You’re proud of the work you have produced over the years, and your design portfolio provides a little glimpse into a history of your professional working life. Almost like moving house, or having a clear-out of some of your belongings, it can be hard to let go of some the designs that have helped you clinch work and progress in your design career. However, whether you have been creating design work for two years or twenty, it is always worth regularly looking over your design portfolio and considering whether or not it needs a revamp. 

So how can you tell if your design portfolio needs a revamp? Here’s a quick rundown of questions to consider when deciding whether or not your portfolio could do with a refresh;

▪️How old are the designs in your portfolio?

▪️Is there a single solid narrative or theme to tie your designs together?

▪️Do the designs reflect the kind of work you want to get?

▪️Have your designs moved with the times?

▪️Is the work still relevant?

If the answer to any of these questions, is no, a long time, or I’m not sure, then it may be time to consider revisiting your trusty design portfolio. Here’s our top tips when considering whether or not your design portfolio could do with a revamp.

Have someone else take a look

With so many designs to choose from and with so much personal connection to your own work, it can sometimes be challenging to take a step back and be objective about what to include or leave out of your portfolio. Whether it’s a fellow designer or a friend, it is always worth getting a second opinion as to which work should make it into your design portfolio and what maybe shouldn’t make the cut. 

Take time to think about what you want

Habits can be hard to break. But to keep yourself and your design fresh, you should always try to think about what it is that you want from your work moving forward and how the work you have completed can help you to get where you want to go. If you’ve produced a great piece of design work, but it doesn’t quite fit with your current direction, then don’t be afraid to leave it out. 

Have a look at other design portfolios

While it is never a great idea to simply copy other designers, gathering inspiration is the cornerstone to any design project, and your design portfolio is no different. How does your portfolio match up to others out there? What are the techniques that other design portfolios use? What kinds of designs are they showing off, and what do they focus on? These are the kinds of questions you should be asking yourself when considering whether or not now is for a refresh. 

Could the design of your design portfolio be updated?

As well as the content itself, understanding when the design of your design portfolio needs updating is also critical to ensuring that you are presenting your work to its full potential. The design of your portfolio is in many ways as important as the design work itself. If you have a tired or old looking design portfolio, or if its format is bland or formulaic, then you are missing an opportunity to show off what you can do. 

At Kaizen Brand Evolution, we have worked with numerous brands in helping them revamp their design portfolios. To find out more about how we can help you update your design portfolio, get in touch via our contact page, or by calling 02895072007.