Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #08

08: TAKE A DETOUR

If you feel your work is lacking breadth or isn’t as consistently strong as you know it can be, create a series of self-initiated pieces that demonstrate your conceptual and technical prowess. One way to accomplishing this is take a show stopping project you’ve already created and build an entire campaign around it. Another suggestion is to take one of your personal hobbies or interests and imagine an entirely new product line – packaging, advertising, social media, online games – let your imagination run free. Show your audience you are masterfully creative and a seriously well-rounded thinker.

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #07

07: AVOID JET LAG

Designers are only as good as their last project, so needless to say, the most recent pieces should be the best! Be sure there’s plenty of fresh content in your portfolio and avoid showing work that looks dated or overproduced. Also, since you may not always be in the room to justify and explain your methods and goals, keep descriptions & comments brief and to the point.

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #06

06. DOCUMENT THE JOURNEY

Ultimately, your artwork and design best sells your talent, but employers and clients also want to tap into the creative process and understand how you think. What were the goals for each project? How did you go about researching and conceptualizing your unique solutions? What were the results of the project's success? A short 2-3 sentence description for most pieces is sufficient, but if the campaign is broader, consider writing a brief case study.

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #05

05: CHART A COURSE

Creating order in your portfolio says as much about your communication skills as each individual concept does. By weaving your distinct design sensibilities into the order of your portfolio, you will effectively propel the viewer through your body of work. Begin the tour with the project you are most proud of. Next, guide your viewer to unexpected and innovative solutions followed by a series of pieces that consistency deliver your unique perceptions. Finally, end their journey with a visually memorable destination. Your quest will be left with an experience they will want to engage with again and again!

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #04

04: BUDGET WISELY

Select and edit your work carefully with clear purpose and meaning for each specific viewer. Traditional portfolios include 20-30 pieces of work. More than that risks appearing unfocused and without strategy. If your audience is a specialized industry, feature more of the projects they can identify with and less of others. If the meeting opens up other areas of creative conversation, follow up by sending a digital portfolio or a specialized “thank you” promotion featuring that work. Leave your audience wanting more and always be prepared to deliver!

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #03

03: DRESS APPROPRIATELY

The best and the brightest portfolios don’t need to be diamond encrusted or polished chrome they can also exude a worn, favorite book charm. What employers focus more on, is the effort you put in every detail of your book – inside and out. The outside can have a bit of wear and tear, but it should never be reflected on the pages or your work. Keep a stash of duplicate samples so overly handled projects can be replaced with fresh copies. Reproduce clean laser or ink jet prints when they begin to look aged or discolored. Replace cracked or yellowed sheet protectors often. Include a nice crisp copy of your resume, leave behind promotion and digital portfolio in a well protected envelope. These details speak volumes about your craftsmanship, attention to detail and ultimately how much care you will demonstrate as an employee or hired artist.

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #02

02: TRAVEL LIGHT

Consider the logistics and practical nature of effectively showing the work in your portfolio. Larger cases are great for posters and oversized magazine layouts, but these gigantic cases are also more prone to damage and can often scream amateur or student work. Travelling sleek and light demonstrates the careful editing of a seasoned artist and conveys a breezy professionalism.

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #1

01: BUILD A SOLID CRAFT

Your portfolio has the potential to soar above the complacent and
predictible to reach destinations far beyond your expectations. Its only
limitations or boundaries are the ones you define. It’s far more than a
collection of varied projects – consider it a work of art. Anchor it with your individual personality, then build structure and order along every page, around every corner, and across every platform. From the exterior shape & material to the interior structures & labeling captivate your audience by immersing them in every sensation.