Let's start with the foundations: Having a portfolio is essential; it's better to have SOME than NONE 👎 at all. A portfolio is your professional showcase, demonstrating your skills, style, and range of work. It's a tool that speaks for you even before you get the chance to. 👉👉A very common pitfall for designers is the "outdated portfolio" or the "website coming soon" syndrome. If you haven't one - JUST START 💥 - we don't care if you build your first one in Behance - just get it out! It will certainly not be your last one. If your folio is outdated. Open your calendar  and set a regular scheduleto update your portfolio (ie bi-annually). This keeps your work relevant and shows that you are active and evolving in your field.

Below we have put compiled a short presentation and a list of Golden Rules for your portfolio. 🏆 Just to name a few crucial ones:  Always prioritize quality over quantity by only including your best work; Tailor your portfolio's content for your audience (aka client or company you apply for) and arrange your projects in a way that tells a compelling story and that highlights your problem-solving skills. ✨

Here is a very important question we often get asked: "What is the right format for my portfolio?" 👀
Let's explore the strategic use of different portfolio formats and when to use what: 

❶ Portfolio Websites 💻 — A digital portfolio, hosted on a URL, is like your business card. It's accessible globally anytime and can be updated in real-time. You need to be aware that it is more generic when applying for a job. 👉Platforms like Framer, Semplice, or Webflow offer robust tools for creating highly customizable and responsive websites that can impressively showcase your work. If you are just starting out Behance or Dribbble are excellent places to quickly set up a simple portfolio.

❷ PDF / Presentation Portfolios 📌 — are perfect for job applications where you want to tailor your presentation to specific roles or companies. It allows for a curated, highly personalized collection of your best work, presented in a way that directly addresses the needs and interests of potential employers or clients. 👉 It can be a traditional PDF but it should be hosted in the cloud so you don't need to send a 50mb heavy file. But think of alternative tools like Canva where you can host a Portfolio presentation too, making them easy to share via a link.
When applying you can also mix both 💡- your tailored PDF portfolio as well as state your personal website aka Portfolio in your CV or cover letter.

❸ Physical Portfolio 💼 — While digital and PDF portfolios cover most needs, there are rare instances where a physical portfolio might still be relevant. If you're interviewing with a highly creative studio or in industries like fine arts or print design, a physical portfolio can make a tangible impact.👀 It's also appropriate when specifically requested by an employer or when presenting work that needs to be experienced physically, such as fabric textures or print finishes. But again, it is a rare usecase! ⚠️

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No Lesson 03 today, skip down to your homeworks 👇👇