ML Podcast 003: Your Portfolio is Your Golden Ticket
March 7th, 2013 by Mike Locke  |  21 Comments »    
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In this episode I discuss the importance and value of your web design portfolio. I compare your web design portfolio to the Golden Ticket in the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. If you’re older than 30 years old, you probably remember the movie – people scramble around town searching for a “golden ticket” for a chance to enter the mysterious Willy Wonka chocolate factory. The analogy is that your portfolio is your ticket to that special something (i.e. dream job, clients, etc.). Below are some link relating to the episode for your reference.

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Show Notes:

- Dave Werner’s Portfolio 2006 (Probably the best portfolio of all time)
- Fi Case Study (Case study example)
- Jason Yapp (Amazing graphic design skills)
- Kurt Noble (Nice portfolio animation)
- Rob Clarke Logos (Logos)
- One Page Portfolio Example (One page portfolio)

21 Comments

    Oliver    
    March 7th, 2013 at 4:13 am

    Great Podcast again, thanks Mike.
    That badly remembers me to create/update my Portfolio ;)

    My favorite Portfolio of your links is the last one from
    Zoltan Garami, I like this clean and minimalist design.

    Dana    
    March 7th, 2013 at 5:31 am

    Thanks Mike for saying that my current level is good enough. I need to tell myself that more and believe it while I continue to improve. Though I don’t think I will ever think of myself as good enough but then again, it’s what drives me to be better.

    I have to admit, I don’t really like much the first link (I dislike when things autoplay when I click stuff), but that is just my opinion. :)

    Thank you for addressing the design of the portfolio itself. I’m probably a pessimist but I fear that people will look at the homepage and turn back because they don’t like it and won’t even look at the current projects because of it.

    Mike Locke    
    March 7th, 2013 at 6:38 am

    @Oliver – Thanks buddy for tuning in, you rock. Yes the Zoltan portfolio layout is the most freshest out of the bunch in terms of first impression, clean, sleek, beautiful, etc. but be sure to think about showing more depth within each project. That’s more valuable than one-off screenshots. Showing your process is huge and a differentiator that can separate you from other designers. Not many do it today.

    Mike Locke    
    March 7th, 2013 at 6:48 am

    @Dana – Thanks Dana for the feedback, believe me you’re not alone in being unsure of your skills which stops you from shipping. You just have to remember that it’s all a process and every top designer started at a beginner level. Just ship and always be improving each day. Yes, by putting and saying the first portfolio could be the best of all time is definitely a discussion being that its flash and out-dated by 7 years. But want to get people to think beyond just the look of the portfolio but the level of work and display of his process, etc. just think of an employer looking at his site back in 2006, he has so much insight into his skills that I would hire him without even an interview. That’s the power that I want people to see in his portfolio.

    Duke    
    March 7th, 2013 at 8:09 am

    Oh Yes Mike… Keep them coming!
    Quality stuff.

    Mike Locke    
    March 7th, 2013 at 11:02 am

    Thanks Duke!… much appreciated.

    Jason    
    March 7th, 2013 at 11:22 am

    Great stuff as usual. I like the “Always Be Closing”, ref.
    Now it’s “Always Be Creating”.

    Jon    
    March 7th, 2013 at 11:32 am

    Thanks for another great podcast! This is gold for someone like me who is just getting starting in the Web Design realm.

    Arman    
    March 7th, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Good stuff Mike. Definitely.

    Mike Locke    
    March 7th, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    @Jason – Yes, always be creating. Thanks for listening.

    @Jon – Glad you find these useful. Much appreciated.

    @Arman – Thank you, much appreciated. Glad you like.

    Ryan    
    March 7th, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    Hi Michael, thank you for posting these podcasts, very helpful as always.

    Renz    
    March 7th, 2013 at 7:24 pm

    You are a great person, Mike. Thanks!

    Mike Locke    
    March 7th, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    @Ryan – Thanks for listening in.

    @Renz – Thank you for the kind words. Means a lot.

    Vishnu    
    March 7th, 2013 at 9:30 pm

    This came at the perfect time. I’m building one portfolio now, after almost a year and half of work. I am loving this podcast that you are doing. Keeps me wondering and waiting for the next one! :)

    Cheers!

    Bogdan    
    March 8th, 2013 at 1:17 am

    Good podcast Mike! Very useful.

    Mike Locke    
    March 8th, 2013 at 11:32 am

    @Vishnu – Thanks buddy. Appreciate the support.

    @Bogdam – Thank you. Glad you likes.

    Ron Burns    
    March 12th, 2013 at 1:18 am

    Excellent again Mike, I have a long way to go but truly enjoyed this podcast!!

    Mike Locke    
    March 12th, 2013 at 9:45 am

    Thanks Ron for listening in. Glad you enjoy.

    Henry    
    March 17th, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    I am chipping away everyday thanks to you Mike. Excellent podcast. How can I subscribe/listen via Android? I am currently using Podcast Addict. Thanks!

    Mike Locke    
    March 18th, 2013 at 9:16 pm

    Thanks Henry, appreciate you subscribing and listening it.

    primeawnings.edublogs.org    
    April 22nd, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    Precisely what really inspired you to create “ML Podcast 003: Your Portfolio is Your Golden Ticket”?
    Icertainly adored the blog post! Thanks for your time ,Alva

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