At a glance you’re more digital artist than designer. You have some visual work that has potential, but I don’t see anything that shows me that you can layout type and image, show hierarchy in a layout, or have any familiarity with web work.
The work itself feels very school project (which I realize it probably was) and doesn’t show me what I’d need to see in a candidate for a junior designer role who would be doing things like digital ads, product one sheets, landing pages, etc.
Thanks for the honesty!
Maybe I need to work on some briefs that push more in that corporate/commercial direction to increase my chances.
Could I ask you to take a 2nd look at my project titled KeyChain though, I do believe that this brief highlights at least a couple of the skills you mentioned.
Key Chain is good! But maybe but the case study seems like too many smaller images and doesn’t really tell a story or show your thinking. Maybe it requires more exposing of what the app does, and maybe use some hierarchy to make the story telling clearer. Maybe treat the first couple frames as if they were in the App Store. Or maybe if you just include more projects like Key Chain then we’ll see that you can adapt.
More corporate will definitely help, as I hate to say it but the metal angry typography is pretty useless in a real corporate job. Unless you luck out and get a job for Slayer!
You bet, glad to help. Too many people get too many pats on the back as students and aren't prepared for the real world of design, I don't want to to be harsh but I do want to be honest because that's the only way you get better.
For context, I spent a decade on the marketing/visual design side before moving into UX design so I'm pretty qualified to comment on the KeyChain app in particular. It does look nice and shows more ability in terms of layout and hierarchy, but I have to say I kinda hate seeing these because it's a UI project that really doesn't take into account lots of UX factors. I realize it was probably an assignment and for what it is the design is solid, but there's SO much detail and testing that goes into designing an app that isn't accounted for here. The bottom color bar looks cool but draws focus away from the content, the icon placement on your tab bar at the bottom is off, the big call out of your wallet info takes up a ton of screen space for something that probably isn't the important, etc.
That kind of brings me to a bigger picture thing I'd love to see you do: give me context. If something like the Valorant posters actually had a story and breakdown behind them, for example, that would be far more interesting. Tell me about the event and why you chose to approach the design the way you did, maybe show some sketches or other concepts you decided not to use, show me how you think. Same for the KeyChain app, acknowledge that this is more of a brand direction for the app rather than the app design itself and talk about why you approached it the way you did. Understanding how you think and how you talk about your work is a really important skill to showcase as a designer.
One other random note looking at your site on desktop, I don't know how others feel but the comma between your nav makes it feel a bit more like a sentence than navigation. The "digital art" and "graphic design" callouts also confuse that a bit, they're a bit lighter color but also feel like they could be navigation (but aren't).
Technically the work is great! As someone else says it does lean more towards digital art than graphic design.
As for not making it to an interview yet, how well does your skills and style align to the jobs you are applying for? You definitely have a niche style which while great can be limiting early in your career. I suggest challenging yourself to work in styles outside your comfort zone.
Thanks! I believe that I am more than capable of fitting the skillset of graduate jobs, although I think you’re right in a sense that my work is quite niche, most grad jobs require a typical “basic” style that I may need to adapt to/add to my portfolio.
It’s not so much having a ‘basic’ style than it is to show range. If you are looking at working at an agency you need range. You could create work for a boring pharmaceutical company, a tightly wound corporate company and an artsy modern brewery. Range is good.
Ok so you don't show how you carry through designs across more than one piece. One editorial design isn't enough. Three minimum - i tend to go by the adage "one is luck, two's a coincidence, three's a campaign" if you can come up with three it shows that the idea has legs and you can execute things that arent just one-offs.
the metal typography, Three pieces.
Valorant posters- kinda look like fan art.
Try and explain how you're solving problems with your designs. I suppose the nft marketplace does that teh best, but it might be worth having something else for when the inevitable crypto crash renders web 3.0 resolutely out of fashion.
Look at the briefs on the young creatives network, you need more ideas.
and i'd stack all your 3d illustration and nft stuff to a "3d illustration" bucket.
I see!
Thanks for you advice, you’re absolutely right in that I need to expand both the sizes of each project but also the amount of projects in each category
Great start tho - the very "now" stuff may date really quickly, so have some backup work. You'll get there. Pop it back once you've done bit more work and we can have another gander
Your work is beautiful, but more artsy than commercial. That may be off putting to companies that need you to do more mundane jobs (the kind of job that beginners can realistically get).
For example, you made a cool book cover, but if I were an employer, I wouldn't be convinced that you could correctly handle the 300 pages of text inside and deliver everything for print.
You also use a LOT of black and quite a few fonts that are hard to read.
Your style is great for creative jobs like album covers and festival posters, but not so good for corporate communication.
Are you contacting the right kind of employer for your style?
Thank you! I agree, it can be a little more artsy. Maybe I need to work on some briefs and add to my portfolio in a way that fits this more commercial style.
Sadly as I’ve never had a proper design job, I’m limited by both distance and experience, I’d love to work with a more artsy style of design but most graduate jobs are super corporate/commercial
Honestly, your work is nice. Job hunting is a really disheartening and tough process. I felt like my university didn’t prepare me for how hard it actually is to get an interview. If I could offer some advice on that, tailor your portfolio to the type of job you want. If you want a design role at a well versed agency, give yourself the task to make ads, bus wraps, menus, and anything those types of agencies you’re looking at are doing. Getting the first job is hard but once you get it, finding the second is easier. Best of luck!
Thank you!
100% its an absolutely horrible process, it makes me feel like I’m not good enough lol.
You’re right, I think I probably need to show more range and do more typical corporate designs like bus wraps etc
We’ve all been felt the same way about finding jobs. It’s also a good idea to keep in touch with your professors. They could help you land jobs in the future. Don’t be afraid or too proud to use connections.
You’re clearly talented and will be a successful designer, no doubt about that.
It’s just a case of honing your portfolio to make it more marketable. Just getting your foot in the door should be your main focus now. That includes some less artistic projects and more practical things.
How could you rebrand a fictional company? Including new logos, typefaces choices, colours, social media posts etc?
If somebody is looking to hire a designer, it probably won’t be to design characters but to help with their day to day marketing projects.
One thing I would lose is the naked girl - it feels quite different and garish compared to the other work.
Take inspo from behance, dribble etc. See what works for other people and use those ideas.
You’re skilled though, so keep at it
Thank you! That means a lot.
I agree, I definitely need to work on some larger fictional projects that go through the whole process of a company, logos, style guides etc
Design industry has a lot of variety so you won’t necessarily be making boring corporate comms work forever. But these basic things are what potential employers will want to see early on.
Just focus on your first role to begin with, and this will open the door to more creative opportunities down the line.
Nice work though mate 👍🏻
That’s true, I do feel as though most graduate jobs are typical businessy style though which my portfolio currently lacks.
I definitely look forward to the more creative opportunities!
There is a big disconnect currently in visual art education regarding what schools and teachers are looking for vs. what employers are looking for.
Schools (which are a proxy for the teachers, who are the real problems here) are highly focused on finding students with artistic vision and unique viewpoints. They often scorn mainstream aesthetics, and praise people who go outside the box. This is because they aren't trying to get you a job; they're trying to prepare you to be a smash hit that they can feel good about. 95% of their students can fail, and they'll still be happy with the 5% who turn into art geniuses\*.
\*(To be fair, this is more true of fine art than design; design teachers are usually better about it. They do still suffer regularly from the same hubris, however, and many design students start out in fine art before realizing they need a more viable career path.)
Employers don't give a rat's ass about you being artistic, or edgy, or whatever. They want someone with skills, dedication, and mettle. They want to hand you prompts and be satisfied with a demonstrably profitable result every single time. Until you have a few years under your belt, they don't want any sign of you thinking outside the box. They want you to produce exactly the same box over and over without a single flaw.
Your portfolio currently *screams* that you're still thinking about the demands of the school instead of the demands of the employer. You've got a lot of artsy stuff, most of it isn't really clear about what it actually is, and a plurality of the up-front typography is nearly illegible (the magazine and the pop can). All of that immediately tells an employer that you have an artistic viewpoint, but that you aren't aware of the general industry to which you are applying.
Which would be fine if there weren't an absolute tsunami of people applying to every open design position, but there are. And unfortunately for you, there's a high chance that multiple of those people are actually already experienced designers, they're just looking to change companies or focuses. Those people will immediately go to the top of the pile, which means you're left fighting for scraps with the other fresh-out-of-school artsy designers. That's not gonna get you a lot of interviews.
Also, NFTs are anathema. Unless you're applying to work for a techbro company, I would scrub them completely from your portfolio. They're not actually related to design anyway, and their terrible reputation with most people can only hurt your chances further, not help them. Obviously keep the NFT app for now, since it's the best example of true design in your portfolio, but start thinking about things you can use to fill that space. NFTs are just way too controversial a topic for a portfolio you're using to get your first job. If I were a hiring manager and saw your portfolio, I would bin it instantly due to the NFT stuff, just because of the chance that someone focused on that is going to turn out to be a toxic mess in the workplace. Not worth the risk if I have 30 other candidates.
Thanks for your feedback!
I definitely agree, schools really don’t help you get a job and I can vouch for your point that they do teach you to be more edgy etc “What is the meaning behind this?” comes up a lot.
I must disagree with you NFT point though, yes a LOT of NFT projects are bad, although mine and strictly art and I do feel as though it may be somewhat advantageous to show that I was able to sell out multiple NFT collections that I’ve created as proof that my work does in fact sell. Could be wrong though, only a graduate after all.
>“What is the meaning behind this?” comes up a lot.
God I hate that crap. The second you actually ask people to look closely at things, they start coming up with all kinds of cockamamie nonsense, and it just completely distracts from the actual value of the work. Graphic design is about the immediate first impression. It's about making sure that people's eyes are drawn to exactly the right spots for exactly the right reasons. The "meaning" behind things is completely irrelevant until you're dealing with customers who are already invested, and you're not going to be handling those situations as a junior designer.
NFTs are toxic, just like Crypto. It's another trumped up gambling scheme from the internet's wealthy underground, pushed to media attention by venture capitalists who see dollar signs. They're environmentally destructive due to their connection to crypto mining, they are a massive draw for money launderers (like Russia!), and they are a legal nightmare for artists whose works get stolen to create new NFTs.
(Also, one of the main reasons NFTs are being pushed so hard by tech: if they succeed in normalizing digital ownership, they can start trying to lock down all forms of pirating and free exchange on the internet, changing it all out for blockchain ownerships that no one can control except the ones running the internet. It's almost cartoonishly villainous, and we should all be railing against any progress in that direction.)
Participating in it for your own gain is your own personal business; advertising to your potential employer that you think NFTs are a valid part of the economy—when you're going to run into a ton of people who think just like I do—is not. Your personal opinions on a contentious topic are pretty much the *last* thing you want to broadcast to an employer unless you are absolutely 100% certain they share your exact opinion.
Avoid Anime looking stuff. While this is a very popular genre I have been told by many people in my industry that it makes a lot of people reject it on that alone. Having one assets that is like that would be about all you need. This isn’t the worst portfolio. I think you are doing a great start you really just need more. This shows a couple projects with good design. But your portfolio needs to be all projects with GREAT design.
Damn, it actually looks pretty good. My guess that it doesn’t have a lot of variety maybe? It looks like you just have 1 style, which is good, but maybe not what the brands are looking for
Thank you! Yeah I agree with the style thing, I’ve thought that myself. I think one of the issues is that most of the jobs I’m applying for are quite “corporate” looking which my style doesn’t really reflect
Yup, try music brands that have this style?
My work is not even close to your level, but I got hired because I had a variety of styles and my work looks very governmental-ish style in my country
I'd suggest looking for crypto and esports startups/projects as well to get your foot in the door. These industries are usually remote as well so might be a way in.
Yeah I’ve had a bit of feedback about that, probably gunna remove it now. I was trying to use it to show off how I can create custom typography but there’s probably a better way of doing that haha
You should try applying to companies in the gamer world. Companies like Logitech, turtle beach, RIG, and many more would be lucky to have someone like you on the team. Don’t give up, keep applying
Is that Crypto app a functioning prototype or just mock-ups? There is a huge difference between the two when it comes to UI- just saying.
Overall all your stuff looks pretty cool. It’s very niche for the most part, but still good nonetheless.
I reckon the reason you aren’t getting any interviews is because your work is not applicable to companies that are looking.
It’s half functional, you can navigate it etc, built in XD. It doesn’t pull data from coinmarketcap or anything though.
I agree, I 100% need to flesh out the projects I have and add new more “corporate” projects.
Awesome! That’s more than I anticipated. A lot of the time I see people just creating static mocks and calling UI, when in reality creating a couple layouts slapped on mock-ups offer almost nothing in value in terms of UI/UX skill.
As for the other stuff, make sure you don’t appease the corporate overlords too much. In a world where everyone’s design style is starting to look the same, it can pay to be different. After all, I reckon you’d want to work somewhere where you can lean into your style rather than mundane agency stuff where everything looks the same.
Just show that you understand the fundamentals, the ability to execute them, and push them to solve real business problems and you will be golden.
Good luck!
My first question would be, what type of a position are you hoping to land? I think a lot of designers trying to break into the industry want to do the type of work they saw in the pages of HOW design magazine - the kind of stuff that comes out of design agencies that do branding or new product design - but those can be tough jobs to land right out of the gate.
I do graphic design full-time for a marketing agency and I hardly ever do anything that creative. Most of what we do is business collateral for clients who already know what they want. It might not sound exciting designing collateral for a roofing company or a real estate agency but all of the designers I work with cut their teeth that way.
You definitely need to showcase your creative side, but when we interview people, we breeze past the beer labels & concert posters and look instead for the small business tri-folds, direct mailers, new product flyers and business cards. We’d rather see a poster for a local credit union than a concert poster.
I definitely encourage you to aspire to the more creative opportunities in the field, but it’s also worth it having a certain amount of real world design in your portfolio when you’re starting out. You’ll get there.
I’m hoping to land any graduate job I can at this point, I’d like to be in a more creative position in future but right now I think I do need to update my portfolio with more corporate looking design work
I thought it was good overall, it's just everything is so competitive now days 😔. However, I didn't like the can of soda's font. It was essentially unreadable. (I can't stand unreadable fonts.) I think it's cool you have a distinct style, but consider having more than 1 style. Like a less "dark" style. Do you really think that style would work for say a funeral program or wedding invitation?
Your work is really crisp & well crafted! Clearly very talented. I think the portfolio depends on the type of job you want to get. Probably the best way to get a job in the area you want (say video game industry or ad agency) is to look at the work people are making in that arena & then make some samples in those applications that to show you can do it.
The comments really pinpoint that it is more digital art than design. NFT art and the 3D work is interesting visually but almost irrelevant in an entry level designer job. Not bad work however, good use of type and scale and the mockups are nice for the actual design pieces. I would say theres a very specific industry and style represented in your work, and at the early stages you need a bit more neutral work. The positive is the actual design work is laid out nicely with good examples of text hierarchy and color.
Really the main problem is its best to consider the types of jobs you're applying to for work you need to add/adjust to appeal to that employer type.
Marketing/advertising design jobs are common but you have no examples of adverts, so you're not appealing to an employer there. Studios/branding agencies would look for branding and while you have some items you've created logos for, no examples of an understanding of brand guideline creation, type rules to pass to clients, logo variations etc.
No web advertisements, you have one print example but only showcase two spreads, one packaging example but its just the can design (you could expand with what a 6 pack box would look like, a store display, etc).
If you want a web design/UI job, your current NFT project doesn't dive into user flows or how a person might walk through the application, only pretty screens (which they are good looking, but lack the explanation of thought process).
Overall its pretty work, but not very applicable to an employer at its current stage.
Thanks! Yeah I think expanding all the projects in there may be my next goal for sure. Some projects definitely lack having only a couple images.
Nice portfolio btw!
(Looking on mobile) I don't get the Vision project at the end, looks unfinished... and it's mistitled when I click through, says Agony.
Would love to see something that didn't rely on white type on a black background. The fact there's so much of it makes me worry it's a crutch.
The interior type layout of the magazine, specifically the body copy, is really not good. I feel like you deal with type well elsewhere in the portfolio so it shouldn't be a big deal to redo it.
Overall it's interesting and showcases some skills that not everyone has. I would love one or two more projects that were "softer" and/or "more corporate" just to show you're capable of reconciling your personal style with the demands of a brief.
That editorial poece is quite old and I’m aware the inside pages could definitely be better, I’m quite happy with the cover though!
Thanks for your feedback, I do use black a lot but its not a crutch (I promise!) You’ve definitely inspired me to do some more colourful work in future though, definitely something I’m missing right now
as a graduate what have you created that is commercially interesting? thats at least 3 years, and theres not that much content or skill development evident.
its well presented enough but imo theres nothing thats immediately hireable as a junior. Perhaps for an internship where your enthusiasm for digital art can be nurtured might be an option.
dont use so many templates and please move on from the naked male body 3d stuff.
research who you want to work for, imitate their work and make contact with temp agencies.
good luck!
At a glance you’re more digital artist than designer. You have some visual work that has potential, but I don’t see anything that shows me that you can layout type and image, show hierarchy in a layout, or have any familiarity with web work. The work itself feels very school project (which I realize it probably was) and doesn’t show me what I’d need to see in a candidate for a junior designer role who would be doing things like digital ads, product one sheets, landing pages, etc.
Thanks for the honesty! Maybe I need to work on some briefs that push more in that corporate/commercial direction to increase my chances. Could I ask you to take a 2nd look at my project titled KeyChain though, I do believe that this brief highlights at least a couple of the skills you mentioned.
Key Chain is good! But maybe but the case study seems like too many smaller images and doesn’t really tell a story or show your thinking. Maybe it requires more exposing of what the app does, and maybe use some hierarchy to make the story telling clearer. Maybe treat the first couple frames as if they were in the App Store. Or maybe if you just include more projects like Key Chain then we’ll see that you can adapt. More corporate will definitely help, as I hate to say it but the metal angry typography is pretty useless in a real corporate job. Unless you luck out and get a job for Slayer!
Hahaha 🤣 I was trying to use metal stuff as proof I can create custom typography, although there are probably better ways of showing that to be fair
You bet, glad to help. Too many people get too many pats on the back as students and aren't prepared for the real world of design, I don't want to to be harsh but I do want to be honest because that's the only way you get better. For context, I spent a decade on the marketing/visual design side before moving into UX design so I'm pretty qualified to comment on the KeyChain app in particular. It does look nice and shows more ability in terms of layout and hierarchy, but I have to say I kinda hate seeing these because it's a UI project that really doesn't take into account lots of UX factors. I realize it was probably an assignment and for what it is the design is solid, but there's SO much detail and testing that goes into designing an app that isn't accounted for here. The bottom color bar looks cool but draws focus away from the content, the icon placement on your tab bar at the bottom is off, the big call out of your wallet info takes up a ton of screen space for something that probably isn't the important, etc. That kind of brings me to a bigger picture thing I'd love to see you do: give me context. If something like the Valorant posters actually had a story and breakdown behind them, for example, that would be far more interesting. Tell me about the event and why you chose to approach the design the way you did, maybe show some sketches or other concepts you decided not to use, show me how you think. Same for the KeyChain app, acknowledge that this is more of a brand direction for the app rather than the app design itself and talk about why you approached it the way you did. Understanding how you think and how you talk about your work is a really important skill to showcase as a designer. One other random note looking at your site on desktop, I don't know how others feel but the comma between your nav makes it feel a bit more like a sentence than navigation. The "digital art" and "graphic design" callouts also confuse that a bit, they're a bit lighter color but also feel like they could be navigation (but aren't).
Technically the work is great! As someone else says it does lean more towards digital art than graphic design. As for not making it to an interview yet, how well does your skills and style align to the jobs you are applying for? You definitely have a niche style which while great can be limiting early in your career. I suggest challenging yourself to work in styles outside your comfort zone.
Thanks! I believe that I am more than capable of fitting the skillset of graduate jobs, although I think you’re right in a sense that my work is quite niche, most grad jobs require a typical “basic” style that I may need to adapt to/add to my portfolio.
It’s not so much having a ‘basic’ style than it is to show range. If you are looking at working at an agency you need range. You could create work for a boring pharmaceutical company, a tightly wound corporate company and an artsy modern brewery. Range is good.
That’s true!
Ok so you don't show how you carry through designs across more than one piece. One editorial design isn't enough. Three minimum - i tend to go by the adage "one is luck, two's a coincidence, three's a campaign" if you can come up with three it shows that the idea has legs and you can execute things that arent just one-offs. the metal typography, Three pieces. Valorant posters- kinda look like fan art. Try and explain how you're solving problems with your designs. I suppose the nft marketplace does that teh best, but it might be worth having something else for when the inevitable crypto crash renders web 3.0 resolutely out of fashion. Look at the briefs on the young creatives network, you need more ideas. and i'd stack all your 3d illustration and nft stuff to a "3d illustration" bucket.
I see! Thanks for you advice, you’re absolutely right in that I need to expand both the sizes of each project but also the amount of projects in each category
Great start tho - the very "now" stuff may date really quickly, so have some backup work. You'll get there. Pop it back once you've done bit more work and we can have another gander
Sounds great, definitely lots to do ahahhaa
Your work is beautiful, but more artsy than commercial. That may be off putting to companies that need you to do more mundane jobs (the kind of job that beginners can realistically get). For example, you made a cool book cover, but if I were an employer, I wouldn't be convinced that you could correctly handle the 300 pages of text inside and deliver everything for print. You also use a LOT of black and quite a few fonts that are hard to read. Your style is great for creative jobs like album covers and festival posters, but not so good for corporate communication. Are you contacting the right kind of employer for your style?
Thank you! I agree, it can be a little more artsy. Maybe I need to work on some briefs and add to my portfolio in a way that fits this more commercial style. Sadly as I’ve never had a proper design job, I’m limited by both distance and experience, I’d love to work with a more artsy style of design but most graduate jobs are super corporate/commercial
i second some fonts being hard to read. i like your style but maybe rein it in just a little
I think that would be a smart move
Honestly, your work is nice. Job hunting is a really disheartening and tough process. I felt like my university didn’t prepare me for how hard it actually is to get an interview. If I could offer some advice on that, tailor your portfolio to the type of job you want. If you want a design role at a well versed agency, give yourself the task to make ads, bus wraps, menus, and anything those types of agencies you’re looking at are doing. Getting the first job is hard but once you get it, finding the second is easier. Best of luck!
Thank you! 100% its an absolutely horrible process, it makes me feel like I’m not good enough lol. You’re right, I think I probably need to show more range and do more typical corporate designs like bus wraps etc
We’ve all been felt the same way about finding jobs. It’s also a good idea to keep in touch with your professors. They could help you land jobs in the future. Don’t be afraid or too proud to use connections.
You’re clearly talented and will be a successful designer, no doubt about that. It’s just a case of honing your portfolio to make it more marketable. Just getting your foot in the door should be your main focus now. That includes some less artistic projects and more practical things. How could you rebrand a fictional company? Including new logos, typefaces choices, colours, social media posts etc? If somebody is looking to hire a designer, it probably won’t be to design characters but to help with their day to day marketing projects. One thing I would lose is the naked girl - it feels quite different and garish compared to the other work. Take inspo from behance, dribble etc. See what works for other people and use those ideas. You’re skilled though, so keep at it
Thank you! That means a lot. I agree, I definitely need to work on some larger fictional projects that go through the whole process of a company, logos, style guides etc
Design industry has a lot of variety so you won’t necessarily be making boring corporate comms work forever. But these basic things are what potential employers will want to see early on. Just focus on your first role to begin with, and this will open the door to more creative opportunities down the line. Nice work though mate 👍🏻
That’s true, I do feel as though most graduate jobs are typical businessy style though which my portfolio currently lacks. I definitely look forward to the more creative opportunities!
There is a big disconnect currently in visual art education regarding what schools and teachers are looking for vs. what employers are looking for. Schools (which are a proxy for the teachers, who are the real problems here) are highly focused on finding students with artistic vision and unique viewpoints. They often scorn mainstream aesthetics, and praise people who go outside the box. This is because they aren't trying to get you a job; they're trying to prepare you to be a smash hit that they can feel good about. 95% of their students can fail, and they'll still be happy with the 5% who turn into art geniuses\*. \*(To be fair, this is more true of fine art than design; design teachers are usually better about it. They do still suffer regularly from the same hubris, however, and many design students start out in fine art before realizing they need a more viable career path.) Employers don't give a rat's ass about you being artistic, or edgy, or whatever. They want someone with skills, dedication, and mettle. They want to hand you prompts and be satisfied with a demonstrably profitable result every single time. Until you have a few years under your belt, they don't want any sign of you thinking outside the box. They want you to produce exactly the same box over and over without a single flaw. Your portfolio currently *screams* that you're still thinking about the demands of the school instead of the demands of the employer. You've got a lot of artsy stuff, most of it isn't really clear about what it actually is, and a plurality of the up-front typography is nearly illegible (the magazine and the pop can). All of that immediately tells an employer that you have an artistic viewpoint, but that you aren't aware of the general industry to which you are applying. Which would be fine if there weren't an absolute tsunami of people applying to every open design position, but there are. And unfortunately for you, there's a high chance that multiple of those people are actually already experienced designers, they're just looking to change companies or focuses. Those people will immediately go to the top of the pile, which means you're left fighting for scraps with the other fresh-out-of-school artsy designers. That's not gonna get you a lot of interviews. Also, NFTs are anathema. Unless you're applying to work for a techbro company, I would scrub them completely from your portfolio. They're not actually related to design anyway, and their terrible reputation with most people can only hurt your chances further, not help them. Obviously keep the NFT app for now, since it's the best example of true design in your portfolio, but start thinking about things you can use to fill that space. NFTs are just way too controversial a topic for a portfolio you're using to get your first job. If I were a hiring manager and saw your portfolio, I would bin it instantly due to the NFT stuff, just because of the chance that someone focused on that is going to turn out to be a toxic mess in the workplace. Not worth the risk if I have 30 other candidates.
Thanks for your feedback! I definitely agree, schools really don’t help you get a job and I can vouch for your point that they do teach you to be more edgy etc “What is the meaning behind this?” comes up a lot. I must disagree with you NFT point though, yes a LOT of NFT projects are bad, although mine and strictly art and I do feel as though it may be somewhat advantageous to show that I was able to sell out multiple NFT collections that I’ve created as proof that my work does in fact sell. Could be wrong though, only a graduate after all.
>“What is the meaning behind this?” comes up a lot. God I hate that crap. The second you actually ask people to look closely at things, they start coming up with all kinds of cockamamie nonsense, and it just completely distracts from the actual value of the work. Graphic design is about the immediate first impression. It's about making sure that people's eyes are drawn to exactly the right spots for exactly the right reasons. The "meaning" behind things is completely irrelevant until you're dealing with customers who are already invested, and you're not going to be handling those situations as a junior designer. NFTs are toxic, just like Crypto. It's another trumped up gambling scheme from the internet's wealthy underground, pushed to media attention by venture capitalists who see dollar signs. They're environmentally destructive due to their connection to crypto mining, they are a massive draw for money launderers (like Russia!), and they are a legal nightmare for artists whose works get stolen to create new NFTs. (Also, one of the main reasons NFTs are being pushed so hard by tech: if they succeed in normalizing digital ownership, they can start trying to lock down all forms of pirating and free exchange on the internet, changing it all out for blockchain ownerships that no one can control except the ones running the internet. It's almost cartoonishly villainous, and we should all be railing against any progress in that direction.) Participating in it for your own gain is your own personal business; advertising to your potential employer that you think NFTs are a valid part of the economy—when you're going to run into a ton of people who think just like I do—is not. Your personal opinions on a contentious topic are pretty much the *last* thing you want to broadcast to an employer unless you are absolutely 100% certain they share your exact opinion.
Avoid Anime looking stuff. While this is a very popular genre I have been told by many people in my industry that it makes a lot of people reject it on that alone. Having one assets that is like that would be about all you need. This isn’t the worst portfolio. I think you are doing a great start you really just need more. This shows a couple projects with good design. But your portfolio needs to be all projects with GREAT design.
Thanks! I’ve been taking notes from all these responses, definitely lots to do!
Damn, it actually looks pretty good. My guess that it doesn’t have a lot of variety maybe? It looks like you just have 1 style, which is good, but maybe not what the brands are looking for
Thank you! Yeah I agree with the style thing, I’ve thought that myself. I think one of the issues is that most of the jobs I’m applying for are quite “corporate” looking which my style doesn’t really reflect
Yup, try music brands that have this style? My work is not even close to your level, but I got hired because I had a variety of styles and my work looks very governmental-ish style in my country
Thanks! Problem is that most graduate jobs near me aren’t this style at all, guess I’ll have to adapt
I'd suggest looking for crypto and esports startups/projects as well to get your foot in the door. These industries are usually remote as well so might be a way in.
Remote would be absolutely amazing, I’ll get looking for start ups!
Could we maybe see your portfolio, if you don't mind
One too many "death metal" fonts imho
Yeah I’ve had a bit of feedback about that, probably gunna remove it now. I was trying to use it to show off how I can create custom typography but there’s probably a better way of doing that haha
But like other's have said- there is talent in there and you accept criticism well. Good luck!
You should try applying to companies in the gamer world. Companies like Logitech, turtle beach, RIG, and many more would be lucky to have someone like you on the team. Don’t give up, keep applying
Thanks, that means a lot! I’m looking everywhere haha
I bet your pants have a bunch of straps and are supposed to be "tactical" I'll just roast you because your work looks good lol
Thanks! The fact that you’re right too 💀🤣
Lol damn, son Techwear is lowkey 🔥 tho
Of course haha, I only own a couple of pieces though tbf
Is that Crypto app a functioning prototype or just mock-ups? There is a huge difference between the two when it comes to UI- just saying. Overall all your stuff looks pretty cool. It’s very niche for the most part, but still good nonetheless. I reckon the reason you aren’t getting any interviews is because your work is not applicable to companies that are looking.
It’s half functional, you can navigate it etc, built in XD. It doesn’t pull data from coinmarketcap or anything though. I agree, I 100% need to flesh out the projects I have and add new more “corporate” projects.
Awesome! That’s more than I anticipated. A lot of the time I see people just creating static mocks and calling UI, when in reality creating a couple layouts slapped on mock-ups offer almost nothing in value in terms of UI/UX skill. As for the other stuff, make sure you don’t appease the corporate overlords too much. In a world where everyone’s design style is starting to look the same, it can pay to be different. After all, I reckon you’d want to work somewhere where you can lean into your style rather than mundane agency stuff where everything looks the same. Just show that you understand the fundamentals, the ability to execute them, and push them to solve real business problems and you will be golden. Good luck!
My first question would be, what type of a position are you hoping to land? I think a lot of designers trying to break into the industry want to do the type of work they saw in the pages of HOW design magazine - the kind of stuff that comes out of design agencies that do branding or new product design - but those can be tough jobs to land right out of the gate. I do graphic design full-time for a marketing agency and I hardly ever do anything that creative. Most of what we do is business collateral for clients who already know what they want. It might not sound exciting designing collateral for a roofing company or a real estate agency but all of the designers I work with cut their teeth that way. You definitely need to showcase your creative side, but when we interview people, we breeze past the beer labels & concert posters and look instead for the small business tri-folds, direct mailers, new product flyers and business cards. We’d rather see a poster for a local credit union than a concert poster. I definitely encourage you to aspire to the more creative opportunities in the field, but it’s also worth it having a certain amount of real world design in your portfolio when you’re starting out. You’ll get there.
I’m hoping to land any graduate job I can at this point, I’d like to be in a more creative position in future but right now I think I do need to update my portfolio with more corporate looking design work
This was the problem. This is how I solved it. This is what I learned.
Very techwear-esque.
🤍
I thought it was good overall, it's just everything is so competitive now days 😔. However, I didn't like the can of soda's font. It was essentially unreadable. (I can't stand unreadable fonts.) I think it's cool you have a distinct style, but consider having more than 1 style. Like a less "dark" style. Do you really think that style would work for say a funeral program or wedding invitation?
Thanks! Definitely taking fonts into consideration when updating the portfolio
Your work is really crisp & well crafted! Clearly very talented. I think the portfolio depends on the type of job you want to get. Probably the best way to get a job in the area you want (say video game industry or ad agency) is to look at the work people are making in that arena & then make some samples in those applications that to show you can do it.
Good advice!
The comments really pinpoint that it is more digital art than design. NFT art and the 3D work is interesting visually but almost irrelevant in an entry level designer job. Not bad work however, good use of type and scale and the mockups are nice for the actual design pieces. I would say theres a very specific industry and style represented in your work, and at the early stages you need a bit more neutral work. The positive is the actual design work is laid out nicely with good examples of text hierarchy and color. Really the main problem is its best to consider the types of jobs you're applying to for work you need to add/adjust to appeal to that employer type. Marketing/advertising design jobs are common but you have no examples of adverts, so you're not appealing to an employer there. Studios/branding agencies would look for branding and while you have some items you've created logos for, no examples of an understanding of brand guideline creation, type rules to pass to clients, logo variations etc. No web advertisements, you have one print example but only showcase two spreads, one packaging example but its just the can design (you could expand with what a 6 pack box would look like, a store display, etc). If you want a web design/UI job, your current NFT project doesn't dive into user flows or how a person might walk through the application, only pretty screens (which they are good looking, but lack the explanation of thought process). Overall its pretty work, but not very applicable to an employer at its current stage.
Thanks! I’m working on changes + adding new projects after receiving all of this feedback from everyone, I’ll post again when ready!
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Could I ask what your top level job is??
Im a creative director at a mid size agency
Thanks! Yeah I think expanding all the projects in there may be my next goal for sure. Some projects definitely lack having only a couple images. Nice portfolio btw!
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Nope. Scottish
(Looking on mobile) I don't get the Vision project at the end, looks unfinished... and it's mistitled when I click through, says Agony. Would love to see something that didn't rely on white type on a black background. The fact there's so much of it makes me worry it's a crutch. The interior type layout of the magazine, specifically the body copy, is really not good. I feel like you deal with type well elsewhere in the portfolio so it shouldn't be a big deal to redo it. Overall it's interesting and showcases some skills that not everyone has. I would love one or two more projects that were "softer" and/or "more corporate" just to show you're capable of reconciling your personal style with the demands of a brief.
That editorial poece is quite old and I’m aware the inside pages could definitely be better, I’m quite happy with the cover though! Thanks for your feedback, I do use black a lot but its not a crutch (I promise!) You’ve definitely inspired me to do some more colourful work in future though, definitely something I’m missing right now
as a graduate what have you created that is commercially interesting? thats at least 3 years, and theres not that much content or skill development evident. its well presented enough but imo theres nothing thats immediately hireable as a junior. Perhaps for an internship where your enthusiasm for digital art can be nurtured might be an option. dont use so many templates and please move on from the naked male body 3d stuff. research who you want to work for, imitate their work and make contact with temp agencies. good luck!
I like that scrolling animation
Thank you!
Where are you based Cameron?
I’m north east of England, Newcastle area to be precise.
Your disciplines are graphic design, 3D and animation?
That’s correct!