Graphic design portfolio cases how to#

Talk about the bad and offer suggestions for improvement. Highlight the good and why it is working. And that is the perfect portfolio review. It was a conversation that still inspires me today. That was the day I became a true designer. She then talked about ways to get there – a tweak to the typefaces, pops of color that were more unexpected, losing my attachment to perfect symmetry – and provided a stack of resources to help me. She explained that my technical work was great, but the examples lacked that “it factor.”

The reviewer examined 15 of my clips and gave me an overall synopsis of the work – she said it was clean, organized and easy to understand but lacked creative inspiration. My best portfolio review was short and simple. Later portfolio reviews helped me become a better reviewer too.

Graphic design portfolio cases how to#

While a portfolio review can be tough to stomach, you should always leave with some idea of where you are headed next and how to better yourself and your work. I almost considered forgetting design altogether because the review made me feel like a failure. Needless to say, I did not get a lot from the experience and left the meeting very discouraged. (What not to do for portfolio reviewers.) She also did not note a single thing from my portfolio that I had done well or that she liked. She did not provide me with any resources for learning. (All of these things were true.)īut the problem, was that she did not offer me any solutions or tips for improving or even really explain why she was so very critical of my work.īut the problem, was that she did not offer me any solutions or tips for improving or even really explain why she was so very critical of my work. She told me my typography pairings did not match and my color palettes were flat.

She pointed out all the techniques that were dated or trends of the past. My reviewer told me my work was just average. Case Study 1: What Not to DoĪs a young designer, I had a disastrous portfolio review. The goal is to learn and grow as a creative worker. If you are doing the same things you were five years ago, it will be reflected in your portfolio. While they often unofficially happen when courting a client or seeking new employment, portfolio reviews are best when they do not have other pretext.įinally, feedback is the key to creative growth. Reviews are typically designed to give you a fair appraisal of your work. Picking out pieces to show in the portfolio is a good reminder of all you have learned and accomplished, while the review itself should help you grow as a designer. The portfolio review is a good tool for reflecting on your work. The first reviews are often early, as a student in the classroom setting, and continue throughout your career. Portfolio reviews can take place at any point during your career.