How to Make an Attractive Design Portfolio

Every graphic designer must promote themselves, especially those who freelance. Preparing a portfolio to attract clients is important not only for graphic designers, but for all who work as freelancers.
Sometimes the busyness of working on projects makes it so a designer does not have time to create a portfolio, even though this is very important. At least twice a week take time to work on some personal projects for your portfolio, or use that time to contact friends, relatives or old clients through the telephone, email or social media. Sometimes further opportunities come from clients who have already worked with you, or these clients can become permanent clients thanks to the time you take to greet them.

When we have chosen to pursue a profession that is our passion, such as in graphic design or another creative field, then a portfolio is needed to showcase our expertise to the world and get prospective clients. Website-based portfolios are the best choice for displaying our work on the internet. The function of the portfolio is to convince clients to believe in our expertise through the design concepts that we display.
Of course, it won’t do to make a portfolio that is of low quality. Because of the design concepts that we show, a design portfolio must look as good as possible. It should be effective and convince potential clients that we are indeed professionals in the field.
Here are some important things to consider as a guide for you to build an attractive design portfolio:

1. Show your design process

The design that you display in the portfolio should definitely be your best. The portfolio is made to show prospective clients that you can make quality designs and convince clients to hire you.
But, most prospective clients prefer the design process - how the design is made from beginning to end and the meaning of the design. By showing the design process from looking for inspiration to completion, the client will really be able to appreciate your work and ideas contained in the design. By explaining the meaning of the design, people who see the design will understand what the message is.
Prepare the portfolio like you would a design presentation to a client. The difference being you don’t meet directly with the client, but convey your presentation only through writing and the designs in your portfolio.

2. Start to make your own brand.

A personal brand is your chance to give a professional impression. An ordinary portfolio will not convince the client to work with you, but the way you show the client your best design may. Having a qualified brand identity as a graphic designer will also make you look more professional.
So why not start by designing flyers, branding identities, and websites to display your designs? Start following experienced graphic designers and maximize your time and energy for your clients to increase the value of your brand.

3. Show the best portfolio designs

You don’t have to include all the designs you have. Take the time to choose the best of the various designs that you have ever made. Choose what you think is your best technical workmanship and designs that display your characteristics as a designer.
Showing your character and uniqueness is very important because many brands or agencies need designers who can not only make designs according to briefs but also have a distinctive look and feel.
For example, you want to show a portfolio of branding identity to design companies. You can show the professional look and feel that is typical and that which you are best at, with the composition and color combination that shows your characteristics as a designer.

4. Take advantage of a portfolio site

To save time you can use sites created specifically for designers such as Dribbble, Pinterest, Behance, DeviantArt, or you can also share your designs on LinkedIn.
The key is that you have to be selective in choosing the portfolio that you want to display. Make sure it is your best work and try to be consistent in uploading a portfolio. For example, regularly upload designs every day.
But, the best way is to create your own website and upload your work to a portfolio site. This makes the possibility of your work being seen by potential clients even greater.
Don’t forget to write a description of each design. Don’t forget to paste your email address or social media contacts because interested clients will choose to talk privately.

5. Manage the design project as best as possible

If you don’t have enough standout work to fill your portfolio, then try accepting projects from your friends or relatives even though the amount of pay may not be great. Work on the project perfectly so that the client feels satisfied with the design that you created. Next, your designs will continue to grow and clients can see that you always upload qualified design updates. For portfolios such as branding, you might be able to redesign brand identity or marketing design for the company.

6. Compete in design competitions

The recommendations of the design contest organizers are always better and more convincing than the individual promotions that you do. Winning a design competition will prove that you have produced outstanding design work, are able to compete with many other designers, and are judged by an impartial party. You can start following the design challenges that exist in the Topcoder community. There are great prizes, and also some checkpoint prizes, plus you will learn a lot of new things in the forum for each challenge.

7. Create a design project that you dream of.

Customize yourself and adjust the design you want to create. Clients want to see how great of a design you can create. Nobody ever said that the design portfolio must be from a real project. If you don’t have a real project to show off your best expertise, why not create your own?
The advantage of a dream project is that you can create designs perfectly and describe the clients that you desire.
You can make a portfolio more attractive to these clients.

8. Make sure the work is displayed with the best resolution

As a graphic designer who prioritizes visuals, you surely know that designs that are stored with a small resolution will look blurry or broken. So, in the design portfolio you have to make sure your work appears with the best resolution, such as 1920x1080px for computer screens and 750x1334px for smartphones.

9. Create a unique portfolio different from other designers

Have a clear appearance by displaying your background and your current role. Provide an easy way for someone to get in touch with you, either through contact forms, social media or email addresses. Give special treatment to your design portfolio. Treat it like social media that needs to be updated consistently so that potential clients will see you as a designer who is always actively making the best work.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s apply the tips above that will help your design portfolio be more structured, beautiful and easy for potential clients to trace so your chances of getting clients increases.