Web Design Forums

OrangeCat · 13-04-2007, 20:14

Hi all, I've been lurking here for a while but have finally decided to join as I have a quick question.

I'm just starting out as a web designer, and because of this I don't have many examples to show prospective clients. I'm in the process of putting together my own website and I'm stuck on what to do with the "portfolio" area. At this point I've only designed a few websites "professionally" and I don't think a nearly bare portfolio is at all appealing.

Is it okay to include mock ups in the portfolio page, or would this be deceptive? I have quite a few designs that I'm proud of and would like to include them, but I'm not sure if that's alright since I just made them for the fun of it and not for clients.

pgo · 13-04-2007, 20:48

Put up what you've got. Maybe do a couple freebies for friends and family to get your portfolio started.

kiteflyer · 14-04-2007, 04:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgo

Put up what you've got. Maybe do a couple freebies for friends and family to get your portfolio started.

Yup that's the way to go...

moof · 14-04-2007, 05:03

you can work for free, for your friends or some one else.

RaelRode · 14-04-2007, 08:37

Work for free for friends and family at the start. Then just give them discount rice once youre fully operational. Theres been loads of posts on here saying "My firend won't pay me cause I didnt use a contract cause I trusted him" kinda things. Just be weary of that.

ron sparks · 14-04-2007, 11:33

yeah do some free work to build your portfolio. I did a band site for a sofa for my place. if you help someone out they may hook you up and you build the portfoilo, plus then you get your word of mouth and they pays huge in the end.

kiteflyer · 14-04-2007, 16:42

how about mock-ups?
just start building ideas for sites to display what kind of ideas you have and style you have so that people can see what kind of things you can do.
that way you pad your portfolio and you get experience at the same time.
But doing sites for friends and family is also a way of growing your portfolio. but be careful though. I can say from experience that when you do start charging these friends and family that they can react a bit annoyed. "but in the past you did it for free!" that sort of thing.

OrangeCat · 14-04-2007, 22:19

Thank you for the replies. I'll put up the sites I've done in my spare time as examples and see how that goes. I only design pet related websites (for dog trainers, pet sitters, etc.) and have offered to design free sites for a few rescue groups, but I haven't gotten a bite yet.

Hopefully I'll get a few responses soon from these rescues so I can have some more real examples.

13-04-2007, 20:14	#1 (permalink)
OrangeCat Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 39	What to do when you're still building a portfolio? Hi all, I've been lurking here for a while but have finally decided to join as I have a quick question. I'm just starting out as a web designer, and because of this I don't have many examples to show prospective clients. I'm in the process of putting together my own website and I'm stuck on what to do with the "portfolio" area. At this point I've only designed a few websites "professionally" and I don't think a nearly bare portfolio is at all appealing. Is it okay to include mock ups in the portfolio page, or would this be deceptive? I have quite a few designs that I'm proud of and would like to include them, but I'm not sure if that's alright since I just made them for the fun of it and not for clients.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

13-04-2007, 20:48	#2 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Put up what you've got. Maybe do a couple freebies for friends and family to get your portfolio started.

14-04-2007, 05:03	#4 (permalink)
moof Russian designer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Russia Posts: 179	you can work for free, for your friends or some one else.

14-04-2007, 08:37	#5 (permalink)
RaelRode Designers are strange :) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shrewsbury, UK Posts: 1,769	Work for free for friends and family at the start. Then just give them discount rice once youre fully operational. Theres been loads of posts on here saying "My firend won't pay me cause I didnt use a contract cause I trusted him" kinda things. Just be weary of that.

14-04-2007, 11:33	#6 (permalink)
ron sparks noise Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 53	yeah do some free work to build your portfolio. I did a band site for a sofa for my place. if you help someone out they may hook you up and you build the portfoilo, plus then you get your word of mouth and they pays huge in the end.

14-04-2007, 16:42	#7 (permalink)
kiteflyer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 83	how about mock-ups? just start building ideas for sites to display what kind of ideas you have and style you have so that people can see what kind of things you can do. that way you pad your portfolio and you get experience at the same time. But doing sites for friends and family is also a way of growing your portfolio. but be careful though. I can say from experience that when you do start charging these friends and family that they can react a bit annoyed. "but in the past you did it for free!" that sort of thing.

14-04-2007, 22:19	#8 (permalink)
OrangeCat Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 39	Thank you for the replies. I'll put up the sites I've done in my spare time as examples and see how that goes. I only design pet related websites (for dog trainers, pet sitters, etc.) and have offered to design free sites for a few rescue groups, but I haven't gotten a bite yet. Hopefully I'll get a few responses soon from these rescues so I can have some more real examples.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)