So you want to build a portfolio! Well, you’ve come to the right place! Regardless of what line of work you’re in, having a portfolio is like having a resume. It’s a way to display your best work and showcase your abilities for your potential employers. However, if you’re a first timer with a portfolio, you may not know how to create it in a way that will make every company want to hire you! Check out some of our tips for building a portfolio.
Have an introduction page
This may not come as a surprise to you, but you’d be surprised how many people go without one! An introduction page is one of the most important things to have on your portfolio website. It’s important to use it as a way to expand on yourself. This is a great way to share a little about yourself and your background – it gives your portfolio more depth. Keep it short, sweet and to the point though; you are summarizing your design career, not writing a biography.
Your number of projects should stay between 8-10
If you’re trying to decide how many projects to display in your portfolio, the save number is 8-10 of your very best projects for your portfolio. Going over 10 gets too be a bit much and most people cannot remember what they have seen. If you display less than 8 projects, and your portfolio content feels a little light.
Your projects shouldn’t be older than 3 years
To help make up your mind about which projects to choose, consider removing projects that are older than 3. A big and extensive design project, could sit in your portfolio for up to 5 years as it probably took more than 2 years to complete, but try to avoid anything older than 3 years old – a lot of that work can look dated and not up to date.
Each project should have a purpose
Think of each project your display as a way to show your potential employers what skills you have to offer. Every project in your portfolio should have a purpose, a reason for it to exist in your portfolio. Each and every project should highlight your strengths and abilities for whichever field you are in.
Treat your portfolio as a living document
What good is a portfolio if you are never updating it with the latest projects you’ve been working on? We recommend updating your portfolio every 6 months, or at the very least, update it yearly. Waiting longer tends to allow for work or documentation to go missing.
Do you have a portfolio and would like to share some tips on how you manage it? Tell us about it in the comment below!
A Florida native filled with charm, a sense of humor, style, and a passion for writing, Dana Damato is a talented journalist covering all things entertainment, fashion, food, travel, and lifestyle. Dana first realized her dreams of becoming a writer at age ten and wrote her first book at the age of 12. With a growing passion for writing, Dana knew from then on that being a writer is what she needed to do as a career.
