As a content designer, you want to showcase your creative and technical abilities to potential clients. But how do you do that effectively and persuasively? In this article, we'll share some tips on how to display your design skills to clients, from creating a portfolio to communicating your value proposition.
A portfolio is a collection of your best work that demonstrates your design skills, style, and experience. It's essential to have a portfolio that showcases your range of projects, from websites to logos to infographics. Your portfolio should also include relevant information about each project, such as the client, the goal, the process, and the results. You can create a portfolio website, use an online platform, or create a PDF document, depending on your preference and audience.
Multi-disciplined designers want to be sure to identify their role(s) within a project. For example, say you are technically hired to create a series of blog posts (content writing) for a campaign. If, however, you also help define the scope of the content and marketing goals like awareness, lead gen; implement performance measurements like website hits, organic traffic, or referrals; narrow down audience to more targeted segments, like existing customers or recent purchasers (strategy); as well draft speaking points for outreach emails (marketing copywriting), identifying each of these separate skills will better demonstrate to potential clients the breadth of ways you might be able to help support their project.
A portfolio shouldn’t only consist of pretty elements or mockups, a strong and well rounded portfolio has a depth to every project that you showcase. Any project has its (research, case studies, rationale…etc), so be sure to pick and choose what makes your project interesting and well thought of the viewer. A portfolio should always be adaptable and editable, because trends change, styles change and a portfolio should reflect your recent work. Your portfolio can be your Behance, a website, even LinkedIn; but when creating on any of these platforms make sure that you showcase what a true graphic designer is capable of (design, content creation, adaptions, research) to stand out in the very competitive market!
To display your design skills to clients effectively, create a professional portfolio showcasing your best work. Include a diverse range of projects, emphasizing your expertise in various design elements. Highlight your ability to solve clients' problems creatively and demonstrate how your designs align with their brand and goals. Use case studies to explain your design process and the impact of your work. Additionally, maintain a strong online presence through a well-designed website and social media profiles that feature your work and client testimonials. Clear communication, a keen understanding of clients' needs, and a strong portfolio will impress potential clients.
Building a portfolio is the first step to demonstrating your work. Showcasing your abilities or creative talent is a very good way to gain new business and help potential customers to see how you work, what type of work you produce, and perhaps what you could do for them. Your portfolio should also have context to it. It should never just be images or visuals only. Context helps to provide understanding to the client as far as what information was provided and how that communication translated into a website or a graphic or a video.
Building a portfolio is something that can be done simply. Having a landing page with samples and a CTA at the bottom is perfect. For specific types of design or copy a PDF swipe file works wonders. You can even combine the PDF on the landing page to capture emails. Then communicate with prospects via email.
When you display your design skills to clients, you want to make sure that you choose samples that are relevant to their needs and expectations. For example, if you're applying for a content design job in the education sector, you might want to include samples that show your ability to create engaging and informative content for learners. You should also consider the type, format, and tone of the content that the client is looking for, and select samples that match those criteria.
In your niche area have a PDF swipe file of work samples let’s you have options to present to prospective clients. Organization of content designs is key. I suggest when building this track your design work in Google drive organized by type. Then combine into PDF swipes.
A clients doesn’t know how to link you work to your style so when a client requests a sample of work that u haven’t done before be sure to present something that is close to it such as : Leaflet : you can present a brand guide or book design that shows alignments | readability and harmony Social media: you can show logo design and how it works across platforms There is a lot of ways to convince the client of your work even if you haven’t worked on anything relevant
Always be aware for who are you submitting your portfolio to! If it’s a tech company they wouldn’t care about your experience in hospitality for example. Don’t say : but they can see my style and my work scope from the work that is presented ! Newsflash : “THEY WONT” Don’t assume that everyone sees design the way that people people who studied it or in the field sees it, some people need more explaining and relevant experience until they get a chance to meet up with you !
Another way to display your design skills to clients is to explain your process and how you approach each project. This can help you demonstrate your problem-solving, research, and collaboration skills, as well as your understanding of the client's goals and audience. You can explain your process in your portfolio, in your proposal, or in your pitch, using visual aids, diagrams, or screenshots to illustrate your steps and decisions.
A portfolio is much more than showcasing finished products. Brand want to know where your ideas come from. A while ago, I coined the phrase “The Process Portfolio.” No matter what kind of role you’re in, to have a process. Include that in your portfolio to show the evolution of your ideas, not just the end result.
Inside of any samples I present to a client. I contain a preface page. It explains the process and approach. Then in a one page sales letter I explain cost and delivery times. Followed by samples. In your prefaces if you have smaller designs include them into the preface.
Explaining your process is probably the most underrated skill for a content designer. Since your clients may lack the skills to judge your work based solely on creative merit, you need to streamline the entire process to make it seem (and actually be) more secure. Think about visiting a dentist, staring at your teeth with no idea of the next steps. Scary, right? The same applies to business owners who want a safe path to their brand's success. Having a defined process and being able to articulate it not only leads to a great sense of trust but also helps you keep track of the project progress and coordinate with any teams working on it.
To display your design skills to clients, you also need to highlight your value proposition and what makes you stand out from other designers. Your value proposition is a statement that summarizes how you can help the client achieve their objectives and solve their challenges. It should focus on the benefits and outcomes of your design work, not just the features and deliverables. You can highlight your value proposition in your headline, in your introduction, or in your testimonial.
Value propositions has to be clear and concise. Let the client know exactly what they get and exactly what they should expect.
What do you excel at, what are your strengths points always be sure to give the person in contact where your value is ! Make it simple and clear and straight to the point.
Presentar un proyecto es una apuesta en la que entran multitud de factores subjetivos, pero se supone que hay una necesidad planteada y estamos aqui para aportar soluciones de la forma -bajo mi punto de vista- más creativa, disruptiva, práctica, entendible, y si puede ser divertida (para nosotros, o incluso para el cliente) Tambien tiene que ver el como te vé tu cliente. Para mi es importante la conexión y una buena sinergia entre tu—lo que haces—tu cliente
One of the best ways to improve your design skills and display them to clients is to ask for feedback from your previous or current clients, peers, or mentors. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, learn from your mistakes, and discover new opportunities for growth and improvement. You can ask for feedback in various ways, such as surveys, reviews, ratings, or interviews, and use it to refine your portfolio, your process, and your value proposition.
Feedback is critical to constant learning. Constant learning helps you design work stay at the cutting edge. Gather feedback on surveys and direct questionnaires to clients. Always ask for a review. Reviews can be used as social proof in your swipe files presented to new prospects.
As a designer that struggled with feedback, I know how our major can be hurtful to hear some reality check sometimes! But with work and understanding that graphic design is not Art and it has to be tailored for a specific market can really make you look and understand feedback from a different angle
Feedback is extremely important and should be valued. It allows you to view a project or a design from an entirely different perspective and mindset. It brings forth ideas, raises unknown issues and hopefully solutions to a problem you may not have even seen. Ask for feedback, reflect on it, take the actionable info and improve on your work.
Finally, to display your design skills to clients, you should also showcase your personality and what makes you unique as a designer. Your personality can help you connect with your clients, express your passion and enthusiasm, and show your professionalism and reliability. You can showcase your personality in your portfolio, in your communication, or in your social media presence, using your voice, tone, style, and humor to convey your brand and identity.
When it comes to portfolios, personality is everything. Your portfolio is your chance to show potential clients/employers who you are and what you're passionate about. So why wouldn't you add you personality? Consider this, adding elements of you personality to your portfolio will: ■ Help you stand out from the competition. The job market is competitive, and adding personality to your portfolio is a great way to shows potential clients/employers that you're more than just another designer or writer. ■ Help you to connect with potential clients on a deeper level. People are more likely to hire someone they feel like they can connect with. So add personality to your portfolio and stand out.
Your biggest advantage in content marketing is your personality. It's your unique trait and a competitive edge, even at the start of your career. Don't overthink your public image—speak as you would to your friends. Allow your creative and design ideas to flow freely. In today's landscape of generic marketing content and bland AI design, the best way to stand out is through honest and unique self-expression.
When people are scrolling through graphic designers through whatever platform they are in make sure you stand out with any small detail ! Designers need to infuse their personality and essence into their work in a way that can be identified in a very subtle way
Get a website. Upload and Organize your website with your work. Only include the best of the best. Provide descriptions for your work, the briefs, and explain how you solved the problems. Make business cards, and make them nice, clean, and legible.