Create a kickass graphic or web design portfolio

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A unique graphic or web design portfolio is the window to success!

In essence, you showcase your work in a unique way impressing the employer and cutting the competition with a sharp knife. A kickass graphic or web design portfolio is all about presentation – standing out of the crowd. The presentation of your work in an unusual way also enables the employer to see how creative you are because creativity is the essence of a graphic or web designer. To stand out of the crowd and rising ahead of your competition, you need a kickass design portfolio to get the job of your dreams. I can safely assert that if you present your portfolio in a unique way, big companies will definitely come after you.

The competition is tough.

It is the foot in the door, or the foot booting you out. It is so important that you create a strong representation of your work. There is more than one way of presenting your work in this industry.

It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner and you don’t have much work to flaunt. Create a few compelling designs for yourself. Use the famous graphic or web software like Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/Dreamweaver or draw by hand. Create at least 7 to 8 compelling designs in a genre that suits the job description. For example, if you are applying as a logo designer, create 7 to 8 compelling logos of famous brands using your imagination. Be creative and don’t mimic other designs.

Now you have enough work to create a portfolio.

Again, the major factor is the unique presentation of the work. You can print all your designs and put it in a folder to present, but they would be a common way to present. So think of something different.

Normally, there are 3 main ways to create graphic or web design portfolios: Print it out, create a website and put your portfolio online and create a DVD or CD of your work. To create the maximum impact, go for all three of them. But do it in a unique way. Consider the following tactic to create a kickass graphic or web design portfolio:

1. For each design, write a brief description telling about the design and how you were inspired to create it. Give a brief background.
2. Create a Headline for each design in the portfolio. The headline should be compelling. Provide details of the design like which software you used to create it and where it is been used.
3. Create a table of contents especially when you are putting it online or on CD/DVD. The table of contents should be in a logical order – date/year wise or design wise
4. For the online version, create a compelling webpage and use flash to showcase your work in a timeline or use thumbnails on the page with brief description. Be creative with the webpage hosting your portfolio. Use white and blue colors and a creative use of a brush and/or pencil on the page. Using flash will surely enhance the page design
5. For CD/DVD version, create a page with a menu. Make sure that the portfolio’s main page opens as soon as it is inserted in the CD/DVD drive.
6. Create a video using Camtasia Studio and showcase your portfolio while explaining each and every design. This could be the best way to present the portfolio

For print version, use white sheets of papers and print out the entire design portfolio, attach the CD/DVD with it and buy a good folder. Use colors or design on the cover of the folder and name the folder in a creative way.