Design Portfolios

Chapter 3Define Your Style

So … how would you describe your style?

Honestly, what are the odds of anyone ever asking you this question in an interview? The odds are low, at best. In fact, during my lengthy career, no recruiter has ever asked me that question. Well, then why did you bring it up? Because, even without the prospect of ever having to answer this question in an interview, you should have some understanding of what makes your creative work uniquely yours.

This “understanding” is more important than you might think. Knowing what is distinctive about how you express yourself creatively is central to your identity as a designer. And it's an equally important part of creating your design portfolio. Without style, a designer is little more than a problem‐solver. Without style, your portfolio will look like one produced by all those “problem‐solvers” who simply clamped a bunch of projects together and called the result a portfolio. In a crowded marketplace, your portfolio needs to be more than that—it must stand out. It must have style. Your style, as expressed through your portfolio, speaks volumes about you and your suitability for every creative position you apply for—all without you having the chance to utter a single word.

So, what is style? I consider it to be the way in which you integrate the building blocks of design—color, white space, contrast, rhythm, balance, and others—into your work and create a visual pattern that is uniquely yours. Think of it as your ...