Why Every Template Designer Should Have a Portfolio?

Competition in web designing is getting intense. It has become imperative for a freelance designer to showcase and present his or her works to attract prospective clients. Customers select web designers based on the specific look of their previous works that matches with their objectives of building a site. Working for a reputed company or designing for well known names may add flavor to the portfolio of a designer but it is primarily the quality of design that counts. While designing portfolio as a template designer you need to blend your personal style along with attractive works to create a memorable and unique portfolio. This may require time, planning and concentration but it is crucial for career growth.

Types of portfolio

Depending on the medium of your specialization you can either develop a digital portfolio or a printed one. Many template designers put up their online portfolio in selected websites along with relevant information about their work. You may select such websites to showcase your expertise in web designing along with other designers. Prospective clients visit such sites, looking for their desired design. A printed version may be necessary when you are frequently meeting and presenting your portfolio to prospective clients, offline. In such interviews or presentations you may not have the opportunity to use a computer or have Internet access.

Precise and catchy

Select the works of web designing that you want to display. Choose your best works with an eye for the type of projects and clients you are targeting. It is an era of specialization and focusing on niche segments in web designing is expected to yield desired dividends. Select the works that your target customers may like and not only those that are your favorites. Showcasing more than 20 templates may confuse your prospect.

Online and printed

Online platforms offer more flexibility and exposure as interested clients can dig deeper to your web designing templates for details. For a printed portfolio you need to have best quality prints with high resolution on top quality paper. Digital portfolio can also be saved to a CD and mailed to interested clients.

Try using small to medium size display for printed version, unless your works demand otherwise. An over sized document is hard to scroll or fit on a table during a presentation. For printed versions you need to have a notebook sized case with rings and plastic protectors for saving your works from scratches.

Diversify

Web designing involves several areas and there are several companies requiring designers with expertise in their desired field. A template designer may explore different areas rather than concentrating on a single field. However, this should be displayed in an organized manner in the portfolio. Template designers may prepare different portfolios for showcasing their expertise in different fields. This helps in targeting precise customers with relevant works.

Build a Brand

Building a brand is very important in web designing. Let your customers and prospects associate your works with your brand. Create a logo and tagline. The tagline should be short that summarizes your expertise as a template designer.

Details

While the tagline summarizes your expertise and objectives, detail information about the services offered may be required by your clients. Let them know about the services and other areas of expertise that you offer. Break down specialized areas into specific sections like web designing, creating corporate website templates or ads with Flash.

Online promotions

Keep in touch with your clients through several social networks like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn. You may use blogs to promote your services and templates. You can either start your own blog or hire services of renowned blogs for getting linked with your works online.

Creating a portfolio website

This may appear as a costly proposition for many template designers but as you grow as a designer this might be essential. This helps you to reach out a global client base. This lets people know about your location and area of operation. You can showcase all your templates and expertise on a single platform with a website.

Newcomers in web designing may not have any template to showcase. They can start by developing Twitter mashup, creating a WordPress theme, designing a set of icon or calendar printing template to show your expertise.

Portfolio is essential for showing your works to your prospective clients and impressing them. Web designing space is getting crowded with freelance designers as well as companies offering full designing services. Template designers need to survive this fierce competition by getting in touch with more clients and attracting more customers. This can be done with a professionally designed portfolio. A portfolio can be digital as well as printed. Creating a website for showcasing personal works helps in career growth of a template designer. Building a brand helps in get noticed. A template designer can focus on a certain field or diversify into several fields depending on personal skill level and experience as well as market demand.

by Roxanne Peterson