Our latest Portfolio Showcase comes from freelance web designer Grace Smith. For a closer look, click on the screenshots to visit the respective area of her portfolio at postscript5.co.uk.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Sure, I’m a 27-year-old web designer and owner of micro-design studio Postscript5, based in Northern Ireland. I work with individuals and companies based mainly in the UK and USA, on a diverse range of projects from branding and blog design to iPhone app development and application UIs. I’ve recently launched my latest personal project—The Freelance Feed—and enjoy blogging and contributing to other publications such as Computer Arts Projects and Mashable.

How long have you had an online portfolio?
I’ve had an online portfolio since my first year of University, which would be approximately nine years now. However, my portfolio for Postscript5 was launched five years ago, which I would consider my first professional online portfolio.

What was your design process?
My focus was on creating a portfolio that was unique. I started with a color palette and went from there, with around 15 various revisions before deciding on the current design. I took the decision to create something that was simple, easy to update and navigate, all with a strong call to action on every page.

Creating a clean, efficient aesthetic was at the core of my process. I’ve actually started the redesign for Postscript5, with a complete overhaul of the brand and design.

Do you have any advice for other designers about creating online portfolios?
Creating a great online portfolio relies on first knowing exactly who your target audience is, what their specific wants and needs are, and then catering to these. You can start by creating an ideal client profile, then define your market by profiling it. Once you know this information, you will be in a much better place to position yourself for the best results and create a portfolio that truly connects with your audience.

I would also recommend:

1. Only Display Your Best Work – You don’t want to give someone an excuse to say no to your work, so don’t include pieces that you don’t believe showcase your work at its best. Including too much means the viewer could easily get bored of your work, when you really want to leave them wanting more.
2. Give Your Portfolio Context – If you’re not giving an overview of each piece of work in your portfolio, you are missing a valuable opportunity to showcase your skills and expertise on each particular project. You don’t need to write an essay, but it’s your chance to shine by giving some details that will allow each potential client to appreciate each piece not just on an aesthetic level, but on a practical client project level too.
3. Provide Testimonials – These are an essential for any portfolio. Having reassuring quotes from previous clients helps quell uncertainty and acts as excellent ‘social proof’. Testimonials also do an excellent job of showcasing who else you have worked with and tells potential clients who they will be joining on your client list.

Perhaps most importantly, make sure it’s easy for them to contact you!

Tags: freelance, Portfolio Showcase, portfolios, web design

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 7:38 am and is filed under Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.