How to Make a Graphic Design Portfolio
2022-01-23
You may be wondering, how is it possible to advertise all your talent in one bag or folder? The key to this is planning, planning, and focusing. When choosing a focus, consider these two factors. Who are you showing this graphic design portfolio to, and what do you plan to show them? A portfolio is a key to the entry door. It could be your greatest enemy or your best friend, depending on how you plan.
How Many Pictures Should I Show?
You want to show about fifteen pictures of your best work. Most artists make the mistake of showing off everything they have done including bad drafts. Hope you want to see only the finished product of your work. This lets them know that you can complete the project.
Online Digital Portfolio
The website is a popular way for artists to present their work, and it saves you time if you can get to the meeting in person. It also saves space in your prospect's office, as long as they can walk around looking for your printed portfolio or missing it in the post.
Your website should basically allow for the opportunity to interact with your work. It should be very practical and easy to navigate. Potential customers should know exactly what they want to see without being distracted by advertisements that are heavy advertising or a lot of information. Try to have an opening page that can include an attractive image or creative logo design, perhaps even a glowing open. You want to give your viewer the option to choose to watch your animation or go directly to the website itself. If you are using Macromedia Flash, be sure to place a paragraph at the beginning of the site "Click here for a Flash version of this site, or click here for an HTML version of the site."
If you choose to go directly to a website, including animated and/or attractive animation is not a bad idea. The photo gallery should be integrated to allow the viewer to click on your photos and see them enlarged. You should also use the feedback form on your contact page to capture their email and contact information. This works well for tracking when your opportunities are showing interest.
Printing Portfolio
The first thing you need to do is to be consistent in your presentation. You will want your print portfolio to look and feel the same as your online portfolio, so that everyone gets the same feeling about your work. For example, if you have earth-tone colors on your website for your old images and designs, manage the same color scheme as your portfolio case. You can have a basic black portfolio case with a black interior.
You want to make sure you have portable portfolio pockets, which will allow you to easily get in and out of your work. Again you just want to show off your best work. You can categorize the work into categories, for example, Illustrations, News Boards, and Logo Designs. It’s best to focus on the stages where your skills are the strongest.
Organizing Everything
Make sure all your work is the same in every way. If your demo reel shows all drawings first and then animation happens, continue with that pattern during the presentation. If your print portfolio contains all of your framed images in the center of the page, continue with that pattern to avoid losing your viewer.
Whichever way you choose to go with your portfolio, you want to have a straightforward, middle-end approach. Always keep the best photos last, this leaves a lasting impression.
Selling Yourself
It is always best to plan to see hope in a person. Not only do they admire your work but you also sell it. In fact, you become part of your portfolio. Once you have the basics in a well-represented portfolio, you should also show your drive and enthusiasm as an artist. This will end your presentation brilliantly!
