Eight tips for a standout portfolio
I recently started at OLIVER as a Talent Partner, and it is fascinating to see how robust OLIVER is during the lockdown due to COVID19. Throughout these challenging times it is still business as usual, with new business wins, campaign launches, Hot Since '95 & Fraud Fighter, and hiring great talent. I have been reacquainted with old recruiter buddy Shannon Lee, and together we lead on the hiring of design and creative candidates in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Shannon and I have weekly check-ins with the Executive Creative Director, Rob Kavanagh, and Head of Design, Brian Eagle, to discuss portfolios for vital roles within OLIVER (ahem, Senior Creative Team).
Portfolios are a window on the creatives’ mind, and it's essential to give them the love and attention they deserve, just as you have with your projects.
So if your portfolio is due a refurbishment, or if you are a junior in the process of putting together a new one, here are a few tips to make sure you stand out.
1) Keep it simple
Let the work do the talking. Sometimes the personal touch can be overwhelming to a point your website is fighting with the work.
2) Out with the old
Keep it current and up to date. It sounds simple, but it can be hard to take out the T-Mobile Flash banner campaign that you love. You could always have an archive of the legendary section in your portfolio (if you must).
3) Less is more
Aim for at least six projects. Only the best work makes the cut and – if possible – show a variety of deliverables.
4) The finer detail
Most portfolios fail when it's just screenshot after screenshot. An overview of your contribution and how you got to the outcome goes a long way. Give a polite nod by crediting the team for their combined efforts.
5) Scamps and sketches
Don't worry, we are not looking for penmanship. Where possible, scamps and sketches help show your design process and thinking.
6) Online or PDF?
Portfolios should be online, period. It’s such a shame when a collection is presented on a PDF. Please give the respect your work deserves by housing it online. Your work will be more accessible on mobile as well as desktop. For juniors, a template portfolio, like Behance, is an excellent start for posting your work online.
7) Influencers
There is no harm in asking your peers or mentors if you can look at their portfolios. In most cases, they would love to show off their work, and you can ask for tips on how they personalise the site – ie, Squarespace or WordPress – without looking too 'off-the-shelf'.
8) A little deeper
Having a section displaying the other creative work you do outside of your day-to-day work – such as illustration, photography and story writing – helps people understand who you are. Don't go too left-field… you might scare a potential employer.
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7 个月Jim, thanks for sharing!