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Graphic Design Portfolio Tips

Graphic Design Portfolios: Tips and Types

Whether you

aspire to a

graphic design

degree or have

already

completed one,

you will need a

slick, modern way

to display your

work to potential

employers and

educators.

A traditional graphic design portfolio should be considered a design problem and an ongoing art project; everything must be perfect and ready to be dispatched at a moment’s noticed in a variety of ways.

•Online Portfolio:

Displaying your work on

the internet is one tool

you can’t live without as

a graphic designer.

•Drop-off Portfolio: Some

employers insist on

doing business this way

so be prepared to drop-

off high quality copies of

your babies without

knowing if you will ever

see them again.

•Mailing Portfolio: A very

small percentage of

potential employers or

colleges will want you to

actually mail them

copies of your work as a

representative portfolio

before scheduling an

interview.

Graphic Design

Portfolio Types

#1 – Choose a book and/or case format in which to display your work.

It doesn’t have to

be one or the

other; it doesn’t

have to be both. It

doesn’t have to be

traditional, either,

for designers who

create their own

packaging.

Everyone else can

buy or adapt

something from the

art supply store!

#2 – Pick 15-20 examples of your very finest work.

Variety is key in

the industry so

show your

versatility with

paper choices,

clients, and a

range of styles

and design types

(posters, logos,

packaging,

invitations, etc.).

#2 – Prepare printed samples – don’t skimp on the printing quality or paper choice for these samples.

It doesn’t have to be

vintage couture

stationery, but you

will need to at least

chose a nicer stock

than the basic printer

paper. Also, choosing

paper that suits your

design shows you

have an eye for detail.

#4 – Choose a consistent paper to serve as the backdrop for

each design.

This is another

opportunity to

design something

else that serves as a

platter for the works

in your portfolio.

Conventional

wisdom says

portfolio

backgrounds should

be white or light

grey and consistent

throughout.

#5 – Clean up your work.

Spend time

smoothing rough

edges, clean up

image

imperfections –

these are physical

representations

of all the skills

you’ve gained.

Presentation is

just as important

as how good your

work looks.

#6 – Caption Your Work

Use uniform font,

font size and

placement. This

will serve as

another example

of your detailed

and consistent

eye.

#7 – Place each design onto your chosen background paper using your favorite adhesive.

Placement should be

consistent and adhesive

can be practical, obvious

or invisible depending on

your design concept for

the portfolio.

#8 – Start strong.

Begin with one of

your strongest

works, but keep in

mind that your

portfolio should be

progressively

stronger.

#9 – Finish stronger.

See #8. You want

to lead the viewer

on a journey

through your

capabilities. Start

strong, but end

with something

truly memorable

your potential

employer won’t

soon forget.

#10 – Be prepared to talk about each piece.

Careful not to get

to deep into the

process for each –

most likely your

potential

employer doesn’t

want to hear

about how many

Photoshop layers

went into every

piece. They want

to know if you

can handle the

job.

#11 – Rehearse speaking confidently about your work

and yourself.

Practice in front

of friends, family,

mentor – how

ever many times

it takes for you to

feel comfortable

talking about

yourself and your

work to potential

employers.

The second half of this presentation focuses on miscellaneous words of wisdom about compiling and

maintaining your graphic design portfolio.

Assorted Tips and Tidbits

Tip#1 - Run your portfolio selections by a trusted mentor and fellow graphic artists.

Sometimes, we

are our own

harshest critics

and unable to

objectively

discern what is

our best work.

Tip #2 – Tailor your portfolio to the job for which you’re applying.

This is vital. Every

application will be

different and each

potential

employer will be

searching for

something

different. Do your

homework on the

company to get a

feel for their

brand, which

leads to the next

slide…

Tip #3 – Design a custom sample.

To stand out and

show your

dedication, create

something

specific to the

potential

employer’s

company.

Tip #4 – Keep loose papers together in the back of your portfolio.

If your resume,

business cards,

etc. aren’t

incorporated into

the design of your

portfolio,

assemble and

secure them

together at the

back of the rest of

the presentation.

Tip #5 – Create and maintain your online portfolio.

This should really

be the #1 tip

because it is the

most important.

The internet is

essential to

displaying and

networking your

designs. And not

every employer

will want to see a

physical portfolio.

Tip #6 – Be prepared to assemble a drop-off portfolio or a mailing portfolio.

As above, not

every potential

employer will

want to see the

same assortment

of work. Using

your online

portfolio for

everything you

want to show off,

you will need to

be ready to print,

mix and match as

each situation

dictates.

Tip #7 – Whenever possible, show originals.

This means

showing the

actual finished

product appears

more professional

than showing a

photograph of the

finished product.

Tip #8 – Keep and protect tearsheets.

Torn from

newspapers,

magazines or

other published

work, tearsheets

are considered

the finished

product for print

campaigns and

display in your

portfolio as

originals.

Tip #9 – Layout your selections before you choose a case.

Measure the largest

piece you have to get

a baseline idea of the

size and shape of

portfolio case you

will need to

accommodate the

designs. Add 4

inches to the height

and width

measurement. This

will create a 2-inch

border for the

largest sample; now

you know the

minimum size of case

needed.

Tip #10 – Use the internet to see what’s out there and create something new!

Featuring the i l lustration and graphic design art of :

•Hirozaku Kurebashi

•Sophie Nicolay

•Min Wang

•Xionel Lopez

•Beckett Gladney

•Craig Kunce

•Shauna Mae Luedtke

•Joan Pons Moll

ResourcesLinks for attribution and further reading:•http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/06/30/12-steps-to-a-super-graphic-design-portfolio

/

•http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/graphicsblog/2007/10/01/how-to-create-a-traditional-graphic-design-portfolio-yes-with-an-actual-case/

•http://www.websites-for-artists.com

•http://www.idsgn.org/posts/flaunt-armin-vit-on-creative-portfolio-design/

•http://www.craigkunce.com