Comments on: What do you put in your portfolio?

By: RC

RC — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:32:17 +0000

Don’t include concepts – if the finished designs differ vastly from the original concepts, it only points out your failings at communicating your ideas. We all have concepts which are better than the printed versions, but they are nothing to be proud of.

By: Joe Armstrong

Joe Armstrong — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:55:05 +0000

I’m a freelance graphic designer working in Cornwall. I have been in the business for over 20 years. I don’t think I can remember ever having to actually go out and look for work, I’ve been really lucky, I have always been recommended by my clients and some pr companies that I have worked with in the past, and that’s given me enough work. Every now and then I do get a quiet couple of days and I begin to worry, should I be doing more. In my experience you can’t afford to sit on your bum. New designers are always popping up all over the place, it’s a constant battle for your slice of the pie.
The moment you have any spare time you should always try and do something positive. Update your web site, make some phone calls just to let clients know your still there. Do some blogs etc.

With regards your portfolio, I’ve been both an employer and an employee so I understand what it feels like on both sides. I think it depends a great deal on your personality. If you are confident and carry yourself well without coming across as arrogant then your halfway there. Remember, your only as good as your last job. I’ve seen people with really outstanding portfolios, but they’ve been complete twats. You wouldn’t want to spend one day with them let alone offer them a job. So what I’m trying to say is yes, your work is important, otherwise you won’t get a job and make any money. But you really need to get your social skills right as well. Confidence, the ability to communicate with all social types. And learn to manage your time, otherwise you’ll keel over.

By: Aswathy

Aswathy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:21:43 +0000

Hi,
You have put in some of the wonderful tips that mostly we miss while working on portfolio, this was really worth a read.

By: kalon

kalon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:26:11 +0000

how do you guys include/display web work in your print portfolio

By: Rachael

Rachael — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:50:12 +0000

I can’t comment on portfolios, because I don’t have one, but your CV should be tailored to each potential employer, and I’m assuming the same theory can be applied to your theory… It’s important to be as versatile as possible to increase the amount of people you can show yourself to, but when it comes to the invidual, they only need to see what’s relevant.

By: ekgarin

ekgarin — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:11:59 +0000

I live in Thailand. This is my first time for here. thank you for very good article.

By: Tara1

Tara1 — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 08:21:46 +0000

Hi Yoppi,

I’m glad it was of help.

By: yoppi

yoppi — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 06:11:01 +0000

Hi Tara. It’s good article. Much inspiration for me. Thanks.

By: Tara1

Tara1 — Wed, 30 May 2007 11:30:44 +0000

Hi Dave

Thanks for your input, some good advice there.

By: davejohnsondesign

davejohnsondesign — Wed, 30 May 2007 11:22:35 +0000

When I first started freelancing, I made the common mistake of treating my portfolio as a static ‘beast’. Yes, I would add new pieces of work every now and then, but overall I kept my portfolio fairly fixed (don’t get me wrong though, I still managed to pick up a healthy amount of work with my portfolio like this).

I also used to think that including a few projects from larger, more ‘famous’, clients was a good thing. In some instances though this actually frightened some clients as they thought I’d be too expensive.

However, many years experience has shown me that deciding what to put in your portfolio mostly depends on who you are going to see…

If you are touting for work from another design agency, they usually want to see creative concepts as well as the ability to complete entire projects.

If you are going to see a potential new client, creative concept sheets will usually be of no interest, and they usually want to see finished items which are similar to their requirements.

In either instance, I awlays do a little homework on who I’m going to meet, and try to rearrange my portfolio accordingly.

I always throw in a few extra ‘added vale’ items for potential clients too – these are usually other projects I’ve worked on that I think they might be interested in – its surprising how much additional work I’ve picked up in this way.

Treating my portfolio in this way means that I can connect with whoever I’m meeting, on a more immediate and direct level.

I hope this helps!?