Came across this great article from Smashing Magazine: 10 Steps to the Perfect Portfolio Website.
Tons and tons of great tips, including how to make everything more concise and clear. I especially like the tip about having a tagline because I think that’s so important. You have to be able to sum yourself up in a few words and sell it! And what better way to do that than with a tagline?
There was also yet another incredibly valuable tip in that article, one that especially applies to designers who are just starting out: If you don’t have clients, create things. I wholeheartedly agree with that. Make a business card for yourself and put it in your portfolio. Design a theme. Design something because it’s better than nothing.
A lot of design students are unsure about what to put in portfolios, and really the best answer is any work that truly represents what you do. I’ve used final class projects before. I’ve had friends who used wallpapers they designed as part of their portfolios. Not everybody is a design genius who gets tons of clients right away! We all have to start somewhere, and schoolwork isn’t a bad start. As you get more clients, you can start putting more real-world work up. Again, it’s better than nothing!
And while having a web portfolio is pretty important, don’t forget that having a “book” is handy too. I usually get one of those nice black ones you see at the art stores. What size you get depends on your work. I tend to do a lot of tabloid-sized posters, so I have one that’s 11 x 17. Mount your work on black paper and add a small explainer to each page if you can.
If you’re really ambitious and wanting to flex your creativity, you could put together an actual book. Come up with a great concept and theme that ties all your work together, and the final result is very impressive. I’ve seen a few of these before and love the idea. If you know someone who has a lot of HOW Magazine or Print Magazine design annuals lying around, go flip through the student promotions to see a few examples.
A portfolio is the best way for you to sell yourself. It gives people a glimpse of not only what you can do, but also what your style is and who you are. Take the time not only to decide what work should go in a portfolio, but also to decide how you want to brand yourself. Drawing up your logo and thinking of your tagline and deciding how your portfolio will look online are just the beginning, but it’s a great start.
