Basma

Creating Samples of Work That Doesn't Exist

You need samples to get the job but you need the job in order to have samples. That old Catch-22 doesn't have to stop you from putting together a good graphic design portfolio. It just requires a bit more creativity.

Use Made-Up Samples in Graphic Design Portfolios

1. Use Freebies for Friends and Family
Show off work you did for others, even if they didn't hire you. Do you design the newsletter for your school or print fliers for your garden club? Use the best of those pieces. Design business cards for family and friends.

2. Put in Your Own Identity Pieces
The identity pieces you create for your own business can be a part of your graphic design portfolio. You can even include items that a client might not normally see such as your own custom quote forms (for printers) or job tracking forms.

3. Put in Personal Design Projects
Do you make your own holiday or birthday cards? Include the best of them in your portfolio. Do you have a personal Web page? Include screen shots or high-resolution print outs of any custom graphics you created for your Web site.

4. Use Tutorial Pieces
You should know how to use your software before you start hiring out your services. One way to learn the software is to use it to create the same types of items you'll be doing for clients — brochures, newsletters, ads, etc. Use the finished pieces from your own tutorials for your graphic design portfolio.

5. As you produce new pieces for clients (paying or not) replace the less impressive items in your portfolio with the new samples. Graphic design portfolios aren't static creations. They should grow and change as your expertise grows.