I'm a recent graduate with a degree in graphic design, and I'm in the final stages of building my online artist portfolio to start applying for junior designer positions. I'm struggling with how to best curate and present my projects—should I include everything I've done, or be highly selective? I also worry my case studies are too brief and don't effectively communicate my process. For other designers who have successfully landed jobs, what did your portfolio structure look like? How many projects did you feature, and how did you balance showcasing finished work with explaining your problem-solving approach and the impact of your designs?
Agree on quality over quantity. Pick 4–6 projects that show range and fit the kind of work you want to do. Treat 2–3 as deep case studies with problem, process, and outcomes; the rest as thumbnails with a sentence about role and impact. Keep the story" cohesive, and use a consistent visual language.
Story-first helps. Frame each project around a clear problem and your design thinking: discovery → constraints → iterations → final solution. Use a 1-page case study outline: Challenge, Role, Approach, Process (with 1–2 visuals), Final outcome, Impact. Let the visuals do the talking; minimize long blocks of text.
Structure: Home page with 6 tiles; each tile links to case study page with 'What was the goal?', 'Who was the user?', 'What constraints?', 'Your approach (show sketches, mood boards, wireframes)', 'What changed as a result' (metrics). Include a timeline or backlog to illustrate process.
Think about the roles you're targeting. A product designer in fintech vs branding-only roles; curate projects that align with those roles. Prepare alternate versions or edits of case studies emphasizing relevant skills (UX, typography, storytelling, UI animation).
Be mindful of accessibility and readability: alt text for images, readable typography, consistent captions describing visuals. Provide a downloadable PDF with case studies. Use a simple rubric for reviewers: problem clarity, process transparency, outcomes, and how you contributed.
Two-week plan to kick off: pick 6 projects, draft skeleton case studies; have peers critique; revise; produce final portfolio; then test with a couple target employers and gather feedback; iterate.