Not sure which portfolio format to use when displaying your work? The big options are print, PDF, or a website — here’s where each gets you.
Create a beautiful portfolio website with our portfolio website builder. Showcase and sell your work to a wider audience through your own online store. Start your free trial today. No credit card required. Viewing a piece in person is different from seeing them online. You can touch them to see what kind of paper they were printed on and you can see little details of color. Try to capture this online by including an overall image of the project. Then zoom in to some of the most interesting details of each piece to showcase those, too.
Having a professional online portfolio shows people that you mean business. Format is designed for creative professionals including photographers, designers, models, architects, musicians, illustrators, videographers, artists, interior designers, graphic designers, web designers, wedding photographers, fashion designers, food photographers, UX designers. Showcase your work online with a portfolio website. Get all the design features and pro tools you need. Create your free online portfolio today.
A graphic design portfolio is a compilation of a designer’s work, both personal and professional, in an easy-to-view format. But portfolios are so much more than neatly organized images of projects — they encapsulate a designer’s personality, styles, and skills. With the help of unifying colors, tasteful typography, tidy layout, clever copy, and high-quality images, you can not only convince future clients or employers to hire you, but also forge your own personal brand that sets your work apart from millions of others. A portfolio is an absolute must-have for any graphic designer; think of it as a visual resume and an illustrated memoir, showcasing your talent and telling your story of growth and change as a designer.
So, you know how important a portfolio is. But how do you actually make one? Choosing a portfolio format is easy, but choosing the right portfolio format for your needs takes more work. Do you design your own print portfolio, or do you create an online version? Do you simply attach a PDF to your job applications? Or do you do all three? There are advantages and disadvantages to using print, PDF, or website portfolios.
Read on to learn the ins and outs of each format and how to get started with them all.
Print Portfolios
First on the list of portfolio formats is print. Print portfolios are typically professionally bound books. They contain important pieces that represent your work in a tactile, hands-on format.
There is a lot of work that goes into creating print portfolios; the time, effort, design, money, and patience involved in building out your own print portfolio speaks volumes as to who you are as a designer.
Pros and Cons of Print Portfolios
Print portfolios offer many benefits. If done well, a print portfolio can set you apart from other designers. Creating a print portfolio demonstrates thought, effort, and knowledge of the world of paper, print, and layout design. As such, bringing a print portfolio to an interview has the strongest effect on future employers.
As with any portfolio format, designing for print has its downsides. Creating your own portfolio book is very time-consuming. You’re not just uploading your work into a website builder; rather, you’re artfully arranging your work to appeal to potential clients and employers. Because none of the portfolio work is digital, it can take longer to fully update your print portfolio. In addition, designing multiple print portfolios can be quite expensive over time. While print portfolios are very high in quality, the book itself can be fragile. Mishandling this work of art can reflect badly on you as a designer.
How to Get Started on Your Print Portfolio
Creating your own print portfolio is much more arduous than building a PDF or website. The combination of paper weight, color, typography, design work, layout, and composition that goes into a print portfolio is a labor of love.
Before setting out on your print portfolio-making journey, take some inspiration from creatives you admire. Get an idea of how they approach layout, color, and composition, then interpret it in your own ways. Research is key for any successful design project; it is especially important in the design of your print portfolio. Sketching or creating mock layouts is a great way to jot down your ideas for your portfolio book.
Once you’ve got an idea how to approach your print portfolio, gather all of your best pieces, and be especially critical of your work. Arrange them in Adobe InDesign and get to working. Creating your own portfolio book is not something that you’ll finish in only a few days; give yourself time to build out your work to make sure the portfolio is the best representation of your work.
PDF Portfolios
A cross between print and web portfolios, PDF portfolios have started gaining momentum over the past few years. While they’re typically a lesser-known portfolio format than the more-popular website or print portfolios, PDF versions are not inferior by any means.
Pros and Cons of PDF Portfolios
PDF portfolios have both advantages and disadvantages. Unlike print portfolios, PDF portfolios are easier to update or tailor to specific audiences. They’re also easy to distribute via email or file-sharing. This format also comes in handy when you’re unsure of the reliability of the network connection; you can easily store PDFs on your laptop or tablet for easy access if you’re meeting with potential clients or employers.
In addition to the advantages of file-share-ability, PDF portfolios also showcase layout ability, color combinations, and typography design — much like a print portfolio. If you’re using design software that you already have on your computer, then making your own PDF portfolio is very budget-friendly. There’s no need to worry about paying for print, book binding, or hosting.
The disadvantages of having a PDF portfolio are few and far between. Due to the nature of PDF files, there is a lack of interaction design. Viewers can’t flick through the pages or click on images to reveal more info. But this lack of interaction doesn’t equate to a lack in personality — you’ll just need to predict how users will want to interact with the document and take care of those design needs at the outset. PDF portfolios also run the risk of file size issues, image compression, and pixelation. Before sending your work via email, be sure your design work is displaying in a high resolution.
How to Get Started on Your PDF Portfolio
You typically design PDF portfolios using layout software, such as Adobe InDesign. But before you start creating your PDF portfolio, always get some inspiration from other creatives. Look around Behance or other design inspiration sites for a glimpse at how other creatives approach designing a PDF portfolio.
Due to its layout abilities and its capacity to handle multiple files at a time, Adobe InDesign still remains the best software for creating portfolios. The application features master pages, grids and guides, text layout options, image effects, and much more.
Website Portfolios
Due to the nature of the world of graphic design, almost all creative work gets posted on online platforms. Website portfolios are gaining popularity as more and more designers are diving into digital design. Creatives of all disciplines, from typography to illustration, are hosting their own websites to display their work.
Pros and Cons of Website Portfolios
The advantages of a website design portfolio easily outweigh the disadvantages. One of the best parts of having your own website is that you can tailor its appearance, navigation, layout, and more to your specific needs. Not a fan of the typical grid-based layout? You can easily find a theme or conjure up a layout that speaks to you. Another benefit of a website portfolio is that they’re easy to update. All you need to do is add another project, import the images, and build out a description.
Website portfolios are also readily accessible and easy to distribute, making it effortless to send your professional work out to potential employers and get your name recognized. Many web hosting services allow you to add sections, tabs, and more to include relevant information, contact forms, and links. As with any website you frequent, visitors can view your portfolio website on any screen size — from phones to large computer monitors. This means your creative work is available to anyone with a simple click.
While web portfolios are chock full of pros, there are also a few cons. As with any website, you will need a reliable network connection. In addition to that, the costs of hosting a domain name and keeping your portfolio website running can be expensive. While there are some cheaper options out there, the services are often limited.
How to Get Started on Your Website Portfolio
If displaying your creative work on a website makes the most sense for you, then there are many ways to get started. There are a variety of web hosting services, from WordPress to Wix to Squarespace to Adobe Portfolio. Many of these services offer trials where you can experiment with the website builder before fully committing.
Which Graphic Design Portfolio Format Is Best for You?
Picking the best format to display your creative work can be daunting. Do you invest in a print portfolio, design a PDF portfolio, or build out a website portfolio? The simple answer is it depends on the nature of your work.
While it’s always ideal to have an online web portfolio at your fingertips, the other two portfolio formats typically depend on your specific industry. If you work entirely with interaction, web, product, or UX design, then having a website portfolio and a PDF portfolio is ideal. If you primarily work with print or layout design, it makes sense to have a high-quality print portfolio. The field you work in doesn’t just apply to the projects you take on but also to how you present yourself and your work.
As with anything in the graphic design world, you need to be prepared for whatever comes your way. The best practice is to find two formats and stick to them. Having a website portfolio is best for exposure and interaction, and having a PDF or print portfolio showcase your layout, composition, and typography skills.
Cover image via Georgejmclittle.
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Creating a portfolio website is if the first step towards getting a potential employer’s attention and scoring a new job. However, in order to achieve that, you first need to make sure that you know how to design portfolio that stands out.
If you aren’t sure how to make an outstanding portfolio website, you’ve come to the right place.
Your Best Work Comes First
Portfolio websites offer thousands of portfolios for potential employers to choose from so you have to understand that not everybody is going to spend hours analyzing every last detail you’ve written down there.
In fact, according to Tony Haile of Chartbeat, you only have 15 seconds of your future employer’s attention to make a perfect first impression!
That being said, it is only logical that you have to put your best work first because if you don’t, there is a big chance it will go unnoticed.
Try putting yourself in the client’s shoes and create a portfolio that would catch your attention if you were the portfolio website visitor.
You can always search for some web design inspiration by checking out portfolio examples on a free portfolio website and you can even use a pre-made portfolio template which could be very helpful with your portfolio design.
One way or another, always make sure that your online portfolio clearly displays your best work first!
Create a Portfolio that is Easy to Navigate
When you think about how to create a portfolio, you should always keep in mind that your portfolio has to be easy to navigate.
Creating categories and dividing your work into segments makes it much easier for a person browsing through a portfolio website to better understand your portfolio and the most important aspects of your work.
So before creating your free online portfolio, try visiting other portfolio sites to see both good and bad online portfolio examples and the categories people use most often to classify their work.
Make Your Own Website
You can easily make your own website with the help of portfolio website templates, free website design, and website design inspiration you’ve collected so far.
However, you should also consider hiring one of the professional builders to make sure that you’ll end up with one of the best portfolio websites out there. Just keep in mind that hiring a pro comes with a price.
Find the best graphic design portfolio or the best web developer portfolio is the beginning or finding the right person to do a good job for you.
Also, you can always rely on other high-quality sites to provide some of that necessary web inspiration you need to make a website.
You Need a Domain Name
If you want to build your website, you’re going to need your own domain name. It is not a must, but it will prove itself very helpful with your branding and marketing.
It also adds that little extra edge to your business and makes you seem more passionate about the work you do which automatically helps to build your credibility and creates an image of a trustworthy and strong brand, person, or company.
Search Engine Optimization
Create An Online Portfolio Website
If you truly want a top portfolio website, simply creating one isn’t enough. You also need to make sure that people can find it so optimizing it for search engines is a must!
Personal portfolio websites that are impossible to find on Google are mostly just a waste of your time and resources.
Have Vision and Mission
Before you start creating your web portfolio, you should know your vision and mission, or at least the clear reason why you decided to create this portfolio in the first place.
Once you know what message you want your portfolio to send, you can start creating it. For example, interior design portfolio is not going to look the same as a graphic designer portfolio or web designer portfolio.
Know your clients, consider your objectives, and then build your portfolio accordingly.
Choose Projects with Best Results
When building your portfolio website, be selective. There is no need to list every single detail and ever insignificant project from your past.
Choose projects with best results and put them on display, preferably divide them into categories to make the portfolio more organized.
Don’t forget to put the emphasis on the type of projects you would prefer working on in the future!
Tell the Story – Provide Context
Adding context to your website portfolio can be very helpful to present your work the right way. Don’t be afraid to tell the story behind your most successful projects and explain how the work was created.
Create A Digital Portfolio online, free
Try finding portfolio website examples where case studies were used to explain the process of completing the work. Include client’s goals and explain how you managed to fulfill them by demonstrating your approach step by step.
Introduce Yourself (Not Just Your Work)
When you plan your portfolio layout, don’t forget to include a concise bio to let the clients know you as well as your work. Include your best skills, experience, background, as well as some of your biggest accomplishments.
Having a good logo can also help you make a better first impression and stand out on a portfolio site. It is all a part of branding yourself which is very useful (if not necessary) in the long run.
Keep it Concise
Good presentation is everything. You should consider using portfolio templates to help you keep the design clean.
Keep your portfolio concise and simple, and make sure it is easy to navigate and accessible.
Awards and Recommendation
Create An Online Portfolio
Having good recommendations is always a big plus so if you can include any of the testimonials from the clients you had worked with in the past, you should always do that.
The same thing goes for awards and certification – put them on display as they will make you seem more trustworthy and reliable.
Do Your Best
Once you have a great portfolio online, it is not time to lay back and relax. On the contrary, the hardest work is yet to come.
If you want to be among the best, you have to do your absolute best to produce top-notch work at all times! Only the best work can attract the best clients so if that’s what you’re shooting for, you have to be willing to do some heavy lifting!
The Power of Blogging
Creating a top-notch portfolio website means more than just putting up great images and listing your past work.
You shouldn’t underestimate the power of blogging and keeping your portfolio alive by adding fresh content and even educate the clients with your own experience and knowledge.
It is also a great way to strengthen your brand and become easily recognizable in the sea of the experts in your domain.
Use Social Media
If you truly want to grow your network, you should consider including social media buttons in your portfolio website as they will be of huge help in building stronger connections and keep your clients and followers updated at all times.
Ending thoughts on creating a portfolio website
Creating a portfolio website is a great step towards helping the potential clients find you and choose YOU in the sea of experts in your field, as well as towards promoting your work and displaying your success and abilities.
A well-made, creative portfolio makes all the difference between making a fine first impression a truly outstanding one.