Design

Freelance Tutorial: Basic Tips for Creating a Digital Portfolio

Learn with Mark Brooks the dos and don'ts when creating a digital portfolio

Your portfolio can make or break you if you want to become a successful artist. Beyond just showcasing your work, a good portfolio should communicate to potential clients what you're capable of.

Mark Brooks is a New York-based graphic designer and art director who specializes in branding, graphic design, and art direction. He currently serves as Behance's brand director and creative director for 99, although he has also worked for major companies such as Nike, Adobe, Martini, and many more.

Want to know what it takes to create a strong portfolio? In this tutorial, Mark Brooks gives you his top tips for making your portfolio stand out from your competitors.

1. Look For Quality, Not Quantity

When presenting your portfolio to potential clients, quality is always more important than quantity. Don't be tempted to show all the work you have done; instead, edit your portfolio and only include your best work.

It is more important to show a higher quality than a higher quantity of work.
It’s more important to show a higher quality than a higher quantity of work.

2. Only Include your Most Relevant Job

Only show the type of work you would like to be hired for. You probably have a lot of experience as a graphic designer, but if you want to be an illustrator, for example, your portfolio should only contain illustrations rather than designs.

Only include work for which you would like to be paid.
Only include work for which you would like to be paid.

3. Don't Make it Too Personal

Personal projects are great, but make sure they are not too noticeable. Your portfolio must have a consistent look and feel.

Don't put too many projects in your portfolio.
Don't put too many projects in your portfolio.

Did you like this tutorial? If you want to learn more about how to create an attractive portfolio, check out Mark Brooks' course: Digital Portfolio Design for Creatives.

Spanish version by @arturo_torres_landa.

You may also be interested in:

- Digital Portfolio Design for Creatives
- Contemporary Brand Identity: Using Verbal and Visual Branding
- Compositional Techniques for Graphic Design

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