How do you showcase industry standards in your design portfolio?

1 Know your audience

The first step to showcase industry standards in your design portfolio is to know your audience. Who are you trying to impress with your portfolio? Is it a potential employer, a client, or a peer? What are their goals, needs, and preferences? What are the industry standards that they value and look for in a commercial designer? Research your audience and tailor your portfolio to match their expectations and interests.

2 Choose relevant projects

The next step is to choose relevant projects that demonstrate your ability to follow industry standards and deliver high-quality design solutions. Select projects that match the type of work that you want to do or that you are applying for. For example, if you want to work in web design, include projects that show your proficiency in web standards, such as responsive design, usability, accessibility, and SEO. If you want to work in branding, include projects that show your understanding of brand identity, logo design, typography, and color theory. Avoid including projects that are outdated, irrelevant, or inconsistent with your current skills and style.

3 Explain your process

The third step is to explain your process and how you applied industry standards in your design work. Don't just show the final outcome, but also the steps and decisions that led to it. How did you research the problem, the client, and the market? How did you brainstorm, sketch, and prototype your ideas? How did you test, refine, and validate your solutions? How did you use industry standards to guide your design choices and ensure quality and functionality? Use clear and concise language, images, and diagrams to illustrate your process and show your professionalism and expertise.

4 Showcase your skills

The fourth step is to showcase your skills and how you used industry tools and techniques to create your design work. How did you use software, platforms, and frameworks to design and develop your projects? How did you use code, languages, and libraries to implement your solutions? How did you use design principles, elements, and systems to organize and enhance your visuals? How did you use typography, color, and imagery to convey your message and style? Use

tags, screenshots, and links to show your skills and how you followed industry standards and best practices.
###### Highlight your value
The fifth step is to highlight your value and how you added value to your clients and projects. How did you solve the problem, meet the goals, and satisfy the needs of your clients? How did you measure the impact, effectiveness, and success of your solutions? How did you exceed the expectations, requirements, and standards of your clients and the industry? Use metrics, testimonials, and awards to show your value and how you delivered outstanding design work.
###### Update your portfolio
The final step is to update your portfolio regularly and keep up with the latest industry standards and trends. Design is a dynamic and evolving field, and you need to show that you are aware of and adaptable to the changes and challenges in the industry. Review your portfolio periodically and remove or revise any projects that are no longer relevant, current, or representative of your skills and style. Add new projects that showcase your recent work, your growth, and your innovation. Stay informed and inspired by the industry standards and best practices that shape and improve your design work.
######Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?