Having a graphic design portfolio that stands out from the pack is important, even more so in today’s tough job market. Here’s a new feature article by creative director and co-founder of Carbonmade Dave Gorum revealing the five best portfolio practices.
Having a graphic design portfolio that stands out from the pack is important, even more so in today’s tough job market. Here’s a new feature article by creative director and co-founder of Carbonmade Dave Gorum revealing the five best portfolio practices.
Having a graphic design portfolio that stands out from the pack is important, even more so in today’s tough job market. Rather than battling other applicants with an inferior portfolio, creating a visually pleasing and informative one can help an aspiring designer land their dream job. To that end, a new feature article by creative director and co-founder of Carbonmade Dave Gorum that appeared on GraphicDesign.com reveals the five best portfolio practices.
Gorum starts by recommending that fully completed projects appear in the portfolio, telling readers,
Show off work that is thought out and complete. If it comes down to two designers vying for the same position where one is an obvious natural talent with a body of work that shows an inability to finish and the other has a strong portfolio with well rounded projects, I’m going with the finisher every time.
Show off work that is thought out and complete. If it comes down to two designers vying for the same position where one is an obvious natural talent with a body of work that shows an inability to finish and the other has a strong portfolio with well rounded projects, I’m going with the finisher every time. 
Controlling the message is also of mammoth importance. Gorum envisions a portfolio that, perhaps not surprisingly, leads off with a person’s strongest body of work:
Thoroughly reviewing the portfolio’s content is also a must. A designer can look over his finished product until his eyes give out, but perhaps more effective is showing the portfolio to a friend for input. Friends and family can look for blatant errors like spelling and grammar, while more qualified reviewers can suggest content changes.
As is the case with standard resumes, it’s important to be up front. No matter how large or small, a person’s role should be explained fully. As Gorum told readers,
Finally, as the old saying goes, “Keep it simple stupid.” Having an uncomplicated portfolio can make the difference between landing a lucrative position and being left out in the cold eating ramen noodles. As Gorum summed up,
At the end of Gorum’s piece which you can find HERE, readers are asked three questions about their own experiences:
- What do you think is the most important best practice for your portfolio?
- How many projects do you have in your portfolio?
- How often do you update your portfolio?
The polling will remain open until August 19, at which point the results will be released, so head to GraphicDesign.com to weigh in today. General comments on portfolio content and design are also welcome.
Julia Wild, Terran Marketing
Thanks to PR Web for sending in this article.
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