BUILDING YOUR PORTFOLIO

One of the most important parts of job preparation within the graphic design industry is having a well-prepared portfolio displaying your work. Beyond just displaying your design pieces, your portfolio should also explain your thought process and decision-making while working on the particular project. Whether you include school assignments, passion projects, or real client work, it is best to display a wide range of design abilities and include mockups that apply to that company/branding. 

PORTFOLIO BUILDING

There are many ways to organize your portfolio, and ultimately, it is up to personal preference and what employers desire in their job applications. I recommend having both a website and a PDF presentation of your work. Both can contain the same information; however, the versatility that is possible from a PDF presentation is important when applying for jobs. To elaborate, if you are applying for a job in packaging, you can move your packaging work to the forefront, something that is not as easy with a website. This will help highlight their priorities while also showcasing your other abilities.

For portfolio websites, there are many website-building platforms that offer customization and templates to best fit your needs. Adobe Portfolio, a platform offered for free within the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, is the one I personally use, as it allows me to have all of my work organized in sections. Other sites that offer similar features are Wix, Squarespace, and Canva. These options allow for much more customization and versatility, but may have limits in what you can add in their free versions. Ultimately, which site you choose and how you build your portfolio should fit your personality and style of work best. Ensure you are highlighting the projects and skills that best represent you and your design style. 

PORTFOLIO PROJECTS

As I mentioned earlier, there are a variety of types of projects you can include in your portfolio. I recommend having a good mixture of types of work to emphasize your skill set if you are unsure of what field of design you would like to enter. On the other hand, if you are entering a career in a particular niche, ensure that you have ample examples of your abilities within that industry. Some ways you can get projects for your portfolio beyond real client work and class assignments are rebranding your favorite companies or finding briefs online. There are many websites and Instagram accounts that release challenges that give unique branding challenges and desired collateral. Some of these also do weekly challenges that you can compete in, win prizes, and receive constructive feedback on your designs to grow and strengthen your design knowledge.

EXPLAINING YOUR PROCESS

Another important part of your portfolio is elaborating upon your decision-making process and the importance of the choices you made. Discussing within your portfolio why you picked specific colors, fonts, and iconography can help exemplify your ability as a designer and your creative thinking process. Additionally, this write-up and explanation of your work as a designer can help hone your ability to present your work to future clients. Your thought process and how you tackle creative problems are ultimately why you get hired by clients and employers. Displaying this information front and center allows them to fully understand how you work and your strong suits as a creative professional.