- Hello and welcome to this beginners guide series
to graphic design,
from what graphic design is,
skills to be a graphic designer,
design theory, education you need, equipment you need
to the graphic design portfolio and interview advice.
This series is for anyone at any level.
So, if you're interested in graphic design
and considering becoming a graphic designer,
then join me as I discuss this series
of graphic design topics.
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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 video, 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 video, 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?
Be sure to share your thoughts and experiences
in the comments below.
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So, in this video, I discussed the importance
of a print and digital portfolio.
Indeed, the portfolio is very important.
It is what you are judged on for potential work.
However, there is something else potential clients
or employers will judge you on
and that is your experience.
As well as showcasing your work,
you will need to showcase your experience.
This comes in the form of a CV
that will go along with your portfolio.
In the next video,
I'm going to talk about the graphic design CV
and discuss some of the things you can keep in mind
to aid you in creating a solid CV.
So, see you in the next video.
(energetic synth music)