Creating A Modern Portfolio Has Never Been Easier

If you’re an artist, designer, photographer, or another creative professional, how do you get yourself out there? You know: show off your work so that potential clients find you and hire you? Sure, you can post pictures of your work on social media. But if people want to take a deeper dive into what you’ve done and see all your designs in one place, nothing beats having a portfolio website.

And if you’re just starting, building a complicated website from scratch might seem like too big of a technical challenge. Luckily for the rest of us who aren’t developers by day (or night), the blogosphere is packed with advice for creating a killer portfolio site without having to leave the comfort of your favorite design software. Here are some great pointers for getting started:

Takeaway
Creating a modern portfolio has become more accessible and straightforward.
Embrace time management to handle multiple projects effectively.
Acquire valuable skills to make your modern portfolio stand out.
Consider monetizing your freelance writing business for financial success.
Set up your freelance business for success to showcase your modern portfolio with confidence.
Understand the principles and applications of Modern Portfolio Theory for diversified investments.
Explore a comprehensive academic review of Modern Portfolio Theory and its historical development.
Gain a concise explanation of Modern Portfolio Theory’s core concepts and its importance in finance.
Modern Portfolio Theory aims to maximize returns for a given risk level by diversifying asset portfolios.
Diversification plays a crucial role in reducing risk and improving overall portfolio efficiency.
Modern Portfolio Theory assumes rational investors making decisions based on expected returns and risks.
Critics have questioned MPT’s assumptions and its handling of extreme market events.

Have A Specific Purpose

Before you get started, it’s important to have a specific purpose. If you don’t know what the result of your portfolio will be, how do you plan on creating it? Do you want to show off your design skills and ability to create beautiful things?

Is this portfolio for an employer who has asked for more than just a resume but also a portfolio as part of their application process? Or maybe it’s just for fun and self-promotion purposes. 

These are all good reasons why someone might want a portfolio but they all require different strategies to accomplish that goal efficiently and effectively. Here are some questions that will help guide your decision-making process:

• What is my goal?
• Who am I making this for?
• How much time do I have available (and how flexible am I with my schedule)?

Time management is the key to juggling multiple projects as a freelancer. Learn how to optimize your time and boost productivity with our guide on Time Management Tips for Freelancers.

Select Your Strongest Work

The first key to creating a modern portfolio is to select your strongest work. This doesn’t mean that you should only include work that you think is the best, but rather, only include work that is your best.

You may be tempted to include some of your “not-so-good” pieces as well to fill up space on your website, but this will cause issues for visitors who view your site and may not take them seriously or trust what they see.

Include only relevant examples from recent projects and make sure they are relevant to the type of work you do now or want to do in the future.

Consider The Audience

As a designer, you are trying to solve problems. You must consider the audience. Who are the people who need or want your design? What is their problem? How can you help them solve it?

People have different needs and expectations of their portfolios, depending on what they do for work and where they work. Consider these factors when creating your portfolio:

• The context: Is this an in-house job or freelance gig? If so, what industry do they work in (fashion/food/tech)? Do they want something that will impress their bosses or clients more than just themselves?
• The brief: Are there any specific requirements regarding format, layout, or color scheme for this project? Think about how much content you should include as well—for example, if it’s hard to know how someone else defines “professionalism” when designing a portfolio for yourself!

Wondering how to kickstart your freelance career on Upwork? Discover the ins and outs of the platform with our comprehensive article on How Upwork Works for Freelancers, and get ready to showcase your modern portfolio to potential clients.

Use Design Software You Know Well

Most designers have a particular set of design tools they know well and are comfortable using. Knowing these tools allows you to work more efficiently, creatively, and collaboratively. 

If you’re trying to learn new software, then I recommend sticking with what you know until it becomes second nature the more familiar you are with how something works, the faster and more efficiently you can use it.

For example: when I first started as a designer, I used Adobe Photoshop for almost everything because that was all my university had available for their graphic design program (admittedly not very modern). Nowadays, I’ve become much more comfortable working in Sketch which is why we created our portfolio template in that app because it’s so easy for me to work with!

Don’t Use A Template

A modern portfolio doesn’t use a template. Templates are boring, and that shows in the portfolios that use them.

The good news is you don’t have to use a template for your portfolio. You can create something customized for your needs and it will be unique and therefore better than anything you could find on the web.

If you’re wondering what kind of shape you want your portfolio to take, there are many options: do you want to show off all of your skills at once? Or give potential employers or clients a specific taste of what they can expect from working with you? Maybe just one section will be enough!

Put Your Contact Information At The Very Beginning Of The Portfolio

It’s not a secret that your contact information is the most important aspect of any portfolio. People will look at it more than anything else, so make sure you put it at the beginning of your portfolio and give it some thought.

It should include your name, email address, phone number (optional), website (if you have one), and a note about how to contact you. If you don’t have a website it is totally fine. Then add links to your LinkedIn profile or other relevant social media profiles instead. 

This way people can easily get in touch with you and find out more about yourself if they want to hire you for their project or collaborate with them on something creative together!

A valuable freelancer possesses a range of skills that set them apart from the competition. Explore our list of 11 Skills That Make You a Valuable Freelancer to see how you can enhance your modern portfolio with sought-after abilities.

Use Graphics, Illustrations, And Photos To Tell The Story Of Your Projects

Images should be relevant to the project. Do you have photos that show what was done? Or do you have images that illustrate how something works? If so, use them!

The image should be high quality. An image with low resolution will not only look bad, but it also won’t convey much information about your work at all. Be sure to use an image with a good resolution (at least 300 DPI).

Try to keep the context clean when taking pictures or creating graphics for your portfolio no unrelated objects in the background that distract from what’s being shown (including people). 

Similarly, don’t put text on top of images unless it’s necessary; if there are many words on an image they may be too small to read comfortably on-screen and will take away from any message they might have been intending to send off into space while we’re all looking elsewhere instead!

Make sure everything is in focus (if possible), especially if multiple things is happening simultaneously within each shot/scene as well as when switching scenes between shots within different projects 😉

Keep It Simple And Clean

Use a single font family, color palette, and typeface throughout your website. Most of the time you’ll want to create a very clean, simple design that’s easy for your visitors to read. 

For example, you don’t want to use different fonts for headings in one section of your page and a different font for another section on the same page. You can always add some variety later if needed but keeping things consistent helps keep the design looking nice and professional looking at all times!

Make sure all images are high quality (jpeg or png). If someone wants an image of yours they should be able to download it easily without having any problems or issues like blurry edges etc. 

Again this goes back to making sure everything looks professional because nobody wants an unprofessional looking portfolio website especially if they’re trying hard enough already just trying to find work online 🙂

Don’t Include Every Illustration Or Photo You’ve Ever Created

Focus on your best work and make sure to include a variety of different types of work. If you have four photos with similar subjects, that can be too much. Likewise, if you have two illustrations with similar subject matter and style, it might not be the best choice for your portfolio. Similarly, don’t throw everything in there because it’s old or new just focus on what’s relevant to the industry or job at hand!

Put The Images In Context

To put your images in context, you must have a clear understanding of the process that went into creating them. This involves explaining who you worked with and what they were trying to achieve as well as how you tackled the job. This is where a project description can be useful. A good project description should include:

• Who was involved?
• What were they looking to achieve?
• How did you approach the work? Did it involve any specific processes or techniques? Did it follow a particular workflow or methodology? Were there any unique challenges or opportunities that arose along the way that required special consideration on your part (and if so, how did you address them)?

Turning your freelance writing business into a profitable venture is achievable. Don’t miss our actionable tips in How to Monetize Your Freelance Writing Business and start earning from your modern portfolio today.

Provide A Summary For Each Project Or Illustration, When Possible

Providing a summary for each project or illustration, when possible, is an easy way to make your portfolio stand out from the crowd. It’s also a great way to show off your best work while saving space in your portfolio by showing only one image per project (rather than multiple). A good summary should include:

• A description of what you did on the project.
• A list of the key features and benefits of your work.
• A list of all key outcomes achieved during this period.

Make Sure That Your Contact Information Is Easy To Find

Make sure that your contact information is easy to find at the end of the portfolio as well as at the beginning. Include your name, email address, phone number, and website address.

Your contact information should be easy to read. Make sure you use a font that is easily readable such as Arial or Helvetica, 14-point bold typeface.

Back-Up The Portfolio On A CD, DVD, Or Flash Drive Along With Any Print Samples That You Might Have 

To ensure that your portfolio is protected, it’s a good idea to back up the portfolio on a CD, DVD, or flash drive along with any print samples that you might have. Also save an electronic file using a common format, such as .pdf or .jpg, so that it can be easily shared with potential clients by email or through cloud-based file-sharing services like Dropbox or Google Drive.

Proof Your Work Carefully

Proofreading your work is a skill you can cultivate. It’s not just for writers, but for anyone who wants to pay attention to detail and ensure that their work is free from errors.

If you want your portfolio to be the best it can be, proofreading has never been more important. And no matter how many times you read over your portfolio and even if it’s perfect one of the most common mistakes people make when creating their portfolios is not proofing it carefully enough. Even typos will show that you don’t pay attention to detail!

Provide Information About What Type Of Work You’re Looking For In Your Career

To create a portfolio that can help you land your first job or make meaningful connections with potential clients, it’s important to know the best way to present your work. There are various types of portfolios available, and each has its advantages.

Create a traditional web-based portfolio. A website is often an excellent choice for freelance designers who are just starting and don’t have many examples yet, as well as for those who have already established their reputation but like the flexibility of being able to update their site quickly and easily when they want to add something new (or remove outdated material).

Create a PDF portfolio book or printed catalog. Some freelancers prefer to print out all their samples as hard copies to create a more luxurious presentation—and then offer this as part of their package when meeting with clients face-to-face or over Skype calls/Skype meetings/Skype conference calls etc.

Setting up your freelance business for success is the first step to making your modern portfolio shine. Our guide on Set Your Freelance Business Up for Success provides practical advice to help you thrive in the freelancing world.

Final Thoughts

Seasoned portfolio creators know that it’s not always a smooth process. But once you get past the initial setbacks, things start to flow, and creating content becomes easier. You learn how to make better design choices by paying attention to what works and what doesn’t. And you gain confidence in the skills that you already have but were previously afraid to use.

Finally, we hope you’ve found this guide useful and are ready to get started with your new portfolio. We know it can seem like a daunting task at first, but remember that breaking it down into steps is the best way to manage your time.

With so many tools available today, it makes sense to use them and make sure everything is up-to-date. If you’re looking for more inspiration or want some extra help designing and building yours, don’t forget that we have plenty of resources on our site (link). Happy Creating!

Further Reading

Modern Portfolio Theory – CrowdStreet: Learn about the principles and applications of Modern Portfolio Theory for building diversified investment portfolios.

A Comprehensive Review of Modern Portfolio Theory – ScienceDirect: Delve into a detailed academic review of Modern Portfolio Theory, exploring its historical development and empirical evidence.

Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) Explained – Investopedia: Get a concise explanation of Modern Portfolio Theory, its core concepts, and its significance in the world of finance.

People Also Ask

What Is A Portfolio?

A portfolio is simply a collection of your best work. It’s like a resume for artists. The physical versions have been used by painters, photographers, and illustrators for centuries to showcase their best pieces. But nowadays you can create a digital portfolio that lives on the internet, which makes it easier than ever before to share your work with potential employers or clients.

Why Should I Have One?

Because portfolios help you get hired! If you’re looking for freelance gigs as an illustrator (or anything else), having a website where people can see all of your work will make it much easier for them to hire you when they need something done quickly and without fussing around with paperwork like contracts and agreements first. 

Plus if someone likes your style but doesn’t want anything custom made yet, they may hire you anyway just because they like the way that looks works in their office environment or home decorating scheme!

How Are My Hard Copies Stored?

Your portfolio will be shipped to you in a box, with all of the printed pages packed together. You can keep everything together in this box until you’re ready to use it. When you open it up, just lay all the pages flat and prop them up against something so that they don’t curl over time (we recommend using foam board or cardboard).

Can I Put My Portfolio On Display At My Job Interview?

Yes! You just need to make sure the interviewer knows you have an illness or disability first but after that, feel free. They may even ask what type of accommodations they should make for your needs during interviews if they want someone like yourself on their team (and they should!).

How Long Should My Portfolio Be?

It is recommended to keep it concise and focused. A good rule of thumb is three to eight pages, depending on the scope of your work and background experience. 

For example, if you are applying for an advertising position with no previous experience in the field, then eight pages may be sufficient; however, if you have several years of industry experience then three pages might not cover all of your work sufficiently.

What Should I Include In My Portfolio?

A strong design portfolio will highlight both visual and verbal communication skills while also demonstrating technical proficiency in a variety of mediums (i.e., print, and digital). If possible demonstrate how you’ve applied these skills across multiple projects/opportunities and show some humor along the way!

What Should I Include In My Portfolio?

Your portfolio should be a reflection of who is as a designer. Think about what skills and experiences make up who you are as an individual, then focus on showcasing those things that best represent how qualified for the position you want to land.

For example, if one of your strengths is being able to work with teams effectively, emphasize this fact by including examples of team projects from school or previous jobs (if applicable).

What’s The Best Way To Make A Modern Portfolio?

There’s no single best way, but there are some wrong ways. For example, some designers build portfolios by creating one page for each project. Other designers have multiple pages for each project. You can find examples both on the internet and in print (a bookshelf or library visit will be required).

Should I Have A Portfolio Website? How Does That Work? Is It Difficult To Do On My Own?

The answer is yes and no! No, because anyone can easily create a website with free blog hosting services like wordpress.com or blogger.com; Yes because there’s more than one type of web host out there and they don’t all offer the same features or ease of use and they come at different price points too! 

If you’re willing to pay someone else well enough then yes again because these professionals know what they’re doing when it comes to making sure everything is up-to-date and secure from viruses/malware attacks etc.