The problem with the advice you give about 'digging deep' into one area is that entry level jobs for designers ask for a range of skills. They want someone who can do everything for as little pay as possible. A job I just applied for this week asked for Photography, Packaging, Video Editing and Web Design & Development... because the market is so saturated, they are asking for everything and only picking people who have more than one skill!
Totally true, agencies and corporates of today are knee to look for designers who have variety of skillsets, freelance/ part-time jobs have different criteria from full-time job, most freelance jobs need someone is good at particular area of design...
This is so true. The only works I find in my country are like this. It's so sad when my focus is on Print Design and Illustration but all companies want each of everything. They want you to animate, handle social medias, make ads, do collaterals, copywriting etc. all at once and it's so frustrating.
I want to make small notice here, people commenting around that there is many companies that ask for many skills form one person. This video is about making a portfolio for BIG companies like Marvel/Disney if you are an artist or if you are a Designer for big studios or brands, which have a team of designers in-house. The questions you have to ask your self are : - Are you confident to search for a place directly in the big studios/companies? - Is the work that you will put on portfolio right now is good enough for those studios, to know that just do research find out a designer who works at the particular studio and watch their portfolios? is your work on a similar level or way-way lower? - The most important question what is your biggest passion? If you answer these questions to yourself you will know what type of portfolio you need if you really need the job to earn for basic needs, and you don't want to work in a warehouse, you can make a portfolio that suits the small companies with like 1 guy does everything, is it good? Well, kind of it is interesting more interesting than just doing one thing you work in the whole process, will it take down your nerves? yes it will, will it pay off? well depends mostly not. If you live with your parents and don't need to think on basic needs go for 1 thing you really passioned about, compare your work to ones who already work at your dream job, replicate their work that way you will learn, take more classes online, practise practice and you will have skill and works to put on portfolio.
probably the most in-depth video about the first design portfolio. certainly opened my eyes to a whole lot of things I need to work on. thank you for the valuable and enjoyable 30mins.
Well then charge them high and find a web designer to deliver and send the 📦 to them then share the cash for web designing with the designer while u get ur logo cash. Simple 🙂
From my experience, unfortunately the "fallen T" model is preferred in small to medium size agencies. They very often lack the financial capabilities to hire professionals that are specialized in one field and do prefer someone who is able to do a lot of things, as mentioned in the video, often mediocre. The same goes for freelancers who work with clients directly - A typical project for example - We need a new website, but also a new logo and later on we would like to create a video that explains our services. Now as a freelancer you will have two choices, either say "Sure I can do that" or potentially loose the client and say "I only do webdesign". The client very often does not understand that designing a logo is a completely different thing than designing a website.
Nils hi Nils. I think there's an issue of marketing (being hyper focused about what you present to the world) and what you actually do. They can be 2 different things. Making a claim and building expertise is important. Showing a consistent body of work to back up that claim is important. Once the client engages you as an "expert" in a particular specialization, you are free to expand the services beyond that specialization. Hope that makes sense.
Exactly my thoughts. This video's content is for a much more curated set of companies, not a generalistic work scenario. I found it removed from reality for most of designers.
I'm at 4:30 in the video, but I have to say that this is giving so much clarity. We have to show what we're good at and not all the diferent kind of things we can do at beginner level. Thank you for the clarity in this video, because it is explained so well.
I am first year student, kinda bombing out as im old and doing it part time but watching your stuff is getting me back on track. Format is slick and engaging and this is the 6th video i've watched today. top work lads.
I'm finishing a degree in Multimedia design. Its a really complicated degree that tries to mix practically every skill in the visual/digital community. This video really helped me finally deciding what I like (ux) and really focus on that. This channel is amazing
Hi Chris! I watched this video a few months back and I've been a vehicle wrap designer for the past 3 years. As much as I enjoyed being in that niche, I was burnt out on it and wanted to get more into branding and package design. Being in that niche, it was hard to get out of. I took your advice on curating a portfolio that showed personal projects of fictitious work that I wanted to be involved with and only kept a project or two of vehicle wraps. I quit my job doing vehicle wraps and soon after landed a job at a small talented firm that focuses on both branding and package design. Without your advice, I don't think I would be here today! Thanks for the valuable content you put into the world! I tell my fellow designers about your channel and the value it brings. Again thanks for doing what you do :) You deserve all the success.
I think it is important for employers to see that you still need help and guidance in certain areas... if someone has only just finished school then they still have so much to learn. If you go to an employer and present a thousand bits of work just out of college; you may come across as a know it all. It's good to be humble. And critical of your own work. Just my opinion.
I'm currently working on my developer portfolio to get a job as a front end and this was super helpful and applicable to what I'm trying to do - even though it's geared towards designers. I think taking these tips and going back to apply them to what I've built so far will give me much better chances when it comes to finding work down the line. Thanks for the value!
You have hit the nail on the head. I was recently asked what good student work looks like and I answered that it just looks like work. Focus, conceptual clarity and attention to detail are impossible to fake. The days are gone when graduates had to spend their last dime on an impressive physical portfolio. It is both easier and harder now when, as you point out, we all have access to the same tools.
Agreed. The new challenge is prying students away form their various screens long enough to engage in the early (fun) stages of concept development. I have dipped into my small supply budget for graph pads, pencils and erasers for our upcoming identity workshop as it will just be a handful of students. Maybe that will help…
I love this! I threw my best pieces together in my second to last semester at the Art Institute and got a full time job working in the game industry! Hard work pays off! Go out there and get it people.
I started looking for helpful tips last night cos I have been looking for a new job for a month or two now. I believe I have the talent it's just the way I present my digital portfolio that's giving me NO'S from the employers, but this video really helped me understand. I'm going to revamp my website and hopefully it will all work out. Thanks very much Chris!
Thank you, “The Futur” for making this video. I personally am also extremely grateful for Chris for showing his first portfolio. It’s nice to see that even the pros start somewhere too. Even though Chris’s portfolio was light years better than mine out of college. Haha. Hopefully that doesn’t mean I’m eternally barred from being a successful designer. 😅
This video really helped me out. I'm at a point where I'm a new freelancer and I feel stuck, like I'm not progressing in my career. I realized when watching this that I have a million different things on my portfolio and not one specific category. I'm now going to redo a completely new portfolio and really find what I'm best at to progress forward and make it a killer portfolio when applying for jobs. Thank you!
Can someone explain the 14 thumbs down? If you voted it down, please tell me why? I'm curious. You hated the format, the host, the work, the advice, what?
+Isaac JWM Greenleaf Hi Isaac. When you look at hundreds of portfolios you start to learn really quickly what you are looking for. That's not that different from how you can scan hundreds of images and find just the right one. Call it experience, muscle memory, gut... whatever, but it becomes very clear who is a good fit and who isn't. Now a recruiter won't be able to do the same unless they can see those differences. But I'm not a recruiter. I know as an artist you want the attention and time but then you are making it about you and not the person at the other side of the table.
+Isaac JWM Greenleaf now I know why people don't like this video. They don't like the idea that someone won't sit there and spend an hour looking at your portfolio only to tell you "no".
4 years after you make this and it is still so relevant.... the thing I take away from this is that much of what is here is relevant to ANY position you are trying to get into.... not just tech or design.... the ideas presented here are universal. Hone your craft and find the right place to use them, make yourself valuable....
Hey guys! Thank you so much for taking the time to do an episode on portfolio's! You do listen to our suggestions which is really awesome. I can say that what resonated with me in this episode was seeing how portfolio's have changed over time, the way Chris laid out his designs for his first portfolio, the simple to remember "no filler/all killer" motto, the difference between student projects vs. professional work which really comes down to the presentation and fine tuning of the work to the detail. I liked that you also touched upon the concept of positioning our portfolio towards the skill we want to sell. However, I wished that you guys could have been more organized. It seemed like the video touched on different subjects but it did not go into detail as much as it could of being. It would have been helpful to have more on the following subjects. How to set up a portfolio portfolio such as doing print vs. digital pros and cons. Types of projects to include that can replace student projects and your take on pro-bono work. Maybe touch on what you would like to see in recent graduate's portfolio's. Overall, you guys are awesome for creating such helpful content. I look forward to more videos. I will be sure to share this with other creatives. Keep up the good work!
Chris Do I agree I would love to see a video expanding on setting up a portfolio and what you would like to see in a recent grad's portfolio. I also am not put off at all by the longer videos, I'd rather have a longer video that really gets into the meat and potatoes of a subject. There are already lots of shorter videos out there talking about portfolios and design. I think the in depth information is very valuable. Thanks for putting out great content and keep up the good work!
Pink Glasses Productions It seems like some in our audience want shorter videos, while others want longer videos. I think the key is to have shorter preamble and then dive deep into one or two key points. Looks like I will need to prep the "print" vs "motion" vs "digital" portfolio episode. Aaron Szekely Please add to our dock of shows to do.
well there are pros and cons to video lengths. Mine are short because most viewers have the attention span of a squirrel 7 minutes tops. But longer videos are good for SEO which is why gaming channels rank among the top of youtube. That is why I have a mix of both. Shorty and longy to appetize both types. However you will find you cant please them all. So i take my most popular videos and tend to model the length of time behind those because why knock what works?
Perhaps this is dated, but I'm a photographer who has just begun to learn design. You guys have made me re-think my photography portfolio. That is definitely speaking to the fact that the advice you are giving out is, in some sense, applicable to the creative field in a broad sense. Thanks :)
Man, it just so helpful, especially when it comes to NO "VISUAL COMMUNICATOR", that's a really a problem to me when positioning myself, awesome video, please keep working on it.
I have to admit, the video opened my eyes to thing i already known, but now i can see trough them. The thing with this is "design schools and beginners need to teach every aspect" I mean, to start on the profession you simply have to learn for example typography, or classic mediums like drawing, meaning you are in sime way an illustrator as well, and you can only specialize when you have all the basic skills, and right now the graphic design profession is ultrasuperwide, so you are going to have to know a lot of basic skills, leaving you with a lot less time to specialize. But yes i agree with all this.
Wow. Just wow. Your comments are so insightful, it's almost frightening. Chris, you choose your words and your real life examples so wisely and so simple, that they have nowhere else to go, but into the mind directly. To me as a student, you've given such good advice about how to sell myself and to whom. I always thought about my portfolio in a way that just shows that I've done a bunch of things in order to show the recruiter that I can do any of it and that I'd just roll with their wishes along the way; I never ever though of it as a way of selling my BEST work and the things I want to do. Thank you so much for these videos! Now I can't wait to fill my portfolio with professional workd and look back at my student portfolio in a couple of years. And yeah, I'm an architecture student btw, but most of your advice applies.
Thank you Chris Do! This video is super helpful and encouraging. It helps to have someone who is an expert guide others along their paths. Showing real examples is greatly appreciated.
I just graduated and recently got an email from a company telling me that my portfolio was irrelevant. So I wondered because I was quite confident that I could do what they do in the agency. Then I realized how scattered my portfolio was and they weren't able to see my core skills clearly. :( Thanks for the video. Really helpful!!
I'm not in design or need portfolio for jobs. I'm an educator, work as a teacher & in non-profits. I've being going through all your videos and they're so informative!!! I believe the ideas you present throughout all your videos are applicable across fields. Or at least I try to find ways to connect what you teach to the work I do. Chris Do, you especially are well spoken and are a very good teacher! Keep these videos coming! Thanks.
I watched this video 2nd time after 3 years today AND all of it made sense now. Thanks a lot Chris, your experience and videos are saving me a lot of time.
Currently watching this while I work on the renders for my first interior design portfolio! Your video couldn't come more right in time to my suggestions lol 😄
You guys are the most direct and helpful resource in advice for making the leap into industry. I watched a previous video of yours a while ago and remembered your quick and honest approach. Thanks for all the advice!
To make a personal point to many of the comments about the multiple experiences problem I agree with your statements but I think it is important to do your research on the “growth” of your field for example I do music production on the side and when I first ventured into the market i went in thinking all I needed to know how to do was make the music . This was true for producers maybe 5 - 10 years ago but now you need to be a bit of everything (music production, mixing and mastering , recording etc) I learned a important lesson that it is important to start with knowledge in multiple areas of your craft so when that craft grows you grow with it . That being said thank you for the video ! It was filled with helpful knowledge that I can easily apply to my own portfolio.
Hi there! I'm currently in the process of making my portfolio and I've been watching your videos. I personally do not know you but you're doing an excellent job and thank you for what you do. Wish me luck!
OMG I look at your "old" portfolio and laugh because that's when I started too. HTML webpages with huge image maps. ;) The typography, imagery, etc. It's all beautiful, but you can definitely see what was on trend during the time. My physical portfolio is definitely dated too. I need to really update it. I pulled in out the other day and laughed! It needs an update. I struggle building a portfolio purely because I might love it in the moment I create it, but within a few months I'd want to hide it away.
Great show. Design is an age conscious profession. What does one do when laid off of a great staff gig at 58 - no one except a few older clients will still use you or look at your work because of your age and people worry that you do not fit in with their younger staff. How do you reinvent yourself to survive in today’s world when you are starting over and you are flat broke. I have one steady client but I cannot survive on their projects alone.
That's an excellent question. One way is to have a design style that's more modern. If you have good projects in your portfolio that are aligned to current trends, there's no way hiring manager will know the age. You can apply to jobs in various industries that you might see an older crowd (ex/ healthcare, medical, construction, tech, and finance/fintech. Maybe try learning UX/UI design? It seems like the older experienced designers only know print design, but don't have much digital design and/or UX/UI design. Try not to be that 'stiff' boring 58yo, but the energetic 58yo that can make funny jokes here and there. Find that middle ground of dressing cool and designy, don't dress like a grandma, and definitely don't dress like a teen.
I'm so happy i found this amazing channel! I'm 21 and currently employed on my first job as a designer but i feel like i'm not doing enough or lost in focus! Thank you for giving a very helpful, in-depth and detailed information for getting me in path again for working on my future portfolio. Keep it up! :)
+Chris Do thanks Chris, btw if I ever do a redesign or some new design worth to be reviewed by you guys, I'll let you know since I love design reviews of you gurus! Need to catch up with your new videos, take care!
Thanks a lot for sharing. It's really informative and useful. I like the "T" Skills concept, but I nearly got discouraged because it's quite opposite of my portfolio. But I was revived by the comment of the guy by the left, who nailed it the way it fits my dream and aspirations. I believe someone who wants to be a Graphic design manager will go beyond "T" Skill concept/format. he needs to be versatile, because he will be responsible for supervising and executing activities including creation of computer graphics, web page graphics, logos, illustrations, advertisements, brochures and many forms of visual communication as well as being good in digital marketing.
I just found you guys! I moved from Colombia to Seattle just a year ago, and It has been difficult for me to get a job as a creative. The way you show your work here and even the way to approach the company that I wanna work for, it's totally different. This video gave me a lot of information about the this field in the US. Now I have homework to do, and i'll suck all the info you share online! :) BTW, awesome job, I hope, one day, have the chance to meet you guys, and why not, work with you. Have a nice one.
This is great. I'm going this week in for an interview/portfolio prep with a Recruiting agency that specializes in Digital, Creative, Marketing professionals. Now, I feeling less uneasy about the whole thing!!
This is a great video, it brings up a lot of important questions with different roles of jobseekers in mind. As a freelance writer, looking to step into the design role, I find your videos truly helpful. Subscribed, obviously. Thanks again! /S
This was extremely helpful thankyou! Paying tremendous amount for uni fees but the most useful lessons are actually online instead. Anyways really like how honest and direct your comments are
Being a designer feels impossible to me anymore. Spent so much time in college, teachers taught me close to nothing, I just found myself even more confused when I graduated. there's no clear answers how to design because every employer is looking for something different, I don't know if I'm qualified to do any of it as of right now. It never ends it seems like, you need to know this and this and that, and don't do this, but do that. Not to mention I have to restart and build outside of college to have a different portfolio. I feel I wasted my time in college doing design I really do.
If it doesn't come out as you wish, but more? I'm a creative person yet not so creative because firstly I had so many unstructured ideas, but barely complete any of those. When things run out of scope, it makes me feel uncomfortable. But let's think it's a process for a critical designer. I struggle every day within this field, too.
Again, such an eye opener. These videos from The Futur is just pure GOLD! The value of these insights are just priceless! Again, a huge thank you for all these gems that you're uploading. It's much appreciated.
That's my big problem, i am very good in art in general, but i need graphic design to be my main economy. Is hard to focus and know what to show, how to generate a pattern!
Hy it's me mohd azharuddin this side and I'm a graphic designer or artists and you both guizs are inspired me again and again so thank you so much for this video .
Excellent, episode fellas...! I learned something new, and Chris Do some of your older work is very good...Netscape was going to take over the world along with AOL...lol
Thank you so much for your clear advice on the portfolio strategy. Right now I am on the job hunt and learning that meeting the real-world expectation, going out on the interviews, present, and talk about my work is an amazing practice on its own. After/due covid19 things beginning to change even more quickly. the pursuing = result formula had changed in the way that we don't have much time to stop for a minute, process, and go on toward the goal. However, required fast adaptivity plus knowing what our weaknesses and strong points are the key to success.
I've found you guys just now, and I have to say thanks for the advice. I've graduated years ago, worked freelance for some time during college, but never got my portfolio neat, since most of the work was based on recommendation by friends and online contests, and when I finally decided I wanted and needed to gain some experience in an agency, I can't find a position, because my portfolio is a mess. That, and a lot of agencies ask for video editing skills, which I have none of. X(
Wow! This is really good. I wish I knew this when I was a lot younger. I never documented my work so well and never really thought about portfolios. I was lucky to get really good employment based on recommendation. But nothing beats a body of work that can be revisited always. Great job I just subscribed.
I like this video, and the your content is awesome but what I ask my self how to get Works that display my skills If I have no clients and not going to school. Any Ideas for what I can design? To show my skills?
+designjourney do fake projects for yourself. rebrand a company that you think could use a new identity, messaging, etc... This is essentially what we do in school. We are given imaginary assignments and then tackle it in our way. If that's too hard, do the next best thing. Pick something you love and your best to create something just like this. Copy it. This is how artists have learned for hundreds of years. It's a great way to learn.
LOL!! I was such a "Netscape Snob" back in the day. I felt SO "sophisticated" knowing how to use a web browser instead of relying on AOL like "newbies." (Remember the ubiquitous install CD's that became so much mail spam back in the day?) My first "portfolio" pieces were two amateurish Pagemaker (now InDesign - yes, you already know I've dated myself!) newsletter spreads I created in college. I thought that was the "It" thing when I graduated college in 1997. I found the newsletters later on this year & shredded them - dead newsletters tell no tales. I don't want to think about what it cost to get all those film and mounted prints done for earlier "true" graphic arts portfolio pieces. Thank Goddess for Behance! (And thank you, once again, for an awesome, informative video.)
I never went to any design school, I become a graphic designer and motion graphic artist just because of people like you. Great content I am sure this will help me a lot. Thank you
I'm totally loving your videos and have been telling my classmates about you. I'm getting my portfolio in order, which was the reason why I watched this video. Question: You mentioned the beginner being in their 20s. What advice do you have for someone like me, who might face agism. I'm changing careers? I just turned 52, I'm graduating 5/2018 with a degree in Graphic Design.
Damn, I'm so scared of this guy. But like others have said, it seems that the general understanding is that employers want a range of skills. As a graduate, wouldn't showing a portfolio with a range, be more likely to land you a job? Not saying it zeroes in on what you're best at, but it at least it lets you get your foot in the door. Or are you saying that because of the wide range you don't seem like you're proficient in any of the areas? But I guess it's best to tailor your portfolio to the company like you said. I'm just confused by it the trickiness of design employment, I guess.
Same, as someone fairly young in the business I'm still open to any design work and I just want to know as much as I can before I zero in on one skill. Am I alone on this? Lol. Is this a bad idea?
This was such great help! I thought we are always students, and we should keep on learning. But the mindset thing just changed my view completely. Thank you for this amazing video. I graduated last year and am working at a publication house for the last one year, but this makes me want to make some more, better stuff and be at a better place!
Thanks for a great content, this is really helpful. I have question for Chris, how do I show to an employer that I have potential in web design if most of my works in my portfolio is graphic (print) design? Does that mean I have to create fake projects to show my web UI design skills?
Super useful tips. I'm not a new grad, but this video highlights a lot of important things I tend to overlook when working on my personal brand. Thank you!
most companies want a "designer" to do multiple areas of work. Yes if you are going for a Firm that different. but when your being hired from a corporation they always seem to want web, packaging and so on. and for the most part marketing. All for cheap money. There is no value in design anymore unless you work in a firm and are creating not being a production farming machine.
+Stephanie Noel It's the exact same thing as you would do for a real project. If you look at any site, you are looking at the creative process, as in, how you got from point A to point B. It's not that important that you actually produced the work for a real client.
You two are VERY entertaining. I wish you were my teachers. Video is top-notch. I learned a lot. Thanks for talking about the late '90's. I used to do word processing on a Wang Word Processor and also those tiny-screened Mac's. Goes to show you that your audience is not all in their 20's. There are still those of us (baby boomers) who are trying to catch a break getting an art job, somewhere. I have dubbed us Workplace Ghosts. We work hard, we're creative, we have experience and great ideas, but we remain unseen because of a few wrinkles.
Hi, awesome video and tips! got a few questions in mind: 1) Is it important to pursue degree in graphic design? I mean there are many are self taught nowadays and they still earned lots and gain publicity. 2) What is most important in design? Cheers!
This was a very humbling and also very informative experience watching this video. I already subscribed and am tuned in. I want to be the very best like no one ever was so it's time to up my game. THANK YOU!
The problem with the advice you give about 'digging deep' into one area is that entry level jobs for designers ask for a range of skills. They want someone who can do everything for as little pay as possible. A job I just applied for this week asked for Photography, Packaging, Video Editing and Web Design & Development... because the market is so saturated, they are asking for everything and only picking people who have more than one skill!
not in the market i work in.
Totally true, agencies and corporates of today are knee to look for designers who have variety of skillsets, freelance/ part-time jobs have different criteria from full-time job, most freelance jobs need someone is good at particular area of design...
what market you work on? how can I avoid this other market she's mentioning? I only have had experiences with the abusive one.
This is so true. The only works I find in my country are like this. It's so sad when my focus is on Print Design and Illustration but all companies want each of everything. They want you to animate, handle social medias, make ads, do collaterals, copywriting etc. all at once and it's so frustrating.
nope they want talent, but want to pay dirt cheap. And a lot claim you need to be new to it yet want soooo much experience!!
I want to make small notice here, people commenting around that there is many companies that ask for many skills form one person.
This video is about making a portfolio for BIG companies like Marvel/Disney if you are an artist or if you are a Designer for big studios or brands, which have a team of designers in-house.
The questions you have to ask your self are :
- Are you confident to search for a place directly in the big studios/companies?
- Is the work that you will put on portfolio right now is good enough for those studios, to know that just do research find out a designer who works at the particular studio and watch their portfolios? is your work on a similar level or way-way lower?
- The most important question what is your biggest passion?
If you answer these questions to yourself you will know what type of portfolio you need if you really need the job to earn for basic needs, and you don't want to work in a warehouse, you can make a portfolio that suits the small companies with like 1 guy does everything, is it good? Well, kind of it is interesting more interesting than just doing one thing you work in the whole process, will it take down your nerves? yes it will, will it pay off? well depends mostly not. If you live with your parents and don't need to think on basic needs go for 1 thing you really passioned about, compare your work to ones who already work at your dream job, replicate their work that way you will learn, take more classes online, practise practice and you will have skill and works to put on portfolio.
Legit answer.
Exactly.
damn right. the all-in-one designers are merely just for companies to fill in their design needs
probably the most in-depth video about the first design portfolio. certainly opened my eyes to a whole lot of things I need to work on. thank you for the valuable and enjoyable 30mins.
+kingsal87 Thanks. Keep in mind that Chris' portfolio is 20 years old.
Well then charge them high and find a web designer to deliver and send the 📦 to them then share the cash for web designing with the designer while u get ur logo cash. Simple 🙂
From my experience, unfortunately the "fallen T" model is preferred in small to medium size agencies. They very often lack the financial capabilities to hire professionals that are specialized in one field and do prefer someone who is able to do a lot of things, as mentioned in the video, often mediocre.
The same goes for freelancers who work with clients directly -
A typical project for example - We need a new website, but also a new logo and later on we would like to create a video that explains our services.
Now as a freelancer you will have two choices, either say "Sure I can do that" or potentially loose the client and say "I only do webdesign". The client very often does not understand that designing a logo is a completely different thing than designing a website.
Nils hi Nils. I think there's an issue of marketing (being hyper focused about what you present to the world) and what you actually do. They can be 2 different things.
Making a claim and building expertise is important. Showing a consistent body of work to back up that claim is important.
Once the client engages you as an "expert" in a particular specialization, you are free to expand the services beyond that specialization.
Hope that makes sense.
meh...
Exactly my thoughts. This video's content is for a much more curated set of companies, not a generalistic work scenario. I found it removed from reality for most of designers.
@@andressantiago5802 meh? Do you speak Frankenstein? 😀
Thank you for sharing this video with your friends everyone. Really appreciate it.
You're welcome Dad (- _ -)
I'm at 4:30 in the video, but I have to say that this is giving so much clarity. We have to show what we're good at and not all the diferent kind of things we can do at beginner level. Thank you for the clarity in this video, because it is explained so well.
I am first year student, kinda bombing out as im old and doing it part time but watching your stuff is getting me back on track. Format is slick and engaging and this is the 6th video i've watched today.
top work lads.
Hi Karen. Glad to help!
Creativity has no age limits! Keep going!
I'm finishing a degree in Multimedia design. Its a really complicated degree that tries to mix practically every skill in the visual/digital community. This video really helped me finally deciding what I like (ux) and really focus on that. This channel is amazing
Thank you
I love the “buffet” example. For most entry level designers, it’s hard to make the correct design decisions to match the job market at the first time.
5 years ago, This video is the reason how i got my job today. Thank you chris and jose!
You’re very welcome
Hi Chris! I watched this video a few months back and I've been a vehicle wrap designer for the past 3 years. As much as I enjoyed being in that niche, I was burnt out on it and wanted to get more into branding and package design. Being in that niche, it was hard to get out of. I took your advice on curating a portfolio that showed personal projects of fictitious work that I wanted to be involved with and only kept a project or two of vehicle wraps. I quit my job doing vehicle wraps and soon after landed a job at a small talented firm that focuses on both branding and package design. Without your advice, I don't think I would be here today! Thanks for the valuable content you put into the world! I tell my fellow designers about your channel and the value it brings. Again thanks for doing what you do :) You deserve all the success.
Thank you for being honest, sometimes honesty hurts but we need it.
I think it is important for employers to see that you still need help and guidance in certain areas... if someone has only just finished school then they still have so much to learn. If you go to an employer and present a thousand bits of work just out of college; you may come across as a know it all. It's good to be humble. And critical of your own work. Just my opinion.
good point.
I'm currently working on my developer portfolio to get a job as a front end and this was super helpful and applicable to what I'm trying to do - even though it's geared towards designers. I think taking these tips and going back to apply them to what I've built so far will give me much better chances when it comes to finding work down the line. Thanks for the value!
final year student here, job hunting, please wish me luck
you got this! good luck.
A year later. You got an update?
update
Update Pls
me too .. goodluck
You have hit the nail on the head. I was recently asked what good student work looks like and I answered that it just looks like work. Focus, conceptual clarity and attention to detail are impossible to fake.
The days are gone when graduates had to spend their last dime on an impressive physical portfolio. It is both easier and harder now when, as you point out, we all have access to the same tools.
+ProfessorBRB What's worrisome is that some professors still hold onto the old ways.
Agreed. The new challenge is prying students away form their various screens long enough to engage in the early (fun) stages of concept development. I have dipped into my small supply budget for graph pads, pencils and erasers for our upcoming identity workshop as it will just be a handful of students. Maybe that will help…
I think you are doing the right thing. Workshops get students to become more engaged in the process.
The analogy of "T" is quite interesting! Keep up the great work Chris.
This was so helpful in how to not make a student portfolio but how to brand what I do and who I am, BE PROFESSiONAL!
I love this! I threw my best pieces together in my second to last semester at the Art Institute and got a full time job working in the game industry! Hard work pays off! Go out there and get it people.
what do you do
@@tekiero At the time, I was looking into 2d and 3d game art. I have since transitioned to UX design and I love it
I started looking for helpful tips last night cos I have been looking for a new job for a month or two now. I believe I have the talent it's just the way I present my digital portfolio that's giving me NO'S from the employers, but this video really helped me understand. I'm going to revamp my website and hopefully it will all work out. Thanks very much Chris!
Did you get the job and was it good? Just curious 😅
Thank you, “The Futur” for making this video. I personally am also extremely grateful for Chris for showing his first portfolio. It’s nice to see that even the pros start somewhere too. Even though Chris’s portfolio was light years better than mine out of college. Haha. Hopefully that doesn’t mean I’m eternally barred from being a successful designer. 😅
I wish I kept my entrance portfolio to ArtCenter so that I can show you how far I've come.
This video really helped me out. I'm at a point where I'm a new freelancer and I feel stuck, like I'm not progressing in my career. I realized when watching this that I have a million different things on my portfolio and not one specific category. I'm now going to redo a completely new portfolio and really find what I'm best at to progress forward and make it a killer portfolio when applying for jobs. Thank you!
Can someone explain the 14 thumbs down? If you voted it down, please tell me why? I'm curious. You hated the format, the host, the work, the advice, what?
haters gonna hate bro
+Isaac JWM Greenleaf Hi Isaac. When you look at hundreds of portfolios you start to learn really quickly what you are looking for. That's not that different from how you can scan hundreds of images and find just the right one. Call it experience, muscle memory, gut... whatever, but it becomes very clear who is a good fit and who isn't. Now a recruiter won't be able to do the same unless they can see those differences. But I'm not a recruiter. I know as an artist you want the attention and time but then you are making it about you and not the person at the other side of the table.
+Isaac JWM Greenleaf now I know why people don't like this video. They don't like the idea that someone won't sit there and spend an hour looking at your portfolio only to tell you "no".
Your videos are great. Period. I bet those haters vote down simply because they are haters.
+Anh Nguyễn thanks.
4 years after you make this and it is still so relevant.... the thing I take away from this is that much of what is here is relevant to ANY position you are trying to get into.... not just tech or design.... the ideas presented here are universal. Hone your craft and find the right place to use them, make yourself valuable....
High contrast. You have a signature style. The thorns are impactful. You know I like portfolio in print. Something much more impactful being tactile.
Hey guys! Thank you so much for taking the time to do an episode on portfolio's! You do listen to our suggestions which is really awesome. I can say that what resonated with me in this episode was seeing how portfolio's have changed over time, the way Chris laid out his designs for his first portfolio, the simple to remember "no filler/all killer" motto, the difference between student projects vs. professional work which really comes down to the presentation and fine tuning of the work to the detail. I liked that you also touched upon the concept of positioning our portfolio towards the skill we want to sell.
However, I wished that you guys could have been more organized. It seemed like the
video touched on different subjects but it did not go into detail as much as it could of being.
It would have been helpful to have more on the following subjects. How to set up a portfolio portfolio such as doing print vs. digital pros and cons. Types of projects to include that can replace student projects and your take on pro-bono work. Maybe touch on what you would like to see in recent graduate's portfolio's.
Overall, you guys are awesome for creating such helpful content. I look forward to more videos. I will be sure to share this with other creatives. Keep up the good work!
We can do a follow up episode.
Chris Do Sounds great! Always a pleasure to hear what you guys have to share.
Chris Do I agree I would love to see a video expanding on setting up a portfolio and what you would like to see in a recent grad's portfolio. I also am not put off at all by the longer videos, I'd rather have a longer video that really gets into the meat and potatoes of a subject. There are already lots of shorter videos out there talking about portfolios and design. I think the in depth information is very valuable. Thanks for putting out great content and keep up the good work!
Pink Glasses Productions It seems like some in our audience want shorter videos, while others want longer videos. I think the key is to have shorter preamble and then dive deep into one or two key points.
Looks like I will need to prep the "print" vs "motion" vs "digital" portfolio episode. Aaron Szekely Please add to our dock of shows to do.
well there are pros and cons to video lengths. Mine are short because most viewers have the attention span of a squirrel 7 minutes tops. But longer videos are good for SEO which is why gaming channels rank among the top of youtube. That is why I have a mix of both. Shorty and longy to appetize both types. However you will find you cant please them all. So i take my most popular videos and tend to model the length of time behind those because why knock what works?
Perhaps this is dated, but I'm a photographer who has just begun to learn design. You guys have made me re-think my photography portfolio. That is definitely speaking to the fact that the advice you are giving out is, in some sense, applicable to the creative field in a broad sense. Thanks :)
Man, it just so helpful, especially when it comes to NO "VISUAL COMMUNICATOR", that's a really a problem to me when positioning myself, awesome video, please keep working on it.
I have to admit, the video opened my eyes to thing i already known, but now i can see trough them. The thing with this is "design schools and beginners need to teach every aspect" I mean, to start on the profession you simply have to learn for example typography, or classic mediums like drawing, meaning you are in sime way an illustrator as well, and you can only specialize when you have all the basic skills, and right now the graphic design profession is ultrasuperwide, so you are going to have to know a lot of basic skills, leaving you with a lot less time to specialize. But yes i agree with all this.
Wow. Just wow. Your comments are so insightful, it's almost frightening. Chris, you choose your words and your real life examples so wisely and so simple, that they have nowhere else to go, but into the mind directly. To me as a student, you've given such good advice about how to sell myself and to whom. I always thought about my portfolio in a way that just shows that I've done a bunch of things in order to show the recruiter that I can do any of it and that I'd just roll with their wishes along the way; I never ever though of it as a way of selling my BEST work and the things I want to do. Thank you so much for these videos! Now I can't wait to fill my portfolio with professional workd and look back at my student portfolio in a couple of years. And yeah, I'm an architecture student btw, but most of your advice applies.
I love this show. You guys are really helpful!
Thanks Steve.
Thank you Chris Do! This video is super helpful and encouraging. It helps to have someone who is an expert guide others along their paths. Showing real examples is greatly appreciated.
I just graduated and recently got an email from a company telling me that my portfolio was irrelevant. So I wondered because I was quite confident that I could do what they do in the agency. Then I realized how scattered my portfolio was and they weren't able to see my core skills clearly. :( Thanks for the video. Really helpful!!
Yay! You’ve see what you need to do. Edit.
I'm not in design or need portfolio for jobs. I'm an educator, work as a teacher & in non-profits. I've being going through all your videos and they're so informative!!! I believe the ideas you present throughout all your videos are applicable across fields. Or at least I try to find ways to connect what you teach to the work I do. Chris Do, you especially are well spoken and are a very good teacher! Keep these videos coming! Thanks.
appreciate it RJ
one of the best channels on youtube
Shawn J thanks buddy!
I watched this video 2nd time after 3 years today AND all of it made sense now.
Thanks a lot Chris, your experience and videos are saving me a lot of time.
Currently watching this while I work on the renders for my first interior design portfolio! Your video couldn't come more right in time to my suggestions lol
😄
glad to hear Natt.
The information (and education) you give in this video is outstanding.
thanks lisa
Great video. Thanks for the insights and motivation on your first portfolio! Truly inspiring and helpful.
would love to see another video like this but with a new improved updated portfolio. Great stuff
Hmmm. Maybe I can do that.
This was so helpful, you guys are awesome!
***** Long live the king. Oh wait.
The Skool Network Right in the feels.
You guys are the most direct and helpful resource in advice for making the leap into industry. I watched a previous video of yours a while ago and remembered your quick and honest approach. Thanks for all the advice!
Thanks Tina. Have you seen our newer content?
To make a personal point to many of the comments about the multiple experiences problem I agree with your statements but I think it is important to do your research on the “growth” of your field for example I do music production on the side and when I first ventured into the market i went in thinking all I needed to know how to do was make the music . This was true for producers maybe 5 - 10 years ago but now you need to be a bit of everything (music production, mixing and mastering , recording etc) I learned a important lesson that it is important to start with knowledge in multiple areas of your craft so when that craft grows you grow with it .
That being said thank you for the video ! It was filled with helpful knowledge that I can easily apply to my own portfolio.
Hi there! I'm currently in the process of making my portfolio and I've been watching your videos. I personally do not know you but you're doing an excellent job and thank you for what you do. Wish me luck!
NO FILLER ALL KILLER !!!!
Yes! Love it !!!
Thanks Peter. How are you doing?
+The Skool Network
Pushing along, Sir ! But other than that: very well !! Thanks for asking 😉....hope all is well with yourself...
Watching this today and it is an eye opener for me. Thanks for all of valuable info.
Thanks Chris. Thanks Jose.
You're very welcome!
I loved this raw conversation on such an important subject. Thanks for the video!
Thank you Chirs Do your videos are really educative and inspirational even for a designer from Myanmar without any graphic education.
you're welcome!
I wish I watched this before making my portfolio
Better late than never.
The Futur how do you find a mentor
You stop looking
U still can remake it!!!!
Its fate xD
You guys are absolutely awesome! Thank you for your generosity in sharing the knowledge. Something which is very rare in our industry.
thank you! thanks for watching and commenting.
maybe what we do will encourage others to share and move the industry forward.
OMG I look at your "old" portfolio and laugh because that's when I started too. HTML webpages with huge image maps. ;) The typography, imagery, etc. It's all beautiful, but you can definitely see what was on trend during the time. My physical portfolio is definitely dated too. I need to really update it. I pulled in out the other day and laughed! It needs an update. I struggle building a portfolio purely because I might love it in the moment I create it, but within a few months I'd want to hide it away.
I'm loving the graphics at the end. Loved the content too! Super helpful thank you
Thank you.
Awesome work as always!
Shared your channel with my alumni Facebook group.
Thanks John.
My First Skool Video. Really insightful channel, I found it to be. Inspiring work Chris!!
Welcome to the channel. We have an exciting slate of new episodes planned for 2016. Stay tuned as we crank up the volume.
Great show. Design is an age conscious profession. What does one do when laid off of a great staff gig at 58 - no one except a few older clients will still use you or look at your work because of your age and people worry that you do not fit in with their younger staff.
How do you reinvent yourself to survive in today’s world when you are starting over and you are flat broke. I have one steady client but I cannot survive on their projects alone.
That's an excellent question. One way is to have a design style that's more modern. If you have good projects in your portfolio that are aligned to current trends, there's no way hiring manager will know the age. You can apply to jobs in various industries that you might see an older crowd (ex/ healthcare, medical, construction, tech, and finance/fintech. Maybe try learning UX/UI design? It seems like the older experienced designers only know print design, but don't have much digital design and/or UX/UI design.
Try not to be that 'stiff' boring 58yo, but the energetic 58yo that can make funny jokes here and there. Find that middle ground of dressing cool and designy, don't dress like a grandma, and definitely don't dress like a teen.
I'm so happy i found this amazing channel! I'm 21 and currently employed on my first job as a designer but i feel like i'm not doing enough or lost in focus! Thank you for giving a very helpful, in-depth and detailed information for getting me in path again for working on my future portfolio. Keep it up! :)
glad to hear Yang, and happy that you are watching our show. more great content coming so please keep watching and leveling up.
I definitely will do!
Thanks guys! Great portfolio & animation at the end, btw Chris :)
Ha. You watched til the end for that little animation.
+Chris Do I guess it was like an easter egg or something :))
+akın gündoğan Only for the dedicated who watch to the very end.
+Chris Do thanks Chris, btw if I ever do a redesign or some new design worth to be reviewed by you guys, I'll let you know since I love design reviews of you gurus! Need to catch up with your new videos, take care!
+akın gündoğan yep. Send us a video with you asking a few questions and we will review your site.
Im a designer and i really love these videos that you do to help us!!! Appreciate it!
You're welcome Marc.
Thanks a lot for sharing. It's really informative and useful. I like the "T" Skills concept, but I nearly got discouraged because it's quite opposite of my portfolio. But I was revived by the comment of the guy by the left, who nailed it the way it fits my dream and aspirations. I believe someone who wants to be a Graphic design manager will go beyond "T" Skill concept/format. he needs to be versatile, because he will be responsible for supervising and executing activities including creation of computer graphics, web page graphics, logos, illustrations, advertisements, brochures and many forms of visual communication as well as being good in digital marketing.
good luck. Glad Jose lifted your spirits.
I just found you guys! I moved from Colombia to Seattle just a year ago, and It has been difficult for me to get a job as a creative. The way you show your work here and even the way to approach the company that I wanna work for, it's totally different. This video gave me a lot of information about the this field in the US. Now I have homework to do, and i'll suck all the info you share online! :)
BTW, awesome job, I hope, one day, have the chance to meet you guys, and why not, work with you.
Have a nice one.
Baa Suescum glad to be here for you. Good luck.
Incredibly helpful! Thanks guys
This is great. I'm going this week in for an interview/portfolio prep with a Recruiting agency that specializes in Digital, Creative, Marketing professionals. Now, I feeling less uneasy about the whole thing!!
glad to hear. kill the interview and let us know when you land the job!
This is a great video, it brings up a lot of important questions with different roles of jobseekers in mind. As a freelance writer, looking to step into the design role, I find your videos truly helpful. Subscribed, obviously. Thanks again! /S
This was extremely helpful thankyou! Paying tremendous amount for uni fees but the most useful lessons are actually online instead. Anyways really like how honest and direct your comments are
Thanks. Doing my best to share what I learned in school, work and life.
Being a designer feels impossible to me anymore. Spent so much time in college, teachers taught me close to nothing, I just found myself even more confused when I graduated. there's no clear answers how to design because every employer is looking for something different, I don't know if I'm qualified to do any of it as of right now. It never ends it seems like, you need to know this and this and that, and don't do this, but do that. Not to mention I have to restart and build outside of college to have a different portfolio. I feel I wasted my time in college doing design I really do.
If it doesn't come out as you wish, but more? I'm a creative person yet not so creative because firstly I had so many unstructured ideas, but barely complete any of those. When things run out of scope, it makes me feel uncomfortable. But let's think it's a process for a critical designer. I struggle every day within this field, too.
that "T" skill is amazing!!!!
Makes sense and I never considered it as so before this video. Hire a carpenter for your woodwork. Hire a plumbing for your water!
Again, such an eye opener. These videos from The Futur is just pure GOLD! The value of these insights are just priceless! Again, a huge thank you for all these gems that you're uploading. It's much appreciated.
That's my big problem, i am very good in art in general, but i need graphic design to be my main economy. Is hard to focus and know what to show, how to generate a pattern!
Hy it's me mohd azharuddin this side and I'm a graphic designer or artists and you both guizs are inspired me again and again so thank you so much for this video .
Love it...thanks for sharing your experience.
+Chetan Thakur Thank you.
this was very helpful. My portfolio is forever changing and I am always trying to perfect it. I think I've got it to a place I want it to be.
Glad that our video helped you achieve your goal!
Excellent, episode fellas...! I learned something new, and Chris Do some of your older work is very good...Netscape was going to take over the world along with AOL...lol
***** Thanks. It's almost a 20 yr. old portfolio.
Thank you so much for your clear advice on the portfolio strategy. Right now I am on the job hunt and learning that meeting the real-world expectation, going out on the interviews, present, and talk about my work is an amazing practice on its own.
After/due covid19 things beginning to change even more quickly. the pursuing = result formula had changed in the way that we don't have much time to stop for a minute, process, and go on toward the goal.
However, required fast adaptivity plus knowing what our weaknesses and strong points are the key to success.
I've found you guys just now, and I have to say thanks for the advice. I've graduated years ago, worked freelance for some time during college, but never got my portfolio neat, since most of the work was based on recommendation by friends and online contests, and when I finally decided I wanted and needed to gain some experience in an agency, I can't find a position, because my portfolio is a mess. That, and a lot of agencies ask for video editing skills, which I have none of. X(
Welcome to the channel.
Wow! This is really good. I wish I knew this when I was a lot younger. I never documented my work so well and never really thought about portfolios. I was lucky to get really good employment based on recommendation. But nothing beats a body of work that can be revisited always. Great job I just subscribed.
Nanas O thanks. I wish I kept my entrance portfolio just so you can see how bad I was.
I like this video, and the your content is awesome but what I ask my self how to get Works that display my skills If I have no clients and not going to school. Any Ideas for what I can design? To show my skills?
+designjourney do fake projects for yourself. rebrand a company that you think could use a new identity, messaging, etc...
This is essentially what we do in school. We are given imaginary assignments and then tackle it in our way.
If that's too hard, do the next best thing. Pick something you love and your best to create something just like this. Copy it. This is how artists have learned for hundreds of years. It's a great way to learn.
thanks for the tips. really appreciate it!.
@@ChrisDo Old post but timelessly great advice.
LOL!! I was such a "Netscape Snob" back in the day. I felt SO "sophisticated" knowing how to use a web browser instead of relying on AOL like "newbies." (Remember the ubiquitous install CD's that became so much mail spam back in the day?)
My first "portfolio" pieces were two amateurish Pagemaker (now InDesign - yes, you already know I've dated myself!) newsletter spreads I created in college. I thought that was the "It" thing when I graduated college in 1997. I found the newsletters later on this year & shredded them - dead newsletters tell no tales.
I don't want to think about what it cost to get all those film and mounted prints done for earlier "true" graphic arts portfolio pieces. Thank Goddess for Behance! (And thank you, once again, for an awesome, informative video.)
Awesome Portfolio dude!
+Mahbub Sobhani Thanks Mahbub!
You welcome
thank you guys for you coming and your information is very important
This channel is great!
Thank Edwin.
I never went to any design school, I become a graphic designer and motion graphic artist just because of people like you. Great content I am sure this will help me a lot. Thank you
Great to hear. Keep it up.
I'm totally loving your videos and have been telling my classmates about you. I'm getting my portfolio in order, which was the reason why I watched this video. Question: You mentioned the beginner being in their 20s. What advice do you have for someone like me, who might face agism. I'm changing careers? I just turned 52, I'm graduating 5/2018 with a degree in Graphic Design.
good work will usually silence questions about age.
Loved it ! I am glad I saw this before making my portfolio .
Damn, I'm so scared of this guy.
But like others have said, it seems that the general understanding is that employers want a range of skills. As a graduate, wouldn't showing a portfolio with a range, be more likely to land you a job? Not saying it zeroes in on what you're best at, but it at least it lets you get your foot in the door. Or are you saying that because of the wide range you don't seem like you're proficient in any of the areas?
But I guess it's best to tailor your portfolio to the company like you said. I'm just confused by it the trickiness of design employment, I guess.
don't be scared. i'm not really that tough in person. promise.
Same, as someone fairly young in the business I'm still open to any design work and I just want to know as much as I can before I zero in on one skill. Am I alone on this? Lol. Is this a bad idea?
Kyle Cooper nice. I saw Kyle and Vaughan speak at PDC. They inspired a lot of design students at the time. I still got the cow tongue poster as well.
I wish I would've found this video years ago.
This was such great help!
I thought we are always students, and we should keep on learning. But the mindset thing just changed my view completely. Thank you for this amazing video. I graduated last year and am working at a publication house for the last one year, but this makes me want to make some more, better stuff and be at a better place!
seepiya sahni great. Work on your portfolio. Make it amazing.
Thanks for a great content, this is really helpful. I have question for Chris, how do I show to an employer that I have potential in web design if most of my works in my portfolio is graphic (print) design? Does that mean I have to create fake projects to show my web UI design skills?
Super useful tips. I'm not a new grad, but this video highlights a lot of important things I tend to overlook when working on my personal brand. Thank you!
Thanks for commenting AmXo. Glad this video helped you.
suuuuper helpful keep doing these!!!
+Jonno T what else do you want to see about portfolios?
Dude Chris you are so inspiring. This video has been so informative, thanks.
most companies want a "designer" to do multiple areas of work. Yes if you are going for a Firm that different. but when your being hired from a corporation they always seem to want web, packaging and so on. and for the most part marketing. All for cheap money. There is no value in design anymore unless you work in a firm and are creating not being a production farming machine.
This was crazy helpful guys thanks, you really demonstrated how one should focus ones time energy and attention when going into the marketplace.
You got it Christopher.
I also would like to know how do you turn self-initiated projects into case studies?
+Stephanie Noel It's the exact same thing as you would do for a real project. If you look at any site, you are looking at the creative process, as in, how you got from point A to point B. It's not that important that you actually produced the work for a real client.
Big win today! Just found your channel, and this great episode. Re-evaluating my portfolio today. Thanks guys!
Our channel a win? Happy to be a part of it!
very helpful ! thanks alot!
You're welcome Cuong.
You two are VERY entertaining. I wish you were my teachers. Video is top-notch. I learned a lot. Thanks for talking about the late '90's. I used to do word processing on a Wang Word Processor and also those tiny-screened Mac's. Goes to show you that your audience is not all in their 20's. There are still those of us (baby boomers) who are trying to catch a break getting an art job, somewhere. I have dubbed us Workplace Ghosts. We work hard, we're creative, we have experience and great ideas, but we remain unseen because of a few wrinkles.
Thank you Carolyn. What challenges are you facing as a more "experienced" human?
Hi, awesome video and tips!
got a few questions in mind:
1) Is it important to pursue degree in graphic design? I mean there are many are self taught nowadays and they still earned lots and gain publicity.
2) What is most important in design?
Cheers!
This was a very humbling and also very informative experience watching this video. I already subscribed and am tuned in. I want to be the very best like no one ever was so it's time to up my game. THANK YOU!
Wow! Way to channel your energy to become stronger.