Portfolios are so important in the design world! It’s one of the best ways for designers to quickly show their creative work to potential employers. Making sure your portfolio is always ready to be presented is pretty much a given. But how do you know when it’s time to revamp the old portfolio and change it up a bit? Continue reading to learn when it’s time to revamp your portfolio.
Revamp When Portfolio Work Gets Outdated
Anytime your work is outdated, it can sometimes come off as a lack of effort and recent experience. A good rule of thumb to stick to is cut out anything over two years old. Sure, that older piece might be a favorite of yours, but if it was from three years ago, it might not seem that interesting when compared to the current and constantly evolving design trends out there.
If you find yourself lacking more recent work to add to your portfolio, it’s always a good idea to start creating in your free time. Designers are very creative people, so use that creativity to show who you really are as a designer. Most of the time, that work ends up showing passion for what you do and that’s something future employers would love to see.
Revamp When The Layout Doesn’t Work
When updating your portfolio with new work, your old layout might not work well anymore. If your layout is clashing with your new work, or your new work doesn’t fit well in your design, it means it’s a good time to switch it up a bit. You don’t want your layout to compete with your work. What you are creating should be the star of the show. The layout is just an extra tool to help support your work and help the viewer follow along.
Revamp When Applying To A Specific Position
Your portfolio should cater to the specific job you are applying for. If you are applying to a company that specializes in web design, it might not be the best idea to put in that one painting piece you did that you’re very proud of. Unless this web design company also has an on-the-side painting business, it’s probably best to leave that out for now.
It’s a hard decision to make, but the fact of the matter is, that company wants to see the skills you would bring as a web designer, not a painter. The same goes for any other job that you apply for – make sure your portfolio makes sense for that job position. There will always be time to share your other talents after you get the job.
Your portfolio is something that should be constantly evolving with you as a designer. Design is always changing, and it’s important to keep up with the times. Always be looking for inspiration and don’t be afraid to reach out to other fellow designers for ideas. Now go dust off that old portfolio and bring it back to life! Who knows, maybe Burkhart will be the ones seeing your portfolio someday. Contact us if you would like to know more.
