DMCG Global Partner in Creative and Design, Nicky Pearson, shares her top tips for updating your creative portfolio.
I'm often asked for my opinion on portfolios. For any designers/creatives wrangling with a folio update or personal re-brand here are some ideas that I hope might help:
1. Define your focus:
What area of design do you want to highlight in your portfolio? Is it brand design, UX/UI design, web design, product design, or another specialisation. Focusing on a specific area helps you target relevant opportunities. If you are multi-skilled, create sections that mean your work can easily be sorted by a viewer.
2. Start strong:
Begin with a short intro to your design approach and summary of your experience. Make someone want to scroll on. Not a fan of leading with profile photographs on the intro page? Save that for the 'about' section or 'contact me'.
3. Create a visually cohesive layout:
You may use a template or build your own site from scratch, go for a PDF or google docs route - whatever your choice, the layout and visual style should be clean and showcase the work. Ensure that the typography, colour scheme, and overall aesthetic align with your design sensibilities and those of your ideal brand/agency employer.
4. Curate your best work:
Select a limited number of recent projects that best represent your skills, creativity, and versatility. Include a variety of projects to showcase different design styles for different clients/requirements and your problem-solving abilities. Every project should be one that you are happy with.
5. Show the process:
I like to see a succinct case study/bio that explains the background, objectives, challenges, and your design solutions. I recommend demonstrating your design process on a few projects by including pages that show sketches, initial considerations, research, wireframes, mood boards etc. This provides insight into your ideation, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
6. What about the results?
Include metrics, testimonials, or any tangible results that demonstrate the effectiveness of your work in solving the brief. Results show that you are a strategic thinker too.
7. Identify your skills:
Create navigable sections within your portfolio that highlight specific design skills you possess, such as typography, branding, illustration, UI design, social or any other relevant expertise. This helps people get to what they need to see quickly.
8. Bring variety to the viewers eyes:
Depending on your skills/experience, present your work using various media formats. Include high-quality images, interactive prototypes, videos, motion or any relevant means to show your range and make your folio dynamic.
9. Seek feedback:
Share your portfolio with fellow designers, ex-CDs, mentors, recruiters etc to get constructive feedback.
10. Be selective:
Regularly update and refine and keep abreast of subtle changes and trends so your folio aesthetic is always relevant.
Happy folio-making!
View the original post and join the conversation on LinkedIn here.
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