Today, graphic design
has become a broad creative industry. Over the past 10 years, I have seen a change
in the graphic design industry and the ways we use technology to become noticed
and apply for jobs. Through the development of technology, social media, and a
more sophisticated online experience, graphic design is continually expanding
into digital. More designers are becoming digital and more job sites and the
process of finding a job has become more digital. This has changed the way we
as graphic designers create and use portfolios to apply for jobs. In today's
industry, designers are often considered either digital designers or print
designers or integrated designers, this being a mixture of both. Now,
regardless of specialty, to apply for a graphic design job a portfolio of work
is required.
As a graphic designer,
you will need a strategy to get noticed, get an interview, and get a job. So,
three things there, getting noticed, getting an interview, and getting a job, all
of which I think are equally important. Now, two questions I often get asked are
what portfolio should I use? Print or digital? And which one is best? But the
answers to these questions vary depending on what type of designer you consider
yourself to be and the approach you take to look for jobs, apply for jobs, and
present at interviews. So, in this, I'm going to discuss the print and digital
graphic design portfolio and recommend which strategy is best for which type of
graphic designer. In this, I'll be also sharing my experience on how I use both
a print and digital portfolio in my strategy to get jobs.
So, traditionally, you
would have had just one print portfolio. That's all you would've ever needed, and
most of your work would've been print-based. When applying for a job, you may
have looked for vacancies via creative magazines, going into creative agencies,
or meeting contacts at design events. You would've simply sent a letter or
email to a design agency. This would include a bit about yourself, a cover
letter, and your CV with your achievements and qualifications. If the client or
agency was interested, they would invite you in for an interview where you
would've been able to showcase your print portfolio. So, the traditional
function of the portfolio was to be used at the interview to get a job.
Today, we have the
internet, which has changed the way we apply for jobs and the way clients and
employers can discover new talent. Files can be shared instantly and also
hosted to be discovered online.
Today, there are also
many portfolio websites where you can create a portfolio and host your work, where
potential clients or employers can search and discover you. So, this has
encouraged designers to focus more on digital and put more necessity on the
digital portfolio. Now, today, it's common to have more than just one
portfolio. You may have your own PDF portfolio you send out over email; you may
have a personal website, you may have work hosted on portfolio websites, you
may have a print portfolio, or you may even use a combination of all of these.
Today, when applying for
a job, you will typically send an email which will include your cover letter,
CV, and a digital version of your portfolio or links to your portfolio
websites. You may even apply for jobs via design websites, which you can attach
a PDF portfolio. Traditionally, if a client or potential employer liked what
they read in your cover letter and CV, they would invite you in for an
interview where only then would you show your portfolio. Today, clients and
potential employers can see your work without having to meet you first. Now,
you typically only get an interview if they like your work. So, the portfolio
is no longer used only at interview but is used to be sent via email to request
an interview and hosted online as a way for potential clients and employers to
discover you.
Today, the function of a
portfolio has to fulfill three purposes. Where once it was just used at an
interview to get a job, it has now become a tool to get an interview and get
noticed online. Today, getting noticed and getting an interview is
predominantly done online, and getting the job is done when you're at the
interview. So, when creating a portfolio today, designers have to address these
three important things. So, if this is the case where applying for jobs,
getting noticed, and applying for interviews is becoming more prominent online,
is there any need for a print portfolio anymore? What portfolio should you use?
Print or digital? To answer this question, I'm going to look at these three
points in more detail.
So, the first point is
getting noticed online. Now, whichever designer you consider yourself to be your
strategy to get noticed online will be the same. Whether you're a print
designer or a digital designer I would recommend you develop a digital
portfolio. For this, you can consider a range of approaches. First, I would
recommend you develop your portfolio on your computer, as you would intend to
present it at an interview. This could be in the format of an A3 landscape
presentation with your project laid out on each page. Once you have created
your portfolio on the computer, you can then use the images and compositions for
your own personal website. You can then use your website address on your social
media profiles and as links in your emails.
Next, you can use the
images and compositions on portfolio websites, blogs, and social media pages. This
will put you out there, able to be discovered and shared by potential clients
and employers. Once you have a fully developed portfolio on your computer and a
good presence online you can apply for jobs. Getting an interview. Now, again,
whichever designer you consider yourself to be, your strategy to get an
interview will be the same. Whether you're a print designer or a digital
designer, here I would recommend you use your digital portfolio. So, at this
stage, you should have lots of creative arsenal ready to deploy. You should
ideally have one of the following, your portfolio presentation on your computer
as a PDF, a personal website, social media pages, or profiles on online
portfolio websites. As you compose emails and seek interviews, you can attach
your PDF or include links to your work online. If the client or potential
employers like what they see, they will more than likely invite you in for an
interview. Getting the job. So, what portfolio do you use at interview? Well,
this again comes down to what type of designer you consider yourself to be. If
you're a designer with mostly digital work, then your potential clients or
employers will not be looking for a print portfolio, so, you could simply stick
with the digital approach. With the digital portfolio PDF already in the bag, you
can always use this again at an interview and present on screen, on the laptop,
or on a tablet device.
Now, if you're a print designer,
chances are your potential clients or employers will be much more impressed
with a print portfolio. In my experience, the print portfolio is the most
impressive and impactful at interviews. This is why the print portfolio will
always remain significant and why I would recommend you have one as a print
designer. The print portfolio can come in many forms. At art college, we were
encouraged to develop our print portfolio in a black A3+ portfolio box. The
work is displayed on A3+ paper sheets, which are inserted into individual
plastic crystal sleeves. Now, this looks absolutely gorgeous. I have this nice
case, and all the work is in these shiny sleeves. This is great because it
looks so much more professional. The whole interview experience is much more
tactile, where you can spread the work around. If you're applying for senior
roles, you should consider going all out on the print portfolio. When you show
up with something like this to a job interview, they know you mean business. The
only problem here with this type of portfolio is that it can be extremely
expensive and time consuming to put together and update. You need to buy the
portfolio case, the paper, the ink to print, you need a printer, and the
plastic crystal sleeves to put the paper into, though, as a print designer, I
would recommend you develop a print portfolio if you can. But if you're not
able to develop a print portfolio or don't have the time, then I would
recommend using your digital portfolio you used to get the interview. You can
always present this on a laptop.
Now, if you're like me and
you're both a print and digital designer, an integrated designer, then I would
recommend you use a print portfolio along with a digital device. I have
attended interviews where I have shown my print work in the print portfolio. I
will include images of the digital work as references and then demonstrate the
digital work or artwork on a laptop or tablet device. So, the best of both
there. That has always gone down well for me. So, which portfolio is best? In
my experience, in a fast-paced, competitive industry, the digital portfolio has
become the most convenient, versatile, and cost-effective portfolio at seeking
to get noticed online, get an interview, and present at an interview. Though,
having said that, if you want to impress and create the most professional
interview presentation, I would say using the print portfolio is best for your
strategy to get the job. It's not as important for digital designers, but if
you are a digital designer and want that wow factor, you could consider it. The
print portfolio looks fantastic and very professional. So, that is my
experience and recommendation with regards to the print and digital portfolio. I
happen to use both, as they are both effective in my strategy to get noticed
and get a job. So, what do you think? Which portfolio do you use? And which
strategy gets you the best results?
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