David McDonald Presentation

Local freelance graphic designer David McDonald delivered a talk today on making an impression on employers and creating a successful portfolio.

In order to stay relevant to the customer, McDonald expressed the need to develop work without a specific style. A portfolio should express a range of styles in order to avoid narrowing your opportunities. This includes having work in your portfolio which you might not view as being particularly strong, as someone else could have a completely different opinion. The same theory applies to your best examples of work as not everyone will understand your way of thinking, therefore it is best to appear versatile in your ideas.

Whilst the portfolio is of large importance, it is not the only thing that clients or employers look for. Based on his past experience in interviews and hiring people himself, McDonald states the three most important things that anyone should have: Passion, Personality and Creativity.

Passion - Talk about your work with enthusiasm and with detail. It is not just talking about the look of your work but the process involved and why you think it so important. Ask questions, be inquisitive and show dedication to the subject.

Personality – Considered even more important than the portfolio your personality reflects what kind of person you are and how well you can get on with others. It is crucial to be yourself and show that you are willing to work, listen, and learn new things.

Creativity – What inspires you on a daily basis and how you take this inspiration into your own work. The lengths and processes you have taken in order to achieve that specific style or look.

Moving onto the work side of things every employer is different, therefore it is important to understand them and do your research first. A job is great but if the place of work is not right for you then you will not give it your best or enjoy it. Rejection is also a big part of the experience and it is not always personal. Most of the time it is based on the type of person therefore you might not be what they are looking for. At the end of the interview phase it is good to drop them an email thanking them for their time.