By Melanie Bindon, Art Gym Denver

What makes a portfolio stand out? What are the best practices and pitfalls to avoid when showcasing work? Here are a few tips to consider when applying for a new opportunity.

DO:

1. Put your best piece first
2. Consider the order of your work to craft the narrative you want
3. Check the photo quality- optimized and printed at the highest resolution
4. Use an online portfolio- check out Behance, Krop, or make a website
5. Assume everyone seeing your site is technically challenged and impatient
   • Make your site easy to navigate and quick to load
6. Share your thinking and the process behind the work being presented
   • How will the reviewer know if you reached the intended goal unless you let them in?

DON’T:

1. Be sloppy or generic; instead create a look and color palate that fits you
2. Include old work: past 5 years max
3. Overload your site with too much work: 10-15 of your best pieces
4. Distract from your work
   • Let the content take center stage by simplifying design
5. Forget your credentials: include a copy of your current resume
   • Personalize your resume by connecting these points with the context of your life on your website’s bio page
6. Forget contact details: include an active email or phone #
   • What use is your online portfolio if you are unreachable?

Above all, your portfolio should be…

useful: hold enough information about your skills and past work for an employer to have a clear expectation of your capabilities

usable: must be easy to interact with

engaging: your portfolio should be visually and emotionally appealing

Need more ideas? Check out these helpful websites!

• Artisancreative.com: Portfolio Do’s and Dont’s
• Medium.com: 5 Do’s and Dont’s for Your Portfolio,

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“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

–Lao Tzu