13 Tips for Creating a Killer Graphic Design Portfolio

Do you want to create a design graphic portfolio? 

If yes, stay prepared...

There are so many ways to go about it, and it can be really easy to get bogged down in details and lose sight of your overall goal: getting hired. But if you follow these tips, you'll have an effective portfolio that will help land those elusive gigs without any extra work.

1. Show, Don't Tell

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it bears repeating: Show, don't tell. When you're creating a portfolio, your work should be the star of the show, not what you did to get there.

The best way to do this is by showing off your process rather than just talking about it. You can do this by including lots of images from start to finish or even from early sketches. They are often more effective than straight-up renders because they show how much thought went into every aspect of design—and also give viewers an idea of how far along an idea could go before being fully fleshed out into something usable or at least good.

2. Pick a Visual Hierarchy

The second tip is that you should have a visual hierarchy. Visual hierarchy is the order in which elements are placed on a page or screen, and it helps the viewer find what they are looking for. In other words, if your graphic design portfolio is full of random graphics with no visual hierarchy, it will be difficult for potential customers to navigate through it successfully.

Visual Hierarchy comes in many forms—font sizes and colors; typefaces/lettering styles; an arrangement of elements (elements such as photos or illustrations); legibility vs aesthetics vs function...the list goes on!

3. Try an Interesting Layout

The next step is to break the grid. You can use a grid for your layout, but you don't have to stick with it. Don't be afraid of using negative space or asymmetrical layouts—they will help create a unique look that makes your portfolio stand out from other portfolios on the same page.

4. Consider Your Audience

The best way to create a killer portfolio is by thinking about the audience you're designing for. Who are they? What do they need? What are their goals and needs?

Here's a quick list of questions you should ask yourself:

Who am I designing for? This includes who, what, when, where and why questions.

For example, if I'm designing a website for an organization that helps animals in need—a great place to start would be asking "Who?" You then can answer this question by looking at their mission statement or tagline; researching previous work (if available); speaking with current employees; observing how visitors interact with the website; etcetera. Once you have all these answers straight in your head then it's time to move on to the next step.

5. Keep it Organized

● Organize your portfolio by project type.

● Use a consistent layout for each project.

● Use a consistent color scheme for each project.

● Use a consistent font for each project.

This will help you keep everything organized and make it easier to find the information you need when working on a new assignment or redesigning an existing brand identity system, which is essential in this industry.

6. Include a Little Bit of Everything

This tip is really important. You want to show your range, so don't be afraid to show work you're not proud of or that doesn't fit your style. If you know that there are certain types of projects that you love doing and others that you struggle with, it's okay to include both in the portfolio.

7. Share Who You Are as a Designer

There are many ways to share who you are as a designer, but the most effective way is by sharing your portfolio. With an online portfolio, clients can see that you've put in the time and effort to create something that they'll want to use.

This step is important because it shows them what kind of work you do and how creative it is. It also lets them know how much time and energy goes into each project—something that's especially important for those who work remotely or in small teams.

8. Use Details to Help Tell the Story

One of the most effective ways to tell your story is through details. Details are any elements that help you convey information or provide context to the reader. They can be in the form of text, graphics, or both.

For example:

● A business logo might have a pattern on it that represents its brand values and mission statement.

● An infographic showing how many people use each product at different times of the day.

You should think about which details will help you tell your best design story—and only include those! If there isn't enough space for all of them on one page, consider breaking up your portfolio into multiple pages so readers can see more than just one piece of work at once without scrolling through too much text/graphics on every page.

9. Show Your Process

You should show your process, which is how you got from the idea to the final design. This can be a step-by-step process or a visual representation of how you work as a team. You want to show that you’re not just throwing ideas out there and hoping for success—you take time to work through them and make sure they’re good enough before moving forward.

If possible, include examples of collaboration with other people on projects or at least include their names. Showing that you communicate well with others is important for creating trust in clients and potential employers—and it shows them that although there may be some disagreement during the process, this doesn't affect the overall quality or effectiveness of what gets done because everyone involved understands each other's role in the project.

10. Find Your Design Style and Showcase It

Your design style is the visual language you use to communicate your aesthetic. As designers, it’s important to know who we are as individuals, and how our work reflects who we are as people—and what makes us unique. Your style should be reflected in everything from the fonts and color palette used in any given project or portfolio design, down to the way that images are cropped or framed on the page (or even just using simple typography like Helvetica). This creates an overall clean look with an emphasis on simplicity over detail—the perfect way for someone looking for inspiration from someone else's work!

11. Only Put Your Best Work in the Portfolio

One of the most important things to remember when creating your portfolio is that it's not simply a collection of your past work. You want to include only the best, most relevant projects—the ones you're proud of and feel like represent your best work.

If you've been working for years but have never done anything truly spectacular or memorable, don't put it in there.

Similarly, if something isn't as good as what you could've done but still feels like it belongs alongside other pieces—like a previous project that was just okay instead of great—don't include it either.

12. Don't Underestimate the Power of Typography

The right typeface can make or break your portfolio. You should use the correct font for each project, whether it’s an infographic or a flyer that you want to stand out from the crowd.

● Use the right typeface. If you have decided to use a serif font such as Helvetica (or one of its many variations), then do so—but be sure it suits your purpose and audience.

● Choose an appropriate typeface. A classic example of this is when someone uses Comic Sans on their resume because they think it makes them look funny; however, this may be hurting their chances of getting hired. Try choosing something more professional like Times New Roman instead. They'll both look extremely professional while still being fun at first glance too - perfect if we're talking about resumes here.

13. Simplicity

Simplicity is key. If you're not familiar with the industry or have a lot of experience, keep it simple. When in doubt, simplify!

When designing your portfolio and trying to decide on which typefaces to use, don't be afraid to try something new—but if you're feeling stuck or unsure about the direction of your work, it's best not to overthink things too much.

Conclusion

There you have it! We hope these tips help your design career to flourish. Remember, every portfolio is unique and should be treated as such. Our goal with this post was not only to provide some general guidelines but also to give you ideas on how best to tailor them to your specific goals, needs, and skillset.