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- CommentAuthorWardLarson
- CommentTimeJul 8th 2006
My situation is this:
I am greatly interested in going into freelance webdesign throughout the rest of highschool and perhaps into college. My issue is, I have a portfolio site (that's currently under construction) but I really have nothing to show. I would like to start building mine but I think people will be driven away by the fact that I'm an amatuer (which is to be expected). So what should I do? Leave out a portfolio page all together and have only a services page, or should I just keep it the way it is (a couple local print designs with no site designs)? Should I hang flyers downtown (lol)?
Please give me some suggestions.
Ward Larson -
Ask some friends/charities if they want a website done for free. Do a real nice job, and bing, you have a micro-portfolio to get you started.
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CommentAuthoradjustafresh
- CommentTimeJul 9th 2006
Hi Ward,
First of all...nice job on your personal website. I see a lot of portfolio sites of so-called professional web designer/developers seeking employment, and your site is already better than the majority of them. We've all got to start somewhere, and you're off to a good start.
Speaking of getting started, here's some advice that served me well. Not so many years ago I was also a relative novice in the web development field. Start by creating a CSS Zen Garden design. This doesn't pay, but if it's good it will give you a lot of exposure, and people will come knocking. Portfolio Sample #1: done.
Without a portfolio of my own (I only had a blog) I built my first website for a local non-profit. All it took to get the job was me saying that I knew how to make a website. I think I made a whopping $500. Portfolio Sample #2: done.
People need websites. Your friends probably have hiddeous MySpace sites that you could help them with. You probably know some kids who have a band that want a website, how about a local business or upcoming event? Start with people that you know who may need your services and build a network. You won't make a ton of cash at first, but you should be able to get some websites built and portfolio samples under your belt.
Become a known presence online. Participate in forums like this one. Learn from some of the brilliant designers and developers on this website and others. Visit blogs, join web design and development groups, find a MeetUp in your area. Write a worst design top ten list or a great tutorial on your blog about a new CSS technique and get it posted to Digg or del.icio.us popular. Become an expert.
I also participated on a website called Worth1000. It's a Photoshop site that has contests every day. Look for the corporate contest area where they have logo competitions. This will help you start thinking about branding and logos, give you lots of great Photoshop practice and hopefully get some more samples done for your portfolio.
Good luck!
Scott -
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- CommentAuthorWardLarson
- CommentTimeJul 9th 2006
Hey guys, first off, thanks a ton for all the info.
My site is actually based on a wordpress template at the moment, so i can't take any credit for the design.
I never thought of doing a CSS Zen Garden but it sounds like a smart plan.
Thanks again,
Ward Larson -
If you do not have any experience at all, you can build websites for charity for example, in NL we have volunteer job boards, perhaps try that?
Or try something like webhostingtalk(.nl) where clients and webdesigners meet each other. -
Here is what I suggest....
Start making stuff ... make anything and everything! If you see a movie poster and you think you could have done it better -- do it and show it. If you think of a cool company concept, pretend like it is your company and create a logo and brand identity. A portfolio is NOT defined as a showcase of work for hire. It is simply a showcase of work (any and all work original to you!!). Anyone here can create a new "AOL.com" logo and submit it to AOL. It is for AOL to decide whether or not they use our logo, but we can present this work in our portfolio -- even if AOL thinks what you created is horrible.
What "Web 2.0" has started to envolve into is community based resources. Look at CSSBeauty.com, no one paid Alex to create this site or this forum, but I know it makes one hell of a portfolio piece for him. My point being, create something useful and you instantly have a great portfolio piece. Don't ever lie about what was and was not work-for-hire, be honest (when asked), but present high impact work.
Personally -- as a hiring manager, I would rather see your BEST design work, whether paid or not. I don't want to see some 3 page website you did for "Pam's Shoe Cleaning Service" down the street -- I want to see the best you have to offer -- something that knocks my socks off (and shoe cleaning logos don't usually do that). -
- CommentAuthorWardLarson
- CommentTimeJul 9th 2006
Haha, thanks for the input. I've seen portfolio sites that link to 1 page 1995-esque geocities sites claiming to be legit companies, and I thinks that's shady and incredibly unprofessional, and somthing I would never do. I am going to start making a few logo and company identity samples and add them, but for now I've got to get a new design up. I am currently designing T-Shirts for a band in Wisconsin and I emailed a client back about a Photography showcase site inquiry, both offers I got today from a topic on DeviantArt's forums... not a bad way to start off. Next monday or there-abouts I should be underway quite nicely. Hopefully people will see my talent instead of my barren portfolio, =).
Thanks for everything,
Ward Larson -
In all seriousness, mringlein's advice is pretty solid. One other thing to consider when redesigning an existing logo (or website, or any design piece for that matter) is to evaluate what the current logo is doing well and not so well, and then be able to explain WHY you made the changes you did and how it improves on the existing logo. It'll make you sound professional, and it could also help you in your design process (by always keeping in mind the problem you're trying to solve for the particular design).
To further illustrate that it's the design and not the client, I remember back in college, one of my Corporate ID professors told us about a former student of his that created an ad campaign for Viagara for the class project. By the time he graduated, he was hired by a pharmaceutical company that was working on a pill to compete with Viagara. -
- CommentAuthorWardLarson
- CommentTimeJul 9th 2006
Thanks again for all the help everyone, I truly appreciate it.
Ward Larson -
HA HA! I love the logo!
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Was replying to a lightbox question in another SkillShare post and thought I would share it here.
An example of some "demo" work I did in my portfolio that were never paid projects. Just some ideas I had with what I thought to be good designs behind them.
http://www.marylandmedia.com/projects/lightbox/ -
Is it a good idea to post work you are still working on. I mean, work that is more or less finished but with a few quirks and broken links and you mentioned that it is not complete yet.
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As stated in the previous post with the same question:
"It is okay to present unfinished work, but label it as such. When responding to emails from RFP's, I typically send a few links of work and then send a few more links of "projects in development". I've occasionally sent in HTML files that are just one large JPG (concept previews) -- really in development. The key is to ensure it is clear to the client what they are viewing." -
You could also make a wordpress theme. Good exposure...
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