Graphic Design Portfolio

As one's body of work, the portfolio is the most important calling card the graphic designer has. If it's up to snuff and you include an error-free resume, you may be able to get into the design firm of your choice. On the other hand, including old, inferior projects to pad the portfolio, or even a simple typo on your resume, may put you on the bottom of a hiring list.

Why is the portfolio so important? It's simple: graphic design is a competitive and crowded industry. As is the case with many artistic disciplines, first impressions are very important, and with a long line of other applicants behind you, your portfolio has to dazzle from the get-go. It's an audition piece, and it has to reflect a great performance.

A design school or a respected design program at a college or university is a great place to build a portfolio, particularly your first one. With trained instruction in the latest technologies and samples from a wide range of design fields, an academic portfolio tends to be more up-to-date and well-rounded than others. The accompanying degree is hard to ignore, too.

Entry-level designers should have a wide portfolio that shows skills in many fields. That being said, a freelance designer with years of experience may not need to demonstrate knowledge of the latest design programs while applying to a design firm, nor would an artist applying for a job as a web designer necessarily need to show proficiency in another discipline. As your career and job-searching becomes more focused, so will your portfolio.