Thoughts on design portfolios

I'm going to be honest, the task of building a portfolio has been looming over my head (threateningly) since I discovered my interest in creative work. I've dreaded the idea of having to reduce myself, a human being, into a desirable commodity, and I'm deathly worried that there's not much marketable about me. Despite this, we must make an attempt in order to move forward, and in the meantime, we can find inspiration from fellow creatives, which makes the task slightly easier to stomach.

Daniel Autry : words well chosen (& formatted)

In his minimal, but highly communicative portfolio, Daniel Autry establishes a strong ethos that extends throughout the site. Each showcased project is woven into the larger narrative of the front page, which reads like an introduction letter addressed specifically to the viewer. His use of specific, meaningful headers helps the viewer orient themselves and make informed decisions while navigating. Additionally, his use of "I" statements lets the viewer know exactly what he should be given credit for (which is quite a bit!).

Bethany Heck : rulebreaker

Unlike Autry, Bethany Heck wastes no time with personal introductions on her front page, instead opting to confront the viewer directly with her body of work. "Walls of text" are usually not desired on websites, but Heck uses the effect to showcase her sheer productivity and involvement. Of course, in order to pull off this brutal format, you need to have the body of work to support it, and the typographic chops (which Heck does).

Elizabeth Lin : sparkling personality

Elizabeth Lin strikes a balance between personality and work with a charming tone created by a careful consideration of both humor and professionalism. A quirky introduction is supplemented by style elements throughout the site, and offset by well-explained case studies. While I don't personally subscribe to a cutesy aesthetic, I can appreciate a queen (or a princess) when I see one.