- Format: Most designers today showcase their portfolios online. A personal website or a platform like Behance or Dribbble is common. A link to your portfolio can be included in your resume or LinkedIn profile.
- Industry Standards: While there's no strict industry standard, a clean, user-friendly design that reflects your style and skills is essential. Make sure it's responsive and looks good on various devices.
- Number of Pieces: Typically, 6-12 pieces are a good range. Quality over quantity is key, so choose your best work.
- Age of Work: Including older work is fine if it's still relevant and showcases your skills. If you've grown significantly since then, you might want to focus on more recent work.
- Fake Projects: Some designers do create hypothetical projects to showcase specific skills. If you feel like your portfolio lacks in certain areas, this can be a good way to fill in the gaps.
- Design Systems: Given your experience with design systems and the current demand in the market, highlighting this work in your portfolio would be beneficial. Include details about the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the impact of your work.
- Accessibility (a11y) Work: Your work on accessibility is a strong selling point, especially as more companies prioritize inclusive design. Include this in your portfolio, explaining the problems you solved and the technologies you used.
- Case Studies: Consider including a few case studies that go in-depth into the process, challenges, solutions, and results of particular projects. This can give potential employers a better understanding of how you approach design problems.
- Personal Branding: Your portfolio itself is a reflection of your design skills. Consider the layout, typography, color scheme, and overall user experience as part of your personal branding.
- Include a Resume and Contact Information: Make it easy for potential employers to learn more about you and get in touch.
- Update Regularly: Keep your portfolio up to date with new work, and remove anything that no longer represents your best abilities.
- Feedback: Consider getting feedback from peers or mentors in the industry to ensure your portfolio is aligned with current trends and expectations.
Your extensive experience and innovative work on design systems, accessibility, and UX components will undoubtedly make you a strong candidate for design jobs. Researching current trends, tailoring your portfolio to reflect your unique skills, and possibly even creating a few new pieces to showcase specific abilities will help you stand out.
Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance with any specific aspect of your portfolio or job search. Good luck with your day, and enjoy that strong aeropress coffee!