During your early design career, there is only one thing that you would desire for – a promising and rewarding career. But what is that one thing that can make you kick an initial step towards your goal? It is an eye-striking and impressive design portfolio!
The biggest challenge during the early career phase is that there is very limited work to showcase in your portfolio. But don’t let this be a constraint. Here we share with you some tips that can help you build up a design portfolio that would definitely help you get your dream job in a graphic design company.
Table of Contents
1. Give your work a case study view
Case studies are really interesting. It shows you can solve issues, and that you are worth hiring. Rich case studies talking about design processes, challenges, requirements, successes, and ultimate best design outcomes are a great way to showcase your work.
Wonderful case studies presenting rich information, big flawless images, and problem-solving ideologies are good to go. It would help hiring managers know what all you can offer, the solutions you used, the knowledge you possess, and your efficiency.
2. Be picky while designing your portfolio
Should your portfolio be general or specialized? If you are still between phases then I would suggest you give your portfolio some breadth. But if you have selected your specific design field then showcasing work relevant to it will give you an edge.
For example, if you want to enter into the web design field, then you can omit all print designs, which you think are not that too good. Remember, managers can randomly check any content of your portfolio. Hence, the content piece must speak out about the type of job you are looking for.
3. Real-World work is more noticeable
You must be a design expert at your internship. Might be every member of your group was thrilled and fascinated with your work. But did the project succeeded?
Even if your project fails, still you must mention it in your portfolio. The hiring experts are not looking out for success or failure of the project, but how you performed. Furthermore, if it is real and genuine then it is more noticeable among the hiring experts. Real work shows that you have sound knowledge of handling real challenges, you can work under deadlines, you can work with a team, and most importantly, you can take things forward even when you have to do it all alone.
4. Include problem – Solving design exercises
Posters, vibrant design elements, hypothetical product, concert poster, mobile app design, and maybe more such elements would be included in every portfolio. So, how can your design portfolio stand out from the crowd?
Showcasing design exercises that can actually solve rigorous problems in your work portfolio is a great way to stand out from the crowd. Such exercises would show you can solve problems, work independently and follow promptly.
5. Let your work show results
How would you feel if your design is beautiful, impressive, but fails to deliver the rich end-user experience? Definitely, such a design is useless!
Every design element in your portfolio must be goal-oriented. The ultimate aim of the design must be to enhance the user experience. Spending hours drooling over design and layout is of use only when it is interactive and engaging to the audience. If your design fails to enhance the user experience, solve business goals, and ultimately fulfill the desired outcomes, then it is purely useless and only another decorative piece.
6. Your portfolio must be easily navigable
How much time do you think an expert would need to separate a bad portfolio from a good one? Let me tell you. Only 2 minutes!
Besides being beautiful, innovative, clean, and flawless, your design portfolio must be easily navigable through your mobile phone. Buying a domain name and building a good design portfolio is a serious task. But more serious than this is to make sure that the design portfolio must be easy to navigate. When a user is able to move through the portfolio with ease and smoothly then it would be a great reflection of your talent.
7. Show off your passion sincerely
The design community is dynamic. But what makes you striving is your unconditional passion. If you are passionate about the work and industry, then there is nothing that can stop you.
Do share links to design communities, online channels, forums, or areas of field you are interested in. Even if you are still in the learning phase, mentioning such names will only make your passion shine.
Conclusion
Don’t consider the task of building a portfolio daunting. Even if you don’t have any client work to present, you can still create a beautiful portfolio showcasing your strengths and talent. And once your design portfolio is ready, you would ultimately be able to land your dream job!
