In 2019, there were almost 282,000 graphic designers in the United States alone.
That sounds like a lot of people and only grows when the global market is considered, and it may feel daunting for new graphic designers entering the market.
That means it’s crucial to make yourself stand out among the crowd, and your portfolio is the perfect way to do that.
These nine graphic design portfolio tips are here to help you build the perfect one, and land the job every time.
- Pick Work to Feature
Quality should trump quantity when you’re sifting through work to feature in your portfolio. Remember that it is better to have 6-8 quality pieces than 20 mediocre ones.
The best way to go about it is to find your best work first, then find your favorite work.
The ideal order for you to pick pieces are:
- Most Impressive Work
- Best work
- Side work or favorite pieces
Most Impressive
By most impressive, this you should think of your biggest name clients or repeat ones.
This means that if you designed the logo for Nike, it’d be the first thing someone sees when they go to your portfolio. If you’ve designed for a trustworthy brand, that adds the same element to your personal brand.
If you haven’t worked with any particularly “big name” clients, but have worked with the same client multiple times, this is also something to note. It shows your ability to form effective working relationships.
Best Work
This is a more subjective category. If you’re not sure or can’t decide, ask colleagues, mentors, even honest friends to help decide which work they think is your best.
Side Work or Favorite Pieces
If you did free work for a local business or nonprofit, this could be a good option to add to your portfolio. It shows that you’re adaptable, and don’t mind helping where it’s needed.
Your favorite pieces showcase your personality the most and are a good addition to any portfolio, even if there are only one or two.
- Choose the Right Platform
Choosing a platform or site builder to create your portfolio is important. Some site builders are simple to use, while others give you complete creative control.
If you’re a freelancer or own a business, marketing might be necessary for you. You should also consider social media and networking sites to use. Sites like LinkedIn and Instagram are great options.
Here’s a complete guide to using LinkedIn on a Mac: https://setapp.com/how-to/use-linkedin-for-mac
- Find Your Unique Style
This goes for your work and your portfolio. If you have a signature style, be sure to incorporate it.
If you don’t have a specific style, what can you do to create one? At a minimum, what can you do to pull all your different works together cohesively into one space?
- Limit Text
Too many words make people (and potential clients) lose interest quickly.
It’s important to pack a punch using as few words as possible.
- Create an About Page
Your about page shouldn’t include a lot of text. It does need to showcase your personality though. This is a good place to throw in your headshot, or photos of you working.
Create a bio no more than 75-100 words long that sums you up as a graphic designer.
Think of it this way—how would you describe yourself in one tweet?
- Explain Your Process
This is another version of a “contact us” page, but it tells potential clients what they can expect from working with you.
This page can be text-heavy, but it still shouldn’t feel overwhelming to read. Small paragraphs with white space in between help to break it all up.
Answer any and all questions someone might have for you on this page, including:
- What is your specialty?
- How can people contact you?
- How long should they expect it to take to hear back from you?
- What timeframes do you need for projects?
- Do you offer packages set at specific price points?
Keep it concise, but make sure all of the relevant information is in there.
- Keep It Simple
Yes, keep text usage to a minimum (focus on your visuals most). But also don’t let the background and filler spaces ruin the experience of seeing your work.
Bright colors against bright works can get overwhelming and even hurt someone’s eyes. The background should contrast from your work in a way that’s aesthetically pleasing but doesn’t clash.
The same goes for fonts. Using two font types on one page can be fun, and even add a creative element to your portfolio, but they need to look good together.
If your portfolio has moving parts to it, or unique navigation, make sure it all flows well.
- Diversify Your Graphic Design Portfolio
Now that you have somewhere to start, it’s time to hunt for work you’d like to be able to include.
If there’s a certain style you’ve always wanted to experiment with or a brand or client you’ve always wanted to work with, you should actively seek out those experiences.
Networking is a great way to do this. So is reaching out to companies (big and small) that you think could benefit from your work. Seek out opportunities different from what you’ve done in the past, and take your graphic design portfolio to places it’s never been.
Diversity shows not only flexibility but skill.
Update Your Portfolio Frequently
Now that you’ve read these eight tips on enhancing your graphic design portfolio, it’s important to keep it up-to-date as your work expands.
You don’t have to update your portfolio once a week, but it’s a good idea to look at where you’re headed as a designer. If you work on a new design that you think defines your work more than a previous piece, replace it.
If you found these tips helpful and would like to learn more, be sure to check out the rest of our blog.