Have you ever thought about turning your creativity into income with a graphic designer portfolio, all while working from anywhere?
If so, making a really good graphic designer book of work is the first step to making that dream come true.
In fact, it has been seen that online jobs for graphic designers went up a lot like 24% in 2023!
The truth is, more and more people want designers who can work from their own houses.
Designers with clear, focused portfolios are far more likely to get noticed by potential clients.
So, let’s take a look at how you can build a book of work that opens the door to awesome jobs where you get to work from home!
What Makes a Graphic Designer Book of Work Really Good?
A graphic designer book of work is not just a bunch of nice pictures.
It’s like your picture resume, and your work story is told by the things you carefully picked.
Your book of work should show both your skills and your identity as a designer.
Think about it like this: your book of work is like your own helper that talks about how good you are.
It works for you even when you are sleeping!
A well-made book of work shows:
- How you think about designing and how problems are solved by you.
- What computer skills and programs are known by you.
- The way you like to approach things and your level of creativity.
- Your growth and improvement as a designer.
Things Every Graphic Designer Book of Work Should Have
Before we talk about the computer stuff, let’s talk about what really needs to be in your book of work.
Making a graphic designer book of work might seem like a lot, but if it is broken down into small parts, it becomes easier.
Your book of work should be put together carefully so that people looking at it can easily see your best work.
Remember, it is always better to have a few really good things than many things that are just okay!
Each project that is in your book of work should have:
- A short talk about the design problem that was there.
- How you tried to fix it and what was done by you.
- What tools and ways of doing things were used by you.
- What happened in the end or how it helped (if it did).
A survey from last year revealed that hiring managers typically spend only about 30 seconds reviewing a designer’s portfolio the first time.
That is why what you show needs to be clear, quick to understand, and make a big impression.
Places Where Your Graphic Designer Book of Work Can Be Made
Where you choose to put your book of work matters.
Luckily, there are some really good places that were made just for designers to show their work well.
Think about these popular places for books of work:
- Behance (good for meeting other designers).
- Dribbble (perfect for showing how you do things).
- Adobe Portfolio (works easily if you use Adobe Creative Cloud).
- Your own website (you can make it look exactly how you want).
These places all have their benefits, and many designers showcase their work on multiple platforms to reach a larger audience.
What you choose should go with what you want to do and the kinds of online jobs you are trying to get.
How to Make Your Book of Work Help You Get a Job Working From Home
Now, let’s focus on what people who hire for online work are looking for in a graphic designer book of work.
Working from home needs some skills that should be shown in how you present your work.
When a book of work is being made for online jobs, make sure the projects show that you can:
- Work by yourself and start doing things without being told.
- Talk clearly with people.
- Manage your time and keep things organized.
- Work with others using online tools.
- Change your work based on what people tell you.
“People who hire for online work need to trust that good work can be done by you without someone watching you all the time,” explains Carlos Mendez, who is the boss at There Is Talent.
“Your book of work should show not just that you are good at the computer stuff, but also that you are reliable and professional.”
Portfolios that show the design process along with the final product tend to grab more attention from potential clients.
This is especially true for jobs where you work from home because it is very important for them to see how you work.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Your Graphic Designer Book of Work
Let’s break down making your book of work into easy steps:
First, look at all your work: Gather all the best things you have done, and be very picky about what you choose.
Next, put them in groups: Put similar projects together to show all the different things you can do.
Then, tell stories about them: For each project, explain what you were asked to do, how you did it, and what happened in the end.
After that, design how it looks: Use your design skills to make your work look good when it is shown.
Also, make sure it looks good on all devices: Check that your book of work looks great on phones, tablets, and computers.
Finally, put your contact information: Make it easy for people who might hire you to get in touch.
Keep in mind that your graphic designer book of work is never really “done” – it should change as you get better at your job.
That’s why you should update it every few months with new projects and take out the old ones.
Common Mistakes to Not Make in Your Book of Work
Even designers who are very talented sometimes make mistakes when they are making their books of work.
The good news is that if you know about these bad things, it is easy to not do them.
So, watch out for these common mistakes:
- First of all, putting in too many projects (it’s better to have a few good ones!)..
- Also, not saying what you did in projects where you worked with other people.
- Another common mistake is forgetting to update it often.
- In addition, making it hard to find your way around the book of work..
- Lastly, having pictures or animations that take a long time to load.
Remember, your book of work should be thought of as a project about how people use it.
After all, how people who might hire you look at your work is just as important as the work itself.
What to Do Next
While creating a really good graphic designer book of work takes time and effort, the reward of landing a remote job is well worth it.
Over time, your portfolio should be updated regularly to reflect your growth and the new creative directions you’ve explored.
So, if the next step in your journey is to become a remote graphic designer, your interest would be welcomed.
You’re invited to apply now at Join There Is Talent and begin building a remote career you’ll be proud of.
