beautifully crafted images and descriptions that are neither too vague nor too long. Make sure your case is pleasant and professional, with a neutral background. A minimalist light green cover, this graphic design portfolio template features typography, illustrations and branding examples. Contact [email protected] But that same “anything goes” approach can be a struggle if you’re a graphic designer, an illustrator or a web designer looking to create your own portfolio website to reach potential clients. Think about your target audience. Her graphic design portfolio emphasizes Lotta’s experience in the field, including her past studies at the University of Art and Design and Rhode Island School of Design. Do not shy... Show off your specialization. A graphic design portfolio is a visual display of your most important work. Think about your unique approach to design and ways you can convey that in your portfolio. Be less focused on extra “junk” and be more concerned with showing what matters: your work. This develops a sense of authenticity about your portfolio that connects with the viewer. Liz Designs Things When creating your graphic design portfolio, consider some key basics. Creativity is the limit! Dribbble is the world’s leading community for creatives to share, grow, and get hired. When you’ve put a lot of time, effort and emotional energy into a particular project, you... 2. You don't want to overdo it by adding a lot of colors and designs. This post is all about those designer portfolios. This could be the deciding factor on whether you get that call back. Try to avoid cliché and common phrases in your headlines or text. Remember, even with websites, the printed portfolio is best to have. Lay out all the pieces on a work table. Much like a resume, many job applications list a portfolio as a requirement. For example, put your best work only in the portfolio. Every designer is different and you should be able to build a portfolio with 30 projects, or with just three. Select only your strongest pieces Always ask just to make sure they’re okay with it. Is it ever possible to show too much work? Regardless of the tack you take, try to incorporate those elements throughout the portfolio. And although there are many graphic design portfolio examples, this is a great place to start for those without a professional degree. Let go of lesser work. Your potential clients will judge your usefulness for a project based on your past work and design styles. This approach adds more depth to your words and is more like a one-on-one conversation rather than a pitch. Curate Your Best Work. Building a portfolio that centers on the type of client work you want to do will create a concise, focused presentation. Publish your open role on the world's #1 job board for creatives, Find and contact designers who are looking for their next opportunity, Search our database for top talent and post your listing on our popular job board, How to boost your online presence as a designer, 4 portfolio website ideas for designers & why they work, How to get creative with your new Dribbble Profile. How to create a graphic design portfolio The most important part of creating your portfolio is choosing the right pieces. Find more Process stories on our blog Courtside. 27 Graphic Design Portfolio Websites . It might be that shortening the description of the case study or removing an additional photo or two might be necessary to keep a clean, concise layout that has a single focus on each page or viewing area. Create a compelling graphic design portfolio that lands work Add your unique style & personal touch. Portfolios are often hosted on a website so that they are easily accessible to anyone who may want to hire you. This is the most important part of the graphic design portfolio, because it … A portfolio book is another option, because they are easy to manage and you can slide the pieces into place effortless. These daily design challenges can not only sharpen your skills but help you expand your portfolio. % of people told us that this article helped them. You may have a detailed work history or tons of great personal projects that can fill up 100 pages, but that does not mean you should display every single one. As a creative, you have more freedom to express yourself and describe your personal goals and areas of passion. Well if you are a graphic designer, I am sure you will know the necessary tools for designing a portfolio. A graphic design portfolio can be the only thing a client sees before choosing their graphic designer. The layout is simple, the pages are efficiently structured and, above all, the design … Actionable Tip: Start with an attention-grabbing element or project feature. Treat it that way. And wow their potential clients. You can use professional mock-ups or create your own to present your work. Competition among design jobs and freelance gigs is high but there are many practical steps you can take to beef up that portfolio and increase your chance of success. 1. In the present, Lotta founded her own studio based in New York. Ask a previous client or employer for a recommendation, and write up a short case study to accompany a project. Since then, she had to promote her work herself, putting together this portfolio. But I am a graphic designer, I have experience on that and I want to create my personal portfolio. My passion for design education inspired me to become a design instructor myself. Do something that makes your portfolio interesting and focused! But, there are a few who go above and beyond to make their portfolios look incredible. 10. You will also know the amount of text space you are dedicating to a particular area and how many client testimonials you may need to capture. Include the kind of work you want more of. Are they mostly interested in logo design work? We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. First of all, put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter or a potential client—shifting through hundreds of possible candidates can be overwhelming! Make sure that you give a context of the work. Choose the right platform to showcase your work.. A graphic design portfolio is a compilation of a designer’s work, both personal and professional, in an easy-to-view format. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. As creatives, this can be incredibly hard to determine because we like to think that all of our photos and examples add value. This graphic design portfolio template is perfect for any professional who wants to make a statement. I have seen too many design portfolios where I was easily overwhelmed with photos. Create your own digital flipbook in 60 seconds. This, along with those personal brand elements, gains trust with the viewer. Step 2 – Select your work. Here's a real world perspective on making a design portfolio. I discovered in my research phase that XYZ company had a large audience of young mothers, so we redirected the rebranding efforts to soften the brand’s visual appeal and add a more illustrative vibe with calm neutral color hues. Make sure you always get permission to include work in your portfolio. Strong personal branding is critical to your freelancing success. Prepare for any potential questions and know your answers before they ask. XYZ company approached me with a problem. Strong personal branding is critical to your freelancing success. Unlike online portfolios, physical portfolios cannot be clicked away. Regardless of whether you’re creating a graphic design portfolio or web design portfolio, similar principles apply, which we’ll cover in this guide. These are the projects you know were successful,... 03. How to make a Graphic Design Portfolio in PDF? You may want to concentrate on finding logo design work or landing an in-house design job centered around social media ad design. Get inspired with designs shared by our talented community, Check out the rankings and see which designers are trending, Amazing interviews with design industry leaders, tutorials, and more, Interactive design workshops with Dan Cederholm and Aaron Draplin on December 9. How many times have you applied to a freelance gig or an in-house design job and you never heard back? This can be a strong quote or previous client testimonial. Have a strong personal logo or name toward the top of that first page or website. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid450719-v4-728px-Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"
License: Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot) License: Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot) License: Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid450719-v4-728px-Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid450719-v4-728px-Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid450719-v4-728px-Make-a-Graphic-Design-Portfolio-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"