Building your own portfolio site can be the most depressing thing to do. I can almost guarantee you will never be happy with it, and you will likely redesign it at least 10 times before you publish a version. Hopefully this small set of diverse portfolios will encourage you and provide some inspiration into an assortment of styles. I purposefully choose a wide range of styles, layouts, and overall ways of building a portfolio. In the end they all do the same function, but the visual variety helps remind us we are not stuck using the same patterns. Never loose site of the fact that a portfolio is your place to try something crazy, relax and have fun with it.

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Comments

Ochen K.

6/25/2007 2:11:06 PM

Hey Patrick,

While I totally agree that putting together a portfolio can be one of the most exasperating experiences for a designer, Im not sure I agree with the idea that the portfolio is the place to try something crazy.

As someones whos hired for a fair number of design positions (meaning someone whos had to look at literally hundreds of online portfolios) Id have to say that I am far more impressed with a designer who understands the use of the portfolio to get me to think that person can create effective work for our clients. The vast majority of clients, even F500 clients, dont want something crazy. They want something strong, effective, and appropriate. A designer can let me know they get that and understand their role by approaching their portfolio the same way.

Thats not to say it shouldnt be creative. It absolutely should be. But crazy I dont know about that.

For what its worth, heres my portfolio http://www.ochenk.com/design

Ochen K.

Patrick

6/25/2007 2:16:55 PM

So perhaps crazy is just the wrong word. It just seems to me that your portfolio is a chance to do what YOU want to do, not what someone tells you to. So live a little and put out the design you always wanted but couldn´t. While I know F500 companies don´t want insane designers; but I also know that the company I work for has a major thematic design that no company would ever want and we have people beating down the doors to work with us. I think there is a lot to be said for showing what your mind is capable of, even if it is over the top.

And obviously loosing sight of usability and practical things like that is not smart by any means.

Petr Tichy

7/12/2007 7:44:58 AM

Hi there,
I think the portfolio should firstly attract people. If its crazy or serious it doesn´t matter as long as it attracts your attention.

Someone told me, that on my portfolio http://www.ihatetomatoes.net , you have to scroll down to get to the main content. I agree, you have to scroll down, but I didn´t tell you to do that. You are curious whats on the page so you explore it. It means it attracted you and that was my point.

The showed work in your portfolio will decide if the potential client will contact you or not, but an attractive presentation is very important.

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Table of Contents

Designer Portfolios Part 4

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