Do you know when is the best time to rework your portfolio?
When you are looking for new clients. And since I am, I’ve given my Work page a once-over. It had grown into a cluttered, overwhelming mess over time. Like all decluttering activities, it was challenging.
Almost all of my jobs are interesting in one way or another, so which ones do I cut? I don’t specialise. I can do layout as easily as logos. I love making presentations and slide decks. Social media posts are a cake walk. Need die-cut stickers? I will find you a vendor and ensure your design is print-ready for them.
And I do plenty of things beyond design: project planning & management, business process consulting, writing, art classes, performance, yoga. I’m a “professional dilettante” after all.
So to cut through the cruft, I focussed on my goal – finding more design clients – and honed in on the kind of work I want more of.
- Logos. Definitely my favorite. Distilling the essence of a project into a single graphic is extremely satisfying.
- Illustrations. I have a minimalistic style in digital design. I thrill at hand drawn work, but there’s much less of that.
- Print layout. Who doesn’t love trying to fit three pages of information into two pages? It’s like a puzzle! I have repeat clients for newsletters, brochures, & flyers.
- Business graphics. This is a broad category that includes slide decks, business cards, infographics, and all the bits and bobs that companies need.
I turned my portfolio into six “case studies” for logos and illustration showing the process on the way to the final product, along with some other samples to highlight the range of things I do in general graphic design.
I think this format is more interesting that simply plopping a logo on the page. It shows what I did and how I got there. And it explains the relationship with the client, too.
I think most of my clients don’t choose me for being innovative with design. They choose me because I am able to work with them. I listen closely and ask the right questions to get their requirements. I adjust to their needs. And I meet deadlines.
I added a quirky version of my CV to the page, too.
So if you need business graphics or know someone who does, please get in touch.
