We’re filled with dramatic elements and exuberant speeches – the world often forgets to appreciate simple things.
There are times, however, when the most effective way to display your skill set is to remove all the fancy additions and let your work present itself. Your portfolio should represent your proficiency instead of trying to market it through unnecessary buzzwords. The work done in a strong portfolio shouldn’t just be showcased; it should be exhibited in a way to narrate a story and connect with the audience.
Still, when it comes to portfolios, we guarantee most people don’t have a clue what to do and instead desperately Google for solutions until they copy someone else or come across articles like this.
What is the best way to build a portfolio that needs no attention-seeking gestures to stand out? Let us explore.
1. Keep It Clean and Minimal
A viewer’s attention can be easily diverted by a messy portfolio. A successful online portfolio should always be aesthetically pleasing and uncomplicated. Impressive imagery and complicated templates have no place in a portfolio. The use of blank white space, appropriate fonts, and a clean design helps easily relay the intended information to the audience. Imagine a neat and arranged museum; there is always some space around each piece of art for it to be easily viewed by people.
The same principle applies to your portfolio domain name—it should be clean and minimal. Pick a name that reflects your brand, but also something catchy and easy to type. Thanks to domain name generators that offer a variety of domain extensions, you can find the perfect name in seconds.
2. Quality Over Quantity
One is truly enough. Well, maybe not one, but a few good ones. Including every single project you’ve worked on in your portfolio will lessen its overall reception and people simply won’t look at it all. Instead, handpick your strongest projects. Putting five great projects together is far more productive than adding twenty subpar ones. Persevering a long-lasting impression is your goal, not presenting an overwhelming amount of work.
3. Let the Work Tell a Story
A portfolio is not just a collection of work. It’s what he or she encompasses as a person in the professional space. Each project must have an intention and should paint a picture of the individual’s skills, creativity, and problem-solving ability. Add a short context to every project. State the challenge, your approach, and the outcome. That context makes it easier for potential employers or clients to understand the value you bring to the table.
4. Use Real-World Applications
Abstract concepts and skills can often be challenging to understand. Whenever possible, try to illustrate your work in a real-world scenario. That can involve putting mockups in proper contexts, sharing articles that have been published along with their engagement metrics, or, for developers, there is the option of exhibiting prototypes or live demos. Witnessing the final result of your efforts can greatly increase its value.
5. Avoid Generic Descriptions
Your portfolio should tell your story, and, as such, do not include clichés or industry rhetoric. “I’m an empathetic UX designer who deeply cares about design thinking” is an example of a phrase that does little to add value to a portfolio. Instead, highlight what makes your UX approach unique and how that approach leads to actual results. Most employers and clients want to know why and how you are different, not if you are another generic candidate.
6. Keep It Up to Date
Keeping a portfolio stale is just as bad as not having a portfolio. A portfolio that only has your work from 5 years ago won’t give the most accurate representation of you. Aim to regularly refresh your portfolio with new work that displays the various stages of your career, even if it’s from case studies or personal projects.
7. Let Testimonials and Results Speak
Citing competency is one thing, but doing the job is entirely another. In the case when a project gave way to more user engagement, sales, or improved efficiency, include those figures. Numbers and favorable comments validate your efforts. Having positive testimonials from clients and measurable outcomes demonstrates that your words are not empty and boosts your credibility.
8. Simplicity Doesn’t Mean Lack of Personality
Deleting elements that lead to a lack of personality is not the intent. A portfolio should express your personality through branding, tone of writing, and even choice of colors. People look for credentials and want to know who you are outside the box, and that’s where you sell yourself.
9. Make It Easy to Contact You
You would agree that even the best-crafted portfolio is useless if people don’t know where to find it. Those buttons in the footer where they say “hire me” or suggest a dedicated page to click on for more details make a world of difference. Wherever possible, include hyperlinks to your LinkedIn account, other social media accounts, or websites to increase the chance of getting contacted.
10. Show Process, Not Just Results
Clients want to see the actual product, and what encompasses that is your line of thinking. You can add sketches, wireframes, or notes describing how you approached the task. This step of outlining your work showcases your problem-solving skills and helps contextualize your solution.
11. Customize for Your Target Audience
Other clients or employers can want something completely different, so customizing your portfolio for a specific industry or job application can prove helpful. Annoying? Yes. But it is useful. If the company is a tech startup and you are looking for a UX position, be sure to include examples of your work that show how you executed the design. If you’re targeting a corporate marketing agency, look for projects that capture their marketing needs.
12. The Power of a Personal Project
Personal projects can sometimes be the most unique and inspiring works, and these side projects can often be more engaging than client work. This type of work testifies to your creativity, commitment, and ability to think differently while venturing into uncharted waters that wouldn’t be acceptable for client work. Besides, it never hurts to add side projects to your portfolio.
13. The Importance of Visual Consistency
The visual elements of your portfolio must align with each other. A singular color palette, consistent typography, and complementary layout enhance the overall professionalism of the portfolio. Think about branding. The decisions in your portfolio should correspond to your design identity and professional brand image.
14. Provide Context Through Case Studies
Case studies allow you to showcase your project and display your higher-level intellect. Instead of merely sharing the finished projects, how about going in-depth into the problem that needed solving, the obstacles you faced, and the eventual outcome? Well-done case studies instill confidence and add depth and interest to your portfolio.
15. Engage With Interactive Elements
For digital experts, user engagement can be increased through an interactive portfolio. The use of hover effects, animations, and other embedded videos can help make a portfolio more appealing. Still, don’t get too carried away. Stay mindful of usability because too many elements may shift the focus away from the content.
Conclusion
Your portfolio does not need to be bloated with gimmicks and eye-catching elements; it needs to be simple, well-organized, and genuine. Focus on letting your work represent you and do all the talking. There is a famous saying that rightly fits this idea—actions speak louder than words.
