Technological advancements and increase in internet use are slowly revolutionizing the graphic designing industry. Gone are the days where you would carry a bag full of your past designs to an interview. Today, all you need is just a flash drive to take your samples or email them to your prospective clients before your meeting. The presentation of a designer’s previous work has also changed immensely with everyone viewing a designer’s entire portfolio online instead of waiting to receive previous designs. This has made it easier to choose the right graphic designers, photographers, and even contractors within a short time.
A design portfolio is an essential tool if you are looking to remain relevant in the designing industry. In fact, the career calling card determines your probability of landing a client. Therefore, your portfolio should demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and creativity if you intend to win your customer's hearts. A customer will always compare two portfolios before choosing one, so you need to make yours the one that catches his eye. There is no specific way of organizing your portfolio, but the way you do it should attract the attention of the client or any other person visiting your website. Below are some of the tips that you should consider before releasing your portfolio to the public.
1. Always Update Your Portfolio
Nothing impresses a client than a designer who has maintained consistency in their work. If the last design on your design portfolio dates back to over five months ago, then you might have a problem landing new clients. Designers tend to improve their quality and product delivery skills over time, meaning that your present designs are of a better quality than your previous ones. Remember that a client will always check to see if you have new work on your portfolio, hence the need to keep it updated.
2. Be Keen on Your Work Presentation
How you present, your work plays an important role while determining whether you get a client or not. Always grab the viewer’s attention by placing your best pieces on the opening page. You should also leave an imprint in a visitor’s mind by placing your strongest designs on your last page. The key is to remain as interesting and relevant as possible throughout the portfolio pages.
3. Provide Context and Content
A portfolio is not enough if you just place a design without captions and annotations explaining about them. The captions may give information on assignments and the processes that you followed to complete it.
4. Keep it Simple but Provide Variety
You may have many designs to show, but you should always present them in a way that impresses the viewers and also serves the purpose intended. Keep the layout on your pages simple but always give a variety of your previous work. You may include graphic designs, logos, or sketched items among other things. The key is to prove you are the right person for the job while also paying attention to the viewers to avoid overwhelming them.
5. Invest in Developing an Attractive Portfolio
Physical portfolios of the past consisted only of images and printed pictures of your work. Times are now changing, and people are reducing their use of physical portfolio for the online ones. This means the appearance of your portfolio page is part of the things that a client will look at before they decide to hire you for the job. Remove any unappealing designs from your portfolio and replace them with quality and attractive ones. The secret is to appeal to your prospective clients even before you plan a meeting with them.
Conclusion
An online design portfolio should present the designer as the best option compared to the other competitors. Our designs at Graphics Zoo are an example of what you should have in your portfolio. We have varied portfolio designs, which give you an idea of a functional and attractive portfolio. We are ready to help you develop a winning portfolio. Call us today at 888-976-2747.