It is not a surprise that portfolios for designers act as professional resumes and therefore play a great role in the process of finding a job. We at InspHire have been successfully recruiting designers for almost 5 years and now we are ready to share some tips on how to make your designer portfolio stronger and more attractive.
Showcase your most outstanding work
Quality is always more important than quantity. You don’t need to put in your portfolio everything you ever did in your life. Be selective, pick 3-4 the strongest pieces that best describes you as a designer. Design industry changes very fast, so stay up to date: it’s better not to include in your portfolio works that are older than 5 years.
If you don’t have client work yet, add side projects and non-client work
If you’re new in the design industry, it is not a big problem. Any student works, side projects or non-profit work can be content for your portfolio. Nobody actually cares if your work was done for a real company, you can make up the brand or just redesign the one that you love. It’s much more important to show your unique style and the way you think.
Show how passionate you are about design work
Does working in design excite you? Then show it. Potential employers always look for employees who enjoy their work. Display your authenticity and personality across all your design projects. If you are passionate about – let’s say – typography, write about it or show your non-client typography sketches. It is always greatly appreciated when a designer is excited about what s/he does.
Show how you think
Design is not only about the final result. For your potential employer it is very important to see the way you think. Tell a story behind your projects, showcase your design process, tell about challenges, put into your portfolio sketches, drafts and your thoughts. Maybe you did some research – mention it.
Instagram can be your portfolio
To be honest, you don’t really need your own website with a portfolio to stand out. Your Instagram page can show much better your uniqueness and your style. We like to search for designers on Instagram, because I can see what they really like. There are not only carefully selected case studies but also pet projects or very small pieces created without any limits and showing the designer’s creativity.
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InspHire is a people-focused recruitment consultancy specializing in recruiting talent in Internet industry in Israel and abroad. We provide exceptional, personalized customer service to our clients and deliver world-class recruitment services since 2017. Whether you’re a job seeker or an employer, InspHire’s passionate team of professionals is dedicated to your success.
