The role of a graphic designer is to visually conceptualize ideas and create commercial or promotional graphics that speak to an intended audience. Effective graphic design spurs people into action and influences the public’s feelings about a particular topic. From product packaging to displays and logos, graphic designers are in high demand across a number of industries.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that graphic design jobs will increase by two percent over the next decade. Advertising agencies, public relations firms, newspaper, magazine, and book publishers, as well as management, scientific, and technical consulting services and those from the video and motion picture industry, will be looking to recruit highly skilled graphic designers.
To compete in the market, you will need to set yourself apart from other design professionals to capture the attention of potential employers and clients so you can land a job. Enrolling in an online graphic design program is one way to garner attention from potential clients. Another is creating a well-thought-out graphic design portfolio that showcases your abilities and allows your designs to speak for themselves.
Read our step-by-step guide to creating a visually pleasing graphic design portfolio. These graphic design portfolio tips are designed to highlight your skills and abilities so potential clients can see what you offer their organization.
IN THIS GUIDE:
Why Graphic Design Portfolios Still Matter
Choose a User-Friendly Website Builder
Curate Your Best Design Work
Incorporate Case Studies
Tailor Content for Your Target Audience
Ensure Your Portfolio Is Mobile-Friendly
Make Use of High-Quality Images
Maintaining Your Portfolio
Portfolio FAQ
Why Graphic Design Portfolios Still Matter
A graphic design portfolio is a visual collection of your best work. It demonstrates a designer’s proficiency and expertise in particular techniques for prospective clients across a variety of industry areas.
In the past, design portfolios were hard-copy collections of projects bound in portfolio notebooks. They were bulky, difficult to update, and required mailing or hand delivery to potential employers.
Today’s graphic designers have many options for building and maintaining attractive graphic design portfolios to effectively reach their intended audiences. You can create an active online presence with a portfolio website that features projects you’ve worked on. Electronic portfolios also allow you to upload various content types, including GIFs and videos.
Share the link to your online portfolio with multiple recruiters to allow several companies to view your work simultaneously. You can even include search engine optimization (SEO) keywords to increase the odds that potential clients find your portfolio via a Google search.
Graphic design portfolio websites should be easy to update. Add more current projects anytime you choose as your skill set continues to develop.
Choose a User-Friendly Website Builder
The goal of a graphic design portfolio is to provide viewers with an excellent user experience. Since most graphic designers don’t specialize in web development, a simple content management system (CMS) tool like WordPress or Wix is probably best for both website development and ease of use by recruiters.
With intuitive dashboard designs, WordPress and Wix allow you to create, edit, and manage content on your graphic design portfolio website easily. You can use either platform for free or pay for add-ons.
WordPress and Wix both offer a variety of customizable portfolio templates. Choose one that is easy to navigate, reflects your personal style, and effectively demonstrates your skillset.
Curate Your Best Design Work
A thoughtfully curated portfolio draws potential clients who are looking for the skills you possess. Rather than including every project you’ve completed, select work that best illustrates your abilities and the types of projects you would like to work on in the future.
Include a Diverse Range of Projects
Graphic designers typically work with clients within a variety of industries. A versatile mix of graphic design portfolio content will cast a wider net for project managers looking for designers and provide you with new opportunities to expand your skills in different industry areas.
Publication layouts, illustrations, web page designs, logos, animated graphics, videos, and other digital and print projects you’ve worked on showcase your wide range of experiences and abilities. They also demonstrate how you conceptualize ideas and bring them to life to produce visually pleasing results.
Write Engaging Descriptions for Each Piece
Including engaging written descriptions for each design project in your portfolio gives potential employers the opportunity to learn about your techniques and design experiences. It’s helpful to provide information regarding the client’s requirements for each piece of content as well. This demonstrates your ability to work within project parameters.
Highlight Your Design Process and Challenges Faced
Describe the design process you underwent to produce each design. You can even share the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This information highlights your problem-solving skills as a designer and presents you as a multidimensional professional in the field.
Incorporate Case Studies to Showcase Problem-Solving
One way to provide prospective clients with information about portfolio projects is to incorporate case studies for each:
- Begin with an engaging title that inspires the viewer to keep reading.
- Outline the process you used from beginning to end.
- Be sure to include details about what you did and why you chose the method you used.
- Provide an overview of the project, outlining the hurdles you faced and how you pushed through adversity.
- Showcase the final results and discuss the impact the project had on the client, whether that was increased visibility and sales or public awareness of an issue.
Be sure to link the source of any online work to your portfolio examples where possible. This allows prospective clients to see your designs in the framework for which they were created.
Add Client Testimonials for Credibility
Ask former clients to write brief testimonials about their satisfaction with your work. Include these alongside case studies for each piece of content in your portfolio. Client testimonials lend credibility to your work.
Tailor Content for Your Target Audience
When vying for particular types of design work or specific areas of industry, it’s helpful to tailor your portfolio to your targeted audiences. Consider creating sections or categories within your portfolio geared toward specific employers or types of graphic design, such as:
- Advertising
- Packaging
- Logo development
- Motion graphics
- Publications
- Public relations
Provide Clear Contact Information
Provide potential clients multiple contact methods to reach you, including phone number, email address, social media messaging, website contact form, or a contact button that sends the user’s information to you for response.
Utilize Storytelling to Engage Viewers
As a graphic designer, your job is to tell a story through your work. How you present your projects online will provide viewers with important information regarding how well you engage an audience. Through both words and visual representation, engage portfolio visitors by detailing your journey as a graphic designer.
Ensure Your Portfolio Is Mobile-Friendly
It’s not enough that your portfolio looks great on a laptop. According to Statista, 45 percent of Internet traffic in North America comes from mobile devices.
Websites with mobile-friendly capabilities are more visually appealing and allow for intuitive navigation regardless of device, which has the following effects:
- Increases user engagement
- Improves website SEO ranking
- Decreases user bounce
- Reaches a wider audience
- Increases designer marketability
Include a Personal Biography or Artist Statement
A biography or artist statement helps connect you to prospective clients on a personal level. In addition to your academic and professional experiences, include an explanation of your unique design styles and work philosophy.
Your portfolio bio page should give employers insight into your personality, values, and work ethic. Highlight any unique skills you possess, and include a professional headshot.
Make Use of High-Quality Images
Use high-quality images to spotlight your work in the best light possible. While images should be of high quality, that doesn’t mean large file sizes are better. In fact, larger files slow down your website’s functionality, making it slow to load.
To eliminate such issues, take care to optimize large files such as videos or motion graphics. File optimization improves efficiency, particularly on mobile devices. WordPress offers plugins to assist with this process.
Maintaining Your Graphic Design Portfolio
Your work is not finished once you build your portfolio. A graphic design portfolio is a working document that must be maintained regularly. Just as you will grow and develop as a designer, your portfolio should evolve as well.
Stay Updated on Design Best Practices
Even if you’ve been a graphic designer for years, techniques and technology change over time. Investing in continuing education opportunities keeps your skills fresh. Enroll in a graphic design degree program to remain marketable as a designer.
Aspiring graphic designers can accelerate their job search and ensure future success in the industry with a graphic design degree or certification.
Read our article, Is a Graphic Design Degree Worth It?, to help you decide if a degree program might be right for you.
Regularly Update Your Portfolio With New Work
As your skills improve, phase out projects in your professional portfolio in favor of new pieces that show your growth and depth as a graphic designer. Sign up for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design at Sessions College to help build and develop a comprehensive design portfolio that will get you hired.
Utilize Social Media to Enhance Visibility
Integrating your graphic design portfolio with social media platforms provides a larger audience of potential viewers and better exposure for your work. Choose one or two social media platforms widely used by graphic design and business professionals.
For example, Behance is a community of creative professionals looking to collaborate or hire other creatives. Instagram and LinkedIn are also good networking choices for graphic designers looking to be hired.
Network With Other Designers and Professionals
With a well-crafted and presented portfolio, you are better equipped to enter an online community of design professionals. Networking and collaborating with other designers and project managers in your area and across the globe opens up opportunities for professional development.
Seek Feedback to Improve Your Portfolio
Ask other graphic designers if they have ideas or suggestions for enhancing your portfolio. Study graphic design portfolio examples by other designers you admire and take inspiration from their collections of work.
Graphic Design Portfolio FAQs
What Not to Put in a Graphic Design Portfolio?
Avoid outdated work, irrelevant projects, and overly personal or unfinished pieces. Only include your best, most professional work that aligns with the job or client you’re targeting.
Can I use Canva for my Graphic Design Portfolio?
Yes, Canva can be a great starting point for creating a visually appealing portfolio. However, ensure your work reflects your unique skills and creativity, not just Canva templates.
How Do I Start a Graphic Design Portfolio with No Experience?
Start by creating personal projects, redesigning existing brands, or taking on pro bono work. Consider enrolling in a project based design program to help you build your portfolio. Focus on showcasing your design process and creative thinking, even if you don’t have a long history of work to showcase.
Is Behance free for Portfolios?
Yes, Behance is free to use for creating and sharing your portfolio. It’s a popular and respected platform among designers to showcase their work and connect with potential clients or employers.
Shanna is a freelance writer with 20 years experience writing for print and digital platforms. She creates engaging, informative content for legal firms, education, healthcare, hospitality, travel, and sports and entertainment. Read more articles by Shanna.
SELECTED ARTICLES:
SESSIONS NEWS:
ENROLL IN AN ONLINE PROGRAM AT SESSIONS COLLEGE: