How to Create a Portfolio and Get Hired: A Guide for Graphic Designers and Illustrators

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Creating a Good Portfolio

At the risk of stating the obvious, a good portfolio is one that lands the type of job or commission you’re looking for. Your portfolio is the means by which potential employers or commissioners will familiarize themselves with your work. It should, therefore, adequately showcase your skills without boring your target to death or, conversely, giving them short shrift.

Basic Approaches

I was once consulted by an established botanical illustrator. The work was of a consistently high standard, covered a wide variety of botanical subject matter, in a variety of media, from both a decorative and informational standpoint. However, I was forced to look through no less than five portfolios in order to determine this—which ...