Having a great portfolio is a key part of landing your dream clients. We all have projects and companies we’d love to work for. As creatives ourselves, here at The Futur™, we know both the joys of landing a dream client and the sorrows of getting passed over by a dream client.
Luckily, we come backed by decades of experience and have learned what makes a truly great portfolio stand out from the rest.
According to Stephanie Owens and Greg Gunn, there are several things to consider.
Show your best work
When your dream client looks at your portfolio, you want them to see a nice, clean, cohesive layout. You don’t want it to be too crowded, and you don’t want to show everything.
If there are too many projects, it could feel overwhelming or cluttered. Instead, choose to highlight your best work. In order to do this, you’ll need a discerning eye. Ask yourself, “What would my dream client be looking for?”
When choosing your best work, keep in mind that it’s a good idea to include work that you want to do more of. Showcase work you enjoy, and you’ll begin to build a clientele that will feel like a dream to work with.
Categorize your creative projects
When you have a lot of projects, another tip is to categorize them. That way, the viewer can easily go through your website and find exactly what they’re looking for.
For example, your first category could be for video projects. Your second category could be for projects where you held creative direction. Your third category could be posters… and so on.
This gives you the chance to add more work if you like but removes the risk of making it overcrowded and confusing.
Thumbnails & formatting
When you have projects listed on your website, they’re likely to show up first as a thumbnail image. Thumbnails should not be overlooked. They are like the window dressing to a storefront; if the client likes what they see, they’ll decide to take a look around.
Even if your work is great, choosing the right thumbnail will make or break how the project is being perceived.
As for formatting, you want to make sure that the images used to display projects on the same page are formatted to the same size. It simply looks clean and aesthetically pleasing, which is one of the factors you’re going for in a well-received portfolio.
Add context to your projects
In your portfolio, when using a website, you will have different pages that will outline each project. When you are highlighting your project, don’t forget to add additional information; every bit of context helps.
Here are some context tips:
- Add your role in the project
- Add who the client was
- Add the scope of work
- Add a few sentences about the objective
- Share what the problem was and how you solved it.
Keep your descriptions short and concise. A general rule when writing anything is not to add big paragraphs of text. Most people skim the page when reading. A few sentences will do just fine.
Credit your team
Give flowers when they’re due. By crediting the team on each project, you pay respect to the people you work with and show that you’re a team player. This small gesture also helps sell you as a leader.
You aren’t afraid of sharing the credit, and that’s something many clients, creative directors, and founders find admirable.
