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Things (∞) to fix
in your design portfolio
We've reviewed hundreds of design portfolios, and we've noticed some patterns. We're sharing all our insights here for everybody to use and apply, 'cause knowledge is power.
#02243
Give employers the full picture of what you bring to the table.
Listing out stuff you know like software, niche industry knowledge (legal compliance, technical knowledge), and even education outside of design can show what makes you unique, which can give hiring teams a reason to talk to you specifically (as long as it's relevant to the roles you're applying to!)
#02242
Don’t assume people will understand all the work you did on a project just because it seems like an obvious part of the job.
Outsiders can’t tell what you did and what was contributed by teammates or directed by your CD. Maybe you designed the final package, but maybe your colleague designed the logo, or the client provided the photography. We can’t know from the outside - tell us!
#02241
Titles should describe what you did, not your client list.
Use titles for your project that describe the work you did rather than the client you did it for. “Building a new brand system to bring two Amazon brands together” tells us a lot more about what you do than something like “Amazon: brand refresh”.
#01233
Tell us why you made the design decisions you did and what they communicate.
Designers are hired for our problem solving abilities, not just our aesthetic eye. Tell me why this colour or that font are good choices for what you’ve designed and what they convey about the brand.
#01232
Your portfolio is a showpiece in itself.
Use your portfolio as a way to show your design skills with thoughtful typography, colour, and design choices. Your portfolio is the first design project that people will interact with and get a sense of your design skills from, so first impressions are important!
#01231
Show how your branding applies to different items in that brand world.
This allows you to show your design systems thinking and how you think about adapting your creative to different contexts and constraints.
#02121
It’s not helpful for hiring teams to see every job or project you’ve ever done.
Hiring teams need to see examples of the work they’re hiring for to see if you can do what they need. Curate your portfolio to show projects that are aligned to the work you want to be hired for, and hide the rest.
#02122
Research is an important part of the design process...
...but we don’t need to see your entire research process and findings. Instead, share the key insights you uncovered and explain how you applied them to your design thinking and final work.
#02123
Accessibility is an important factor in all digital and web design work.
Your portfolio itself should be a good example of your accessibility knowledge. Making your own website accessible demonstrates you know these standards and that you can meet these expectations without prompting.
#02242
Don’t assume people will understand all the work you did on a project just because it seems like an obvious part of the job.
Outsiders can’t tell what you did and what was contributed by teammates or directed by your CD. Maybe you designed the final package, but maybe your colleague designed the logo, or the client provided the photography. We can’t know from the outside - tell us!
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