Start your design portfolio with folio

This month I’m excited to announce the launch of folio — a free guided deck that helps designers put a portfolio quickly.

In launching this template, I hope it can benefit many designers and especially new folks to the industry. I was in your shoes too, I know the struggle. This is my way of giving back as folio is free.

Why should you use it? Well, folio stood the test of time and the scrutiny of hiring managers and I’ve applied with it successfully as my main portfolio landing phone screens and on-site interviews.

Where it all started

The story begins several years ago when I found myself jobless with barely enough money for rent. And the worst part? Oh shit, my portfolio is so out of date, where do I even start?

At that time I started on the most fun thing — the presentation. Hastily throwing some copy I obsessed over those pixels. What should the cover look like? Should I use animation to make it pop? In short, I was procrastinating by working on the wrong thing.

Perfect is the enemy of good

At the same time I knew I couldn’t wait until my portfolio was done so I decided to put together a Keynote deck instead. Having worked at a design agency before, that’s at least one skill I mastered—cranking out decks rapidly.

But this deck wasn’t easy. Like many designers, I wanted to convey a personal brand and image and thus I was back to square one — an unfinished portfolio in Sketch and a pretty crappy deck in Keynote. So I did what all designers do — ask for feedback.

Feedback means progress

I’ve talked with managers, senior designers, product designers, product leads, and recruiters. After each person I made revisions. By the time I showed my deck at a portfolio mentoring event — the mentor tried to recruit me.

There was just one problem.

My “real” portfolio (still in Sketch that I was going to upload online) was still unfinished. My then online portfolio was even more embarrassing — woefully out of date with broken external links. Shame, shame. Oh well.

Perfect is the enemy of the good. So I decided to bite the bullet and share my portfolio deck as a pdf. I know. PDF!?

The secret nobody tells you

At the end of the day — it’s about the work. Many years ago I would beat myself up over not having that perfect portfolio. As a result I missed out on opportunities all because I didn’t take the time to put one together. Forget perfection, focus on the key things that matter. Build that MVP portfolio and evolve.

Yes the shiny portfolio is an eye trap. But content is still core. Aside from having an inviting look your portfolio needs to provide a delightful, thought provoking narrative that engages, entertains and teases the viewer enough for them to call you.

“Go away, we don’t want your deck”

Said nobody ever. To my surprise, the hiring managers and recruiters were receptive to my deck. They loved the way the work was presented enough to give me a phone call and set up an on-site interview.

Focus on the things that matter

Years later I found myself on the other end—interviewing designers and casting my vote on who to hire. I’ve seen many designers and many portfolios.

Unfortunately I’ve also seen designers make mistakes that cost them. They might have even worked out fine but their portfolios often lacked context making it harder to understand the scope of the problem and their responsibility. And that’s too bad.

In design, your output doesn’t speak for itself. You know your problem space best—you are the expert. You must take your story and translate it in a format that’s easy to understand for someone unfamiliar with your work.

Your portfolio should speak on your behalf—as if you are there—recounting your experience to the hiring manager.

There are no shortcuts. You still have to put in the work, write the words, shape the narrative, and curate your assets.

That said, folio is here to help with a guided framework that prioritizes content hiring managers care about. It’s designed to showcase yourself and your work in the best possible light.

Go after your dream job and crush that interview

While a portfolio is just one piece of the long design interviewing process—it’s a critical one at that. I hope that folio can help you kick start the process and make it fun to create your portfolio. You got this. Get started today, go after your dream job!

And speaking of dream jobs… This year I wrote a book about interviewing called, Land Your Dream Design Job. It’s a guide for new and experienced designers alike. It covers topics such as:

• What skills are expected of designers
• How to demonstrate those skills throughout the job search process
• How to identify your next opportunity
• How to target your job search process to stand out
• How to build a stand-out portfolio and tailor it to your dream opportunity
• The ins and outs of various design interview types from portfolio presentations, whiteboard challenges, app critiques, to take home design exercises and many others.

If you’re interested in taking control over your process, reducing the heartache and making it productive — this book is for you.