Whether you are new to working in design or have some experience in the field, keeping your portfolio updated is crucial for building an identity as a Designer and securing new projects. Your portfolio is often the first thing a potential employer or client will see when searching for a Designer and use it to form an impression of your work style. This is why it’s so crucial your website is updated with current work samples that accurately depict your unique skill set.
While it can seem overwhelming to start the process, there are helpful tips you can follow to make this easier. Below you can read more about updating your graphic design portfolio and learn the steps you should take to transform your online image.
Update Any Content
One of the first steps you should take when refreshing your design portfolio is to identify what content is outdated and what new projects you want to incorporate. When looking through your work samples, consider your target audience and what content best showcases your skill set. While you don’t need to remove every dated project if you feel it represents your abilities, skills tend to improve with time and practice. It’s often our most recent work that highlights our design skills and style.
Promote Yourself with an About Page
It’s extremely common for designers to overlook their About page and focus solely on their visual content. However, this is often the first place visitors will go to learn more about you and your specific design services. This is an excellent opportunity to expand on your unique skill set and add a touch of personality to your portfolio. If you are stuck on what information to provide on your About page, try including your education or background, your specific services or line of work, and the best way to contact you. Some designers choose to add any notable clients they’ve worked with or even a “fun facts about me” section.
Research Hosting Platforms
If it’s been some time since you’ve updated your portfolio, you should consider researching the top portfolio hosting platforms to determine which is best for your website. Many designers use Adobe Portfolio for the unlimited pages, while others prefer platforms with plug-ins like WordPress. It’s important to contemplate which option aligns best with your creative vision, budget, and overall hosting needs.
Highlight Your Niche
If you are struggling to identify what content best aligns with your skills and professional goals, take time to consider your niche and the type of work you want to pursue. Niche areas are often determined by various factors, including industry, style, and design category. If you are unsure what area this is for you, try thinking about what type of projects you gravitate towards naturally. If you have any relevant samples, add them to your portfolio to reach target employers or clients better.
Start with New or Key Projects
Another helpful trick for updating your portfolio is to try and incorporate new projects that showcase your work with any samples you are most proud of. Having a balance between current samples and those that display your personality is an excellent way to engage visitors and help you find work that aligns with your goals. When selecting content, consider the purpose of your portfolio and what you hope to accomplish with an online gallery. It’s not uncommon for designers to have several portfolios, each for a different target audience or objective.
Be Flexible with Content
Many designers assume their portfolio should be a static, polished platform that showcases their abilities and individual style. This is actually an outdated belief, as tailoring your portfolio to a specific job or client can absolutely help with showing you are the right candidate. Having multiple portfolios on-hand for different opportunities eliminates having to rush to create an updated file for a job posting and allows you to demonstrate how you align with an employer’s needs.
Steer Clear of Templates
While templates are a great resource, creating a unique design for your portfolio can help you highlight your skills and stand out from the crowd. Your portfolio should provide an inside look into your abilities as a Designer and give insight into your personality. Using a template can take away from your identity as a design professional and ultimately forces you to mesh with someone else's creative vision. Templates are good for inspiration, but customization is the way to engage your target audience.
Stay Confident and Consistent
It can be intimidating to examine your portfolio and try to determine what content best showcases your abilities as a creative Designer. It’s easy to overthink the process and lose motivation to keep your portfolio updated, especially if you are currently working in the field and have additional responsibilities. Designers should strive to stay confident in their abilities and know their skills are valuable. One of the best ways to gain experience working in the industry and gain content for a portfolio is by remaining consistent with any and all efforts to stay current in the field. Whether that is updating your portfolio on a monthly basis or taking classes to refresh specific skills, staying consistent is the best way to grow as a Designer.
If you are new to the industry and are considering a career change, consider signing up for graphic design classes from a provider like Noble Desktop. These classes are designed to provide immersive training and teach all the fundamental skills needed to start a new career.
There are also live online graphic design bootcamps for those who prefer versatile learning options like learning from home. Bootcamp classes provide the same curriculum as in-person courses but eliminate the need to commute through traffic or rearrange your schedule. These classes also provide an opportunity for designers to create a portfolio of work that can be used to help secure work in the future. If you are ready to get started, try searching for graphic design bootcamps in your area to see what options are available.