When I Started as a freelancer I was aware that I had no clients and no portfolio. The portfolio could be considered one of the most important parts of your business. After all, it showcases your work and skills. But, I have no clients. What was I to do? Simple, create projects that showcase my skills and creativity. I decided on two approaches. Re-design existing websites and create sites from scratch, business names and logos included. The key to this approach for me was to create projects that align with my business goals. I want to provide my skills and services to small business owners. The projects that I developed would need to reflect this strategy. The purpose of my portfolio is not just to show everything in my skill set. The key is to present projects that would be appropriate to my target audience and also show a range of skills. Not forgetting to make the projects fun and interesting. 

When I set out to create projects that would demonstrate my skills I look first at the type of business that I would like to help. I started making a list of small businesses in my local area. I then picked several businesses that would not only be fun to design but would show the scope of my skills and creativity. The aim is to create work as though they are real projects. I also needed to create designs that I could do quickly to be able to launch my website sooner rather than later. I decided that I would only design partial websites, as I felt this would communicate the design enough to get the idea. It would also allow me to move quickly to the next design and thus build up a body of work. 

The projects I created

Jojo’s Patisserie was a project where I wanted to explore clean and simple design—a chef-white design with a focus on beautiful images of sweet sweet food. 

Book Bound with my love of reading this project was a little indulgent. I design this as a mobile app. I feel this would be a preferred method of shopping and convenient if people read books on their phones.

The House Plant Company is a site designed for plant lovers. This as you can see was my foray into using a more colourful approach, creating a warm welcoming design.

As you can see I am trying to aim my designs at companies that I would like to work with.  They are by no means great designs. You could even say they are safe design. I try not to get too hung up on what I have created, as I know that they will eventually be replaced with better work. As I get better. The portfolio is a living document and is forever going to be changing. The key is to keep producing work and practice new things to expand my skills. I know my portfolio will be tied to my marketing and more specifically my target audiences. A lot like a cover letter for a job application. It needs to be tailored to that particular employer. So does my portfolio. 

My site also includes some creative endeavours, that do not fall within the realm of web design. These could be considered side projects. I like to think of them more as tools in my tool bag. One section is logos, which is an important part of business branding. Therefore it is more closely reality to web design. All the logos that I have produced are again a demonstration of my skills and abilities in logo creation.  Here are some examples:

The other section on my website is me exercising my creative muscle and pushing out of my comfort zone, with illustration. Even though it does not relate to web design I feel that there is no reason to believe that illustration cannot be used as an element of web design. Here are some examples of my illustrations:

The Dock Workers

A project that involved smashing together the people I worked with at my previous job and fun-loving Lego people. 

People ♥️ Food

Another project involved the people I used to work with and their food love. 

I see my portfolio as not only a way to market myself as a freelancer but also a way to show my skills and understanding of design. I also see my non-web design projects as a way of exploring my creative side. These could be seen as independent of each other. I see them as parts of the whole. The skills I have learned in these different disciples are to me bi-directional. There is not only an overlap of skills but also an exchange of skills and ideas. 

I do not doubt that when I get client work some of these projects will be replaced to reflect real-world work. As long as they align with by business strategy. The more creative work, I continue to accumulate, which will show my journey as an illustrator. Whether I get a client out of it or not I will continue my creative work for the total joy of it.