Your Design Work
It may be obvious that design work should be included in a portfolio, but it's also important to think about what to include. Don't automatically share every project you've ever completed. Consider:
- Quality: If you have enough projects, choose only your best work.
- Dates: You want to show you are currently working, but also how long you have been working in design.
- Industry: Select work you have completed in the industry you are targeting, or show the variety of industries you've worked it.
- Type: Select work that represents the different type of projects you have completed and that you are looking for.
- Order: Remember people will often spend very little time on your site, so consider what work is featured or presented first.
News
A news section will give you a place to share updates on your business with clients and potential employers. This will allow visitors to your site to learn more about your business beyond your static informational content. News items can include:
- Project announcements: Share news of new clients and completed work.
- Awards: If you are nominated for or win an award, people should know!
- Interviews: If you were interviewed, include the interview or a link to it.
- Mentions of your work: If your work was featured on a website or in print, include a write-up and screenshots or scans to promote it.
A Blog
A blog can be combined with a news section, but potentially contains much different content. While news is often considered more formal, a blog is a place to share thoughts, show your design process, provide advice and write articles related to your field. It can drive traffic to your site, build a community around it, and help to establish you as an expert.About
Along with viewing your work, visitors to your site will often want to learn more about you or your firm. This can be as simple as a bio, or several pages that cover in-depth background information. Examples of content to include are:
- Staff bios
- Company background
- Services provided
- Clients
- Your design philosophy
- Your design process
- Awards
- Project Case Studies
Client Testimonials
Testimonials are a great way to show your clients' satisfaction with your work, and they have actually become more popular on designer's websites in recent years. If there is something from an email or meeting you want to include, ask your client if you can quote them.Follow Links
Give your audience multiple options for keeping up with the latest content on your site. If you're using social networking, including links to your Twitter, Facebook or other accounts. Make it easy for people to sign up for your newsletter, and make sure to set up an RSS feed.