Visual Voyage

The Portfolio

A professional portfolio is a collection of the visual designer's best work. The portfolio should also contain written information such as the designer's name and title of each work. Keep in mind that the overall design of a portfolio presents an important visual image to the interviewer. The portfolio itself is a presentation of your design and organizational skills. Carefully select background colors and typeface that may appear in your presentation and the composition of your work on each page or board.

Follow these guideposts to a powerful portfolio:

Chart your course: Decide what kind of designer you intend to be, and then use portfolio examples to support that image.

Super selectivity: Evaluate and edit all of your work. Select 12 to 14 good examples to present in your portfolio.

Birds of a feather: Design a format and organize your work by type. All like projects should be presented together.

Show off: Decide how to display your work. Paper pages under vinyl or acetate sheets or boards are the preferred display methods.

Keep current: Regularly update your portfolio and show your latest, most impressive work.

Status quo: Maintain consistency in shape, size, and horizontal/vertical direction when planning boards or pages.

Basics are best: Neutral colors such as black, white, tan, beige, or gray are the most effective background colors to show off your work.

Start and end with a bang: Present strong examples of your work at the beginning and end of your portfolio.

More than pictures: Pay particular attention to details in the titles and text of your work: spelling, grammar, and typing must be perfect.

First things first: Practice the order and manner in which you will present your work.

Ulterior motives: Be prepared to discuss why you have included certain types of work and how the work will relate to the job.