What are the best ways to label and organize your animation portfolio?

1 Choose your best work

The first step to label and organize your animation portfolio is to select your best work. You want to showcase your range, style, and versatility, but also your relevance and quality. Choose pieces that demonstrate your technical skills, artistic vision, and storytelling abilities. Avoid including outdated, unfinished, or irrelevant work that might dilute your impact or confuse your audience. Aim for 10 to 15 pieces that represent your best and most recent work.

2 Label your work clearly

The next step is to label your work clearly and consistently. Use descriptive and informative titles that capture the essence of your work and the type of animation you used. For example, you can use titles like "Character Animation: Robot Dance", "Motion Graphics: Logo Reveal", or "3D Animation: Space Adventure". Include relevant details such as the software, tools, or techniques you used, the duration, the role you played, and the purpose or context of the work. For example, you can add labels like "Maya, After Effects, 30 seconds, Animator, Commercial". Use a standard format and font for your labels and place them near or below your work.

3 Organize your work logically

The third step is to organize your work logically and intuitively. You want to make it easy for your viewers to find and follow your work and see your progression and diversity. You can organize your work by category, genre, style, or project. For example, you can group your work by character animation, motion graphics, 3D animation, or experimental animation. You can also sort your work by narrative, comedy, horror, or fantasy. You can also arrange your work by client, studio, or personal project. You can also order your work by date, quality, or relevance. Whatever method you choose, make sure it is clear and consistent throughout your portfolio.

5 Update your portfolio regularly

The fifth step is to update your portfolio regularly and keep it fresh and current. You want to show your viewers that you are active, passionate, and improving in your craft. You also want to showcase your latest and most relevant work that reflects your current skills and goals. Update your portfolio every few months or whenever you complete a new or noteworthy project. Remove any work that is outdated, low-quality, or no longer representative of your style or vision. Add any work that is new, high-quality, or showcases a new skill or technique.

6 Share your portfolio widely

The final step is to share your portfolio widely and make it visible and accessible to your target audience. You want to expose your work to as many potential clients, employers, or collaborators as possible and increase your chances of getting noticed and hired. You can share your portfolio on various platforms, such as your own website, social media, online forums, blogs, or portfolio sites. You can also network with other animators, join online communities, enter contests, or attend events. Make sure your portfolio is easy to find, view, and share, and that you include your contact information and links to your other work.

7 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?