Especially, When You’re Just Starting Out
Nowadays, we communicate visually, especially in our industry that has always been visual.
We use websites for our portfolio, alongside Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn etc. etc. Where we can present our visuals to boost our recognition, get new clients, show our skills.
It’s good when you are an experienced designer with lots of projects in your portfolio, which you can showcase on your website and post on your IG.
What if you are just starting out and you have no projects to showcase?
So, let’s talk about solutions, how you can create a great portfolio:
1. I’ll start with an idea we all know well, it’s your home. To organise a couple “instagrambale” locations will give a great opportunity to get great shots. It would be beneficial if you can hire a professional photographer, so you have high res amazing pictures for your website.
2. Talking about a photographer I would recommend having professional shots of yourself that you can use on your website and social media.
3. Mood boards and collages. Having mood boards in your collection you can use them as your design process on your website, you can use them when showcasing your projects.
4. CAD drawings. Again, you probably think that CAD won’t show your final product, but it definitely a very important thing to have in your portfolio.
Professional looking floor plans and elevations represent your work, you can draw your home space as a starting point. Try to showcase the whole process, measurements, explication, zoning, space flows, furniture layout, flooring, ceiling, electrics, lighting and if you want to create more it’s only good for you.
5. Sketches. Interior design sketching is a tool we have used throughout the time. In times we didn't have computer programmes the only way to communicate was sketching. Nowadays, sketching is a great option to represent your ideas and when it goes both with digital stuff it makes your project look great. It's a sort of fancy extra to impress your client.
6. 3D visualisation. New technologies can create a super-realistic picture of any interior. Sometimes you can’t identify if a picture is 3D or real. You can create hundreds of interiors that you can put on your website, to show your client:
Your style
The colours you prefer
Your aesthetics
The brands you work with
The budget of your projects
Using 3Ds on your website you create a simple specification for each project, so your clients can see what brands you worked with.
Creating 3D visuals for your portfolio you will learn how to design, what pieces go together, what looks horrible. You can experiment with shapes, forms and colours, not risking with your client’s budget and making sure that everything is perfect.
It will give you a great experience in “feeling the interior”, so when you get your first project you are properly ready to start designing.
7. Branding. Is also a very important part of your portfolio and presenting yourself as an expert. It’s not just about a logo, it’s about how you are going to present your ideas? What is your branded template for your presentation, mood board, plans etc?
It is a lot of homework to do, isn’t? But it’s 100% worth it, to get ready to get your first projects super prepared.
If you'd like to get some help with your portfolio you can get in touch with us by clicking here. Don’t forget to join our online group, where you can ask questions, talk to fellow designers and professionals.