... And How to Avoid Them
You’ve picked the pieces to showcase in-person and in your online portfolio. Links to your portfolio now live on all of your identity pieces and you’re all set to get your new awesome job. So, how come employers aren’t champin’ at the bit to contact you after seeing your mad design skills?
It could be that you’ve made one or more of the following mistakes on your portfolio site.
1. POOR TYPOGRAPHY IS A TURN OFF
Typography is one of the main pillars of graphic design. As someone in the market for a design job you’re expected to have a good grasp of typography best practices. Without these, even the least qualified art director will overlook you and your site.
2. TOO MUCH IS TOO MUCH
While we’re on the topic of student work, let’s talk about flat designs that float in space. Offering a flat representation of your work, is not showing it in the best possible light. Don't rely on the imagination of your audience to connect the dots. Instead, show those conceptual projects as complete finished products.
Use 3D PSD mockups to show your work in a real-world setting. Below is an example of an identity project that many students have completed for Prof. Boam in Grad school;
THE FIX: Okay a drop shadow is a quick way to add depth, but an even better way is to create photo-realistic mock ups. Check out these mock ups for inspiration.
You’ve got a flash animation, and lots of jquery motion graphics, maybe a revo slider with individual text links, and accordion panes. Stop! That’s way too much going on.
THE FIX: remember that this portfolio site is meant to showcase your design talent. Less is more. Dozens of moving pieces detract from your message.
3. HIGHLIGHTING ONLY STUDENT WORK
If you only have student work, then by all means show it proudly. However, it’s important to come off as a designer who has worked with clients and has experience working with clients.
THE FIX: find yourself a few freelance clients and get those projects onto your site, pronto. If that’s not an option, consider referring to your student work as “conceptual” projects. This simply means that these pieces weren’t produced for a specific client. Although this is the same as saying student work, the connotations are more positive.
4. 2-D IS NOT AN OPTION
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| Use as 3-D Mockup to show a 'conceptual' design in a real-world setting...with no need to stress about properly photographing the finished product. |
While we’re on the topic of student work, let’s talk about flat designs that float in space. Offering a flat representation of your work, is not showing it in the best possible light. Don't rely on the imagination of your audience to connect the dots. Instead, show those conceptual projects as complete finished products.Use 3D PSD mockups to show your work in a real-world setting. Below is an example of an identity project that many students have completed for Prof. Boam in Grad school;
THE FIX: Okay a drop shadow is a quick way to add depth, but an even better way is to create photo-realistic mock ups. Check out these mock ups for inspiration.
5. TYPOS WILL GET YOU OVERLOOKED
I’m definitely guilty of this one. The most embarrassing incident I’ve seen when it comes to typos happened when reviewing portfolio for a graphic design position last year. The applicant cited her “attention to derail” right on the home page. I didn’t even click on on the portfolio link after reading that.
THE FIX: Once your site is done, get someone else to look it over. If you’re working with DreamWeaver or with an online CMS (wordpress, blogger), use the Spell Check tool.
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THE FIX: Once your site is done, get someone else to look it over. If you’re working with DreamWeaver or with an online CMS (wordpress, blogger), use the Spell Check tool.
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