An online presence is vital for brands to thrive in this competitive digital environment. That’s why having a website has become crucial in establishing expertise and dominance. However, it is vital not just to companies but to individual professionals, too.
Suppose you’re a design professional looking to elevate your brand. In that case, these tips below will help you craft an online portfolio that pops. It can help boost your presence and connect with potential design opportunities.
1. Keep Your Portfolio Short
Treat your viewers like they’re always on the go. That means making your online portfolio scannable or easy to digest for fast-paced visitors.
Only display what you want to show to your target audience to avoid overcrowding your site. You don’t want to overwhelm your visitors to the point of opting out.
Avoid cluttering your online portfolio with unnecessary design elements, and allow your work to speak for itself. Use cleaner web designs to make your projects pop out on the page. Pixpa is your go-to platform to easily build and manage a beautiful, professional website with a built-in online store, blog, and client galleries.
2. Add Personality
Adding a human element to your online portfolio is an excellent way to add a layer of credibility to your site. Don’t just flaunt your best work. Try adding a creative headshot of yourself to showcase the person behind all the killer designs posted.
Create an “About Me” page or section on your site. Include a well–written bio that shares all the details of your design journey, such as your educational background, skills, programs used, and previous clients.
By putting these elements in your online portfolio, you’re removing that artificial or disconnected feeling some untrustworthy websites have. It can also help hiring managers decide by giving them a clearer picture of the person behind the projects.
3. Highlight Contacts
You want to direct your viewers, especially potential clients, to the next step: contact you for your services. When using third-party website generators, make sure you allot a space on your homepage that highlights all your contact details.
Include different methods of contact, like email addresses and phone numbers. Give visitors the opportunity to reach you in any way they can. It also helps to add a catchy call-to-action at the end of your site to suggest what your visitors should do next.
4. Show Your Best Work
Showcasing all your work may only overcrowd your portfolio site. Choose only the best ones that truly emulate your creativity and fulfill the project’s goals.
Include different design categories in your site to give the illusion of versatility. Aside from social media designs, you can also include packaging mockups, web designs, print designs, logos, and the like.
What you show doesn’t even have to be from your previous work. You can create some designs for inclusion in your portfolio. Most clients are looking for a designer and their skills, not the clients for whom they made it.
Additionally, regularly update your portfolio so you can showcase your work based on the latest design trends and practices. Doing this gives the impression that you’re a modern designer with fresh ideas.
5. Explain Your Choices
One way to cement your expertise in the industry is to create a narrative behind your work. Including a story on how you came up with each layout demonstrates your problem-solving skills as an artist.
Your narrative doesn’t have to be too profound or dramatic but clear enough to explain the steps from idea to execution. Doing this will give your potential clients a glimpse of your process and establish yourself as an industry professional.
6. Identify Your Audience
Make your site suitable for viewing if you intend to attract hiring managers. You want to include more than just your work.
Include a list of services, a creative resume, and testimonials to back your expertise. Knowing your site’s target audience will help you decide how to arrange your portfolio. You can better communicate your objectives and screen which elements you should prioritize first.
7. Share Live Examples
Redirect your visitors to client websites or social media pages that showcase your designs in the online world. You can also upload photos of your creations in real life, which works well if the projects are about branding. Doing this will help establish credibility and mastery by exhibiting client trust from previous projects.
8. Focus on Areas in Which You Want To Get Hired
If you’re looking for new opportunities, you want to showcase designs in areas where you want to get hired. For instance, a candidate seeking a job in designing games showed this word unscrambling tool he built at a past agency job to showcase his relevant experience.
Carefully choose which designs you want to showcase the most. Perhaps rank them with the best on top so potential clients will see them first. However, suppose you’re looking to branch out in different design areas. In that case, you can try creating new work for your target category even without a client.
9. Be Original
While taking inspiration from other designs isn’t a crime, potential clients might get the wrong impression. They may think you’re iffy if you copy someone else’s portfolio site.
Creating an original site allows you to flex your creative muscles. It will also help you make an excellent first impression and distinguish yourself from other designers. Additionally, it will help stand out with your interior design brief. Being distinct can put you among the top choices for different future projects.
10. Optimize It for Mobile
Having a mobile-friendly portfolio site is an advantage in itself. Mobile optimization is a no-brainer in today’s digital world, whether it’s a company website or an online portfolio.
Many online users are always on the go, so they’ll likely view your site on their phones first. Your designs may be dead in the water if visitors view them from a non-responsive website. Prioritize optimizing your online portfolio and its design for mobile to cater to all visitors.
Flaunt Your Skills As A Designer
An online portfolio is a primary way to boost your career as a design professional. Best practices such as the tips above will help you showcase your work professionally. It will also establish you as an industry expert. Now, go and show your best pieces out there.
