Okay so you are now done with Uni. Or maybe in your last semester and all excited about finishing school and getting that job you have your eyes set on.
But hey! wait a minute!!! Do you have your Portfolio? Do you have “work” you can proudly show to prospective employers or clients?
You don’t know how or where to start? You have that lost feeling again? Well, fear not, help is on the way 
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Why do you need a Portfolio in the first place?
Well for one, your portfolio is a window into your creative world. It gives an insight into your skills, talents and more importantly, your potential. Your portfolio could make the difference between getting or not getting the dream job you have been after.
Most often students, and sometimes even professionals, are intimidated at the thought of creating a portfolio. Reasons for this could vary from “not being skilled enough” to “I want my portfolio to be the best out there, but I have a creative block”. Or it could be a simple “I don’t know where to start or how to go about creating a portfolio”.
· Planning – it is easier than you think
Planning your portfolio is a very important step. You need to plan how you are going to organise your work, how you are going to present them and what you need to put into your portfolio. At this stage you don’t need to spend a lot of time on the actual design of your portfolio.
For starters, just get your work out there. Collate all your work and organise them into relevant categories. Categories could range from the basic Web, Print and Video to something more specific to your skills or style of work.
To answer the How and Where to start bit, you need not have an elaborate design. But, it is important to categorise your work appropriately. By appropriately, I mean category names must be easy to understand. A category named “Pixelator” or “Snap Shots” does nothing when you meant “Graphic Design” or “Photography” respectively.
When you create your portfolio, there is no need to add the masterpiece you created when you were 10. In short, only add your latest and best work.
· K.I.S.S. – Keep it Short and Simple
As mentioned above, include only relevant work that would add value to your portfolio. Don’t add work just because you have worked on your cousin’s wedding invite and she cousin thought it was cute.
If you are out to get a job or want to get into any art school, the folks scrutinising your work may miss out on the important bits while they rush through your portfolio that contains material that could be easily avoided.
Remember, there are many more folks just like you who are fighting for attention and would like to get what you are after. So make it easy on those going through your portfolio, give them what they want not what you want.
In terms of design, you don’t need to have something very elaborate. In fact many students and professionals miss the bus in the process of creating their “Masterpiece”. You can always build on your current design and layout. But for that to happen, you need to have one in the first place.
· Communicate Communicate Communicate
Your portfolio must communicate your skills and talents. It should communicate what you are capable of. If there are certain skills you need to pick up or improve on, practice those skills. If there is a particular style you are inspired by and want to build on, practice that style. Play with different colours. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Browse the web for inspiration. Look for styles, typography, colour schemes etc. that you find stimulating.
If you are a student and have little or nothing, you still can build on your portfolio. Walk down your street. Ask businesses if they need a brochure or a website designed. Look for opportunities where you can volunteer for work. If nothing, create mock up of websites, brochures or what ever you need to show your skills.
Try to steer of complicated or difficult themes, unless you are confident you can pull it off and the message passed on. If the folks going though your portfolio find it difficult to comprehend what’s happening or what you are trying to communicate then you are in Big Trouble. Yeah, it’s the one with a capital T.
· Usability
What good is a design if it is not usable? Being different does not mean it will work or it’s better. There are many occasions where designers let creativity get the better of them. They come up with elaborate, complex designs that look great at first, and then make them go “huh? This does nothing but sit pretty”.
Keep your target audience in mind and the purpose of the portfolio. It is a good idea to learn about Usability and User Centred Design to help create a good portfolio.
· Feedback
Getting feedback is good, getting feedback from the right people is better.
Getting feedback from peers and experts in the industry is worth more than feedback from folks who don’t know what you are on about. When you are at a done with your portfolio creation, ask people who know their stuff what they think about the portfolio you put together.
Feedback helps in not only improving your portfolio but also helps to get a different perspective on how or what others think.
So there you are. What you waiting for? Go! Get your portfolio out!!!! 
