Colours of Career Development

BY MARION SADAVOY HIGHER EDUCATION CAREER DEVELOPMENT COACH Employer Relations Coordinator

The 3 P's of Portfolio Building

1. Personal Branding

2. Projects

3. Process

Unleash the Power of Pink through Portfolio Design!

What do portfolios and the colour pink have in common? They both have the potential to help you improve your financial situation and bring in more money. Create a well-designed portfolio that represents your authentic self and watch the money flow in the door.

Whether digital or hard copy, your portfolio needs to represent you and your work in an organized and consistent manner. Here are some are key steps to follow when designing the layout of your portfolio.

PERSONAL BRANDING:

Announce yourself and set the tone of your portfolio in your ABOUT section. Start by writing a brief description detailing who you are as an artist, what you do, and your philosophy. Then top it off with an engaging and joyful picture of yourself. People don’t like to read too much text when reviewing a portfolio so keep it concise; 2-3 short paragraphs will do the trick.

Remember to include a CONTACT section if you are creating a digital portfolio. This will allow people to connect with you. By including a section where you ask the reader to fill out a contact form, you create an easy way to collect their information for future newsletters and events. It is an instant contact list made up of people who already know who you are and have expressed interest in your work.

PRO TIP: Keep the overall design layout clean, consistent, and inviting. Not only will it attract the eye, but it will also allow for easy navigation of your portfolio.

PROJECTS:

List your projects under CATEGORY HEADINGS. Start by selecting your best or most successful work to demonstrate your versatility, or depth in a particular area. There is no need to include all your work, just a selection of work that truly represents you and your brand.

Example of a well-designed digital portfolio: Liz Grant lizdesignsthings.com

Curate your pieces so they tell a story about the type of artist you are, why you are unique and where you would like to take your work in the future. When you review your pieces, see what themes are repeated, for example perhaps you have used

various mediums, or focused on different topics. Once you have found your themes you can turn them into Category Headings. Arrange your categories any way that makes sense to you, but always keep the reader in mind. Ask yourself who you are trying to attract and build from there. If you don’t want to work in a certain area, do not showcase pieces that will draw in that type of client.

Whether you have created your portfolio to find work as a graphic designer, or to send to a gallery, you will need to organize your projects according to the category headings.

When creating a digital portfolio, follow these best practices:

• Format: use galleries to allow people to choose a project to explore.

• Categorize Projects: use industry-friendly terms and showcase enough variety to demonstrate your breadth of relevant skills.

PROCESS:

With each new project include a brief description or outline, depending on the type of project you are showcasing. Get started by presenting information about your process to intrigue and inform the reader. For portfolios that focus exclusively on art projects, write clear and concise labels, including the name of your work, the date and your medium if relevant.

Use high resolution images of your work, and only submit an edited version of your portfolio. Submitting an unedited portfolio could ruin your professional image before you even get started.

It goes without saying that you need to have permission from any former employer if you intend to use work that you completed for them. Be sure to confirm they are ok with you sharing ideas that they paid you to create.

Keep your summaries brief and highlight these aspects if you are showcasing digital projects:

• Outline: briefly describe the project; articulate any challenges you solved for a previous employer, if relevant.

• Articulate the Process: show your research and insights when relevant.

• Context: keep your audience in mind and remember your reader is a potential employer. Keep your context relevant to the needs of the reader.

Your well-designed and thoughtfully curated portfolio will amplify your voice and broadcast your unique talent to the right audience. Get ready to feel the power of pink, and welcome the flow of money that follows!