What makes a good portfolio?
To deepen my understanding of what to include in my own portfolio, I took a user-focused approach by examining other portfolios and assessing their strengths and areas for improvement. I explored several websites to gain insights. One prevailing aspect among many was the use of engaging imagery, which not only grabs the viewer’s attention but also offers a glimpse into the creator’s personality and style. Moreover, I noticed a common theme of adding personality into these portfolios, with creators introducing themselves and their services in a personable manner, establishing an immediate connection with visitors and building trust in their work.
Conversely, during my research, I observed that some portfolios overwhelmed visitors with excessive text before showcasing their work, potentially hindering user engagement. In an industry where first impressions are crucial, it’s vital to prioritise the display of work to immediately engage visitors and encourage them to explore further, aligning with my research on user attention and engagement whilst conducting a research report in an earlier module.
Conversely, during my research, I observed that some portfolios overwhelmed visitors with excessive text before showcasing their work, potentially hindering user engagement. In an industry where first impressions are crucial, it’s vital to prioritise the display of work to immediately engage visitors and encourage them to explore further, aligning with my research on user attention and engagement whilst conducting a research report in an earlier module.
After delving into what makes a strong portfolio, I began exploring various platforms to showcase my work. Given my area of interest and expertise in web development, it was important to create my own website tailored to my preferences. Having previously familiarised myself with WordPress in an earlier web development module and furthering my understanding of its capabilities during my placement year, I opted to build my site on WordPress using the Elementor web page builder plugin. While I possessed confidence in building sites from scratch using HTML, CSS, and JS, I sought to explore more efficient methods aligning with industry standards where efficiency is paramount. Therefore, I set-up a WordPress site online, investing in hosting and my own domain, and started creating my custom site while prioritising efficiency.
How I approached my portfolio design?
Evaluating the rationale behind the choices made for my portfolio.
When deciding which pieces to feature in my portfolio, I made sure to consider not only what looked visually appealing but also how others perceived them. During one of my lectures in Short Story at Leeds Beckett University, our lecturer, Dean Ashley, shared a valuable insight from his early career. He emphasised the importance of prioritising client preferences and the overall visual appeal of the work, rather than showcasing pieces that may have taken a lot of time but didn’t meet the desired standard. Taking Dean’s advice onboard, I became more reflective about my work and sought feedback from others to determine what truly stood out and was worth showcasing. By involving others in the decision-making process, I was able to avoid any personal biases that might have been influenced by the time and effort I had invested. This approach helped me decide which pieces to present and which ones to leave out of my portfolio.
After selecting which items to include in my portfolio, I prioritised ensuring that my work was presented professionally. I dedicated time to gather all my projects and carefully arranged them in mock-ups to enhance their visual appeal. Additionally, I made a point to document the software and tools utilised for each undertaking. This step was crucial, as I observed that job descriptions on platforms like LinkedIn often feature a skills section. LinkedIn offers a unique feature where it compares the skills sought by employers with those already possessed by candidates, aiding hiring managers in evaluating compatibility. Therfore, incorporating details about the tools and software used in my projects seemed beneficial.
Initially, I grappled with how to showcase websites, given that my previous university projects were only available locally and not hosted live. After researching presentation methods for websites, I discovered that many individuals utilise GitHub repositories to provide access to project files, allowing end users to download the repository and review the code on their own machines. Consequently, I decided to establish a GitHub account to showcase my coding projects and included a “View on GitHub” button to facilitate access to my code repositories.
After selecting which items to include in my portfolio, I prioritised ensuring that my work was presented professionally. I dedicated time to gather all my projects and carefully arranged them in mock-ups to enhance their visual appeal. Additionally, I made a point to document the software and tools utilised for each undertaking. This step was crucial, as I observed that job descriptions on platforms like LinkedIn often feature a skills section. LinkedIn offers a unique feature where it compares the skills sought by employers with those already possessed by candidates, aiding hiring managers in evaluating compatibility. Therfore, incorporating details about the tools and software used in my projects seemed beneficial.
Initially, I grappled with how to showcase websites, given that my previous university projects were only available locally and not hosted live. After researching presentation methods for websites, I discovered that many individuals utilise GitHub repositories to provide access to project files, allowing end users to download the repository and review the code on their own machines. Consequently, I decided to establish a GitHub account to showcase my coding projects and included a “View on GitHub” button to facilitate access to my code repositories.
To gain deeper insights into what truly makes a standout portfolio and to gain an insight into relevant industry expertise, I decided to have conversations with experts in the field. So, I reached out to a creative developer colleague at my workplace, curious to learn about their experiences and strategies for standing out in the industry when they initially started out.
During our chat, they emphasised the importance of not just showcasing technical skills, but also letting your personality shine through. They stressed how crucial it is for employers to see that you’re not only skilled but also a good cultural fit for their team. This conversation aligned perfectly with my earlier findings while researching successful portfolio examples and how these sites attempted to reflect personality within the site design.
Inspired by this insight, I decided to humanise my own portfolio by adding a professional photo of myself in the hero section. I wanted to make that initial connection with visitors, showing them the person behind the work right from the start.
During my time at Dynamic, I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with a former marketing director at Creode. Through our interactions and his insights shared during team meetings, he emphasised the significance of having a clear heading section that precisely communicates the website’s purpose and services on offer. He highlighted how this not only benefits users in understanding our offerings but also plays a crucial role in SEO, contributing to higher rankings on Google. Additionally, he stressed the importance of integrating keywords strategically throughout the website, particularly in the heading section, which serves as users’ initial point of contact with the page.
Therefore, I tried to apply a comparable approach on my own website. Specifically, I highlighted my position as a creative developer in the heading section, using the main keyword “creative developer.” Furthermore, I organised each project into separate pages, offering a thorough explanation of the project brief for easier understanding. This method not only improves readability but also helps to include relevant keywords to boost search rankings, thus enhancing visibility in Google search outcomes.
During our chat, they emphasised the importance of not just showcasing technical skills, but also letting your personality shine through. They stressed how crucial it is for employers to see that you’re not only skilled but also a good cultural fit for their team. This conversation aligned perfectly with my earlier findings while researching successful portfolio examples and how these sites attempted to reflect personality within the site design.
Inspired by this insight, I decided to humanise my own portfolio by adding a professional photo of myself in the hero section. I wanted to make that initial connection with visitors, showing them the person behind the work right from the start.
During my time at Dynamic, I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with a former marketing director at Creode. Through our interactions and his insights shared during team meetings, he emphasised the significance of having a clear heading section that precisely communicates the website’s purpose and services on offer. He highlighted how this not only benefits users in understanding our offerings but also plays a crucial role in SEO, contributing to higher rankings on Google. Additionally, he stressed the importance of integrating keywords strategically throughout the website, particularly in the heading section, which serves as users’ initial point of contact with the page.
Therefore, I tried to apply a comparable approach on my own website. Specifically, I highlighted my position as a creative developer in the heading section, using the main keyword “creative developer.” Furthermore, I organised each project into separate pages, offering a thorough explanation of the project brief for easier understanding. This method not only improves readability but also helps to include relevant keywords to boost search rankings, thus enhancing visibility in Google search outcomes.
Gaining industry insights from professionals within the field
My next steps
As I approach the conclusion of my studies at Leeds Beckett University, I’m grateful to have been offered a job at Dynamic following graduation. My goal is to further my professional development alongside this opportunity. Additionally, I plan to pursue freelance work simultaneously. This course has been instrumental in equipping me with the tools to create a portfolio website, enabling me to engage with industry professionals, conduct research, and understand the elements that contribute to a successful portfolio site and its impact on career advancement.