Day by day, I’m seeing a lot of designers who don’t have a portfolio site on their own domain and which are satisfied with the little that they get, keeping for the public only accounts on sites like Logopond, Creattica, Behance. This actually very nice of them, but not forever. The problem appears when a possible client wants to take it to the next level. I’ll present to you the following aspects of this problem.

First step, the hardest

Most of the times, logo designers don’t get along with web designing (site design + coding) and choose to stay on the previously mentioned sites, showcasing their gallery and getting comments which, again, is a good thing. But we want more. Much more.

Seriousness, baby

What does it imply to have your portfolio site? The subtitle answers that question. Why? The main importance of it is that it shows that you’re a serious designer. Besides the logo gallery which is a condition sine cua non you can also present details for individual projects or the steps which you followed till the final result. After the model of Jason Santa Maria, you can actually make a custom page for each project. Jan Zabransky is worthy of admiration for his effort.

Besides that, you can make an about page in which the client will get to know you. It is known that these about pages have a great effect among the clients, raising the level of trust.

Link love

There was a time when I was showcasing logos almost weekly and I’ve seen a lot of logo designers without a portfolio. How am I suppose to share some link love when you don’t have a site? Exposure is good. Create a portfolio site and take advantage of the exposure we want to offer you.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Euan MacKenzie’s site isn’t the Brad Pitt of site designs but it does its job very well. It has the essentials and that’s ’nuff said.

Peter Vasvari’s site is awful. At least. Not just bad. If only his site had at least half the style of his logos…

Mike Erickson is one of the best logo designers I’ve seen but that site is making me scratch my eyeballs. It is old, unappealing and not user friendly. I have great respect for him but he has to do a site facelift.

Conclusion

Thus being said, you have to take advantage of everything the internet is offering you. Create a portfolio site, make it look good, user friendly, update your portfolio often and the results will surely show up. I think there’s actually a quote that would summarize this whole article: Go big or go home!