Although this is bold, building a portfolio can be quite difficult because everyone has a different opinion about how to do it. A portfolio should reflect your personal style and personality.
Online articles are mainly focused on web-based portfolios. Even though many design programs require portfolios to be completed, I have found that there is very little information about print portfolios. Although web-based and PDF portfolios are becoming more common, I believe that a printed portfolio is still the best way to present your business. It can be easily flipped through at meetings and used by potential clients or employers.
What are the steps you can take to make your print portfolio stand out?
Start looking for freelance clients as soon as you feel comfortable with your work. You can start looking for freelance clients as soon as your skills are at an acceptable level. A year ago, I completed a huge magazine project and was offered a job as a freelancer by Virgin Records. These two clients were the key to my first internship. Since I was about 12 years old, I have been out of school and replaced almost every class-initiated project by client work. Portfolio projects that showcase client work are a great way to show your professionalism and expertise. This shows that you can work with real companies with actual deadlines and budgets. Client work requires that you are able to handle feedback and deliver solid results.
Make sure you invest in something that interests you. Some designers use a standard portfolio cover with pages of work printed on it. However, I have heard of other designers who make a set of cards with their work mounted on heavyweight papers. Others even create handmade books. You can also make your own portfolio covers and custom-made cases. There are many options. Since last year, I have been using a white glossy acrylic 11×17 portfolio cover from office. I love it! This format was easy to use, durable and expandable. Your interviewer will only have a short time to review your idea, so it doesn’t matter what your concept is. Do not make your portfolio too complicated. Keep your focus on your work.
Limit the number projects you showcase. Many designers recommend displaying 6-10 of their most valuable projects in a portfolio. While I try to keep it to 10 projects, I will sometimes go above this number if I feel a project deserves to be seen. A potential employer will usually allow you to show your book in a concise manner and flip through the pages at a consistent speed. As long as your descriptions are clear and concise, they won’t mind taking on additional projects. You can test yourself by flipping through the book, describing each project in 10 to 15 minutes. Reread. It becomes more difficult to choose the pieces you think are worth inclusion as you get more clients. Use common sense and don’t overdo it. I have seen student portfolios with upwards to 40 pages. If you don’t have any clients, it’s OK to accept low-paying or unpaid projects in areas you are interested in in order to build your portfolio. You can show off your amazing work by using simple layouts.
However, it is important to keep your portfolio’s focus on the actual work and not. These pages come from my 11×17 print portfolio. Since typography is a major interest of mine, I place emphasis on the pages’ opening pages. However, the page layouts of my work are always in white and have very few descriptions at the bottom. You should let the pieces you choose to show speak for themselves. Keep flourishes and gradients, drop shadows or patterned backgrounds to a minimum. Make an order that suits you. You can start by choosing two of your most important pieces to be the beginning and ending. You should arrange the middle in a way that makes a variety of colors, styles, and formats. However, it is okay to not follow the rules when creating a portfolio. I met with a great designer a few months ago. She gave me some great advice on how to build a portfolio that reflects your vision. Her concept was to start with flat, 2-D work (such print design and logos), and then move on to interactive, web-based, work, and end with 3-D work (packaging design, retail displays etc.).
Although this advice may not be applicable to everyone, it is always useful to get a different perspective. Get feedback. Before you take your portfolio out to the world for interviews or client meetings, have a few people you trust look through it and give honest (but constructive) feedback. This is where your intuition comes back into play. I have had two reviews in one day. One professional offered me work immediately, while the other had a list of suggestions that I should make. You know your work better then anyone so you can decide what feedback to take and leave. Understand that your portfolio is never finished. Your portfolio is a work in progress. Even if a portfolio is freshly printed, there’s always something you can improve upon. In the past three months, I have made three rounds in revisions. You’ll be much more comfortable updating once you have a solid layout. Add new clients, self-initiated work that showcases a new skill set, and projects that have been reworked, updated (improved), product photos, and detailed descriptions.
