7 Tips on How to Create a Graphic Design Portfolio
As a graphic design student or professional, having a design portfolio is one of the best assets to showcase your work and get new clients. It’s a collection of your best work showing your skills, creativity, and style to potential clients and employers.
But if you’re just starting out and want to learn more about graphic design – check out our beginner’s guide on how to become a graphic designer.
Now, check out these 7 tips on how to create an exceptional graphic design portfolio!
Choose the Right Platform for Your Graphic Design Portfolio
With so many options out there, choosing the right platform to host your graphic design portfolio can be difficult.
Behance and Dribbble are two of the most popular platforms among graphic designers. The main difference between the two is that Behance is a more social platform that focuses on the quality of work, while Dribbble is more focused on individual design work.
Take the time to research what is available and what you need to make the most informed decision. Think about how you will use the platform and any additional features you may find useful. Also, consider other things like pricing and communities before making your final choice.
Remember that the best platform isn’t necessarily the most expensive or even the one with the biggest feature set; sometimes, it’s simply the one that you like the most.
Start Strong With an Awesome Summary
A good summary is a perfect way to get your client’s attention and make a lasting impression. It should sum up your knowledge and experience in a concise, punchy way that will draw new clients in and keep them interested.
Writing an effective summary is crucial to ensure your potential employer fully engages with your portfolio. Nevertheless, a good summary requires finesse and creativity, but it makes your portfolio stand out from the crowd when done right.
Select the Perfect Project Examples
Choosing the proper examples to impress potential employers is important when creating a graphic design portfolio. So, make sure to show off your best projects that highlight the skills you’re most proud of.
As a graphic designer, you should showcase designs that demonstrate your style and skillset as an artist. In addition, it’s always worth revisiting past projects and showcasing the ones that comprise a complete collection of your graphic design abilities.
Use Interesting Visuals
Interesting visuals are an essential part of graphic design, and they can be used to capture attention and bring a certain level of creativity to any project. Through visuals such as images, symbols, and logos, designers can tell stories, instantly convey messages, create moods, and make their designs more eye-catching.
Whether a flat illustration or an animated video clip, visuals must always display the designer’s unique vision to distinguish their work from others. Devoting time and effort to creating visually appealing content for your projects will captivate your potential employer.
Write Compelling Descriptions
Describing a project can be challenging, even when you know the project inside and out. It can take a lot of work to communicate its features in an enjoyable, engaging way. Writing compelling project descriptions requires getting creative with language and making sure the audience understands the passion, energy, and expertise behind the project.
To craft a project description that will leave a lasting impression on your readers, think carefully about how each aspect of the project could energize or interest them. Showcase the project’s uniqueness and provide examples of the best features to emphasize its true potential. Writing project descriptions can be fun, creating content that engages your reader in an impactful way. However, you must carefully ensure the tone and content fit your audience.
Express Your Personal Interests
Have you ever desired to exhibit what sets you apart from others? There are many reasons why expressing your abilities is a great idea. Whether it’s an extra language, knowledge of an area of expertise, or interest in a hobby, talking about your special capabilities gives you a chance to stand out.
Most employers seek people with unique skill sets. When people learn about your personal interests and hobbies beyond your professional persona, it gives them a better perspective of you as a whole.
Keep It Updated!
Keeping your graphic design portfolio up to date should be one of your top priorities. This allows potential clients to view and evaluate your skill set and helps you reflect on past work and see how you’ve improved.
Whether you’re redesigning old projects or creating something new and unique, maintaining your portfolio is a great way to keep yourself motivated and present in the graphic design world.
Landing your dream job is a process, but following these simple tips will give you a great head start. Then, by choosing the right platform and promoting your abilities most effectively, you’re well on your way to putting your best foot forward. And always remember – keep your portfolio updated!