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P L A N N I N G c r eat i n G i m p l e m e nt i n G
We’ve all seen them: portfolios and self-promotions that seem to have a life
of their own. Teeming with well-designed, innovative graphics, these portfolios
are not the cookie-cutter renditions of yesteryear. Rather, they are streamlined
masterpieces that stand out in the minds of a targeted audience.
Remember when you were a kid and your mother used to say, “If you can’t say
anything nice, don’t say anything at all”? These days, many people espouse an
updated version of that philosophy: “If you can’t build a portfolio right, don’t build
it at all.” Portfolios are core marketing tools, and the statement they make by
their appearance and functionality is critical to the business they represent.
Planning your portfolio, namely what form it will take, the contents within, and to
whom it will be distributed, is the first step in portfolio development. This stage
of the process will allow you to step back and see the big picture in terms of
how you want your portfolio to impact you and your company. Do you want your
portfolio to be a permanent symbol of who you are and what your company
does, or do you want it to be customizable to each recipient? Should your port-
folio content include visual as well as verbal components, such as case studies,
that will clearly define your creative vision? Or perhaps the visual components of
your portfolio should simple speak for themselves. As with all things design, take
your time to get it right and remember the adage, “Planning makes perfect.
The Big Picture
A CREATIVE APPROACH
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†®
Choosing a sleek portfolio with simple,
well-defined imagery and minimal copy
draws the viewer in. A silver cover with
coordinating bright orange vellum inserts
is a defining characteristic that is carried
throughout b-on creative’s engaging portfolio.
B-on c reative (South k orea)
P L A N N I N G c r eat i n G i m p l e m e nt i n G
Sleek and Chic
A LITTLE B LING G OES A LONG WAY
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