7 Mistakes Even Seasoned Designers Make

I had the pleasure of attending a critique group recently, where several Creative Directors reviewed portfolios and provided feedback to designers. I was amazed. Despite the fact that these designers were incredibly talented, the reviewers still had a laundry list of errors they found. I decided to take notes of every tip, from little oversights to glaring omissions. So if you’re currently polishing your portfolio and applying to design jobs, check out these seven portfolio mistakes, and see if you’re making any of them…

1 | Typos

This one is huge. Every marketing pro has hawk eyes for this sort of thing. And Creative Directors expect designers to be the final gatekeeper of content. So always run your copy through a spellchecker! A simple spelling error could cost you in the job search process.

2 | Broken Links

Broken links, buttons that don’t click, and unfillable forms are just a few giveaways that someone doesn’t keep their website up-to-date. You'd be surprised by how often I see this cardinal sin committed. Another issue I've come across is links taking you to the wrong account. Be wary of giving someone else free advertising.

3 | Mixed Messages

In the words of Socrates, “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” If you're a designer, be a designer. I'm not saying you're not allowed to have other interests, but maybe save that for another website. Do not try to mesh two businesses or topics that are unrelated. Design and Fitness advice just isn't a good combo. Remember to put yourself in your readers’ shoes and ask if this would make sense to a complete stranger. Now, if you're selling design and brand strategy, that combination makes sense. But perhaps save the recipes or DIY projects for your personal insta-stories rather than your website. There is nothing wrong with having hobbies and passions outside of work- just find the right outlet so it doesn't muddy up your professional brand.

4 | Dead Blog

It always stings when I find a website that was last updated five years ago. Ah yes, the sad but all too familiar words of a long-forgotten blog. This is a glaring sign that you don't finish what you start—which doesn't look great to hiring managers. Remember, no blog is better than a dusty abandoned one. If you plan on starting a blog, map out your content in advance and spread out your posting schedule to a regular cadence. Consistency is key!

5 | Including Everything and the Kitchen Sink

Selecting portfolio-worthy work can be tricky. Don't use your portfolio as a dumping ground for everything you've ever made, dating back to grade school. Deny the temptation to beef it up with any work that is sub-par. Know your specialty. Be selective about what work you show. If you specialize in one thing (UI, branding, etc.) then make that clear. If you're a generalist, you can show variety, but organize it by categories so the reader knows it’s an intentional array, rather than random disarray.

6 | No Context

I’ve seen this faux pas multiple times. Even seasoned designers seem to forget that just because you know the full story, doesn’t mean your audience will know. We should provide some context clues to explain the purpose and context of our work. For example, if you made a billboard—don’t just let the artwork float there as a flat screenshot in a blank white void. Find a mockup of a billboard and Photoshop your design into the context for which it was designed. I often see designers just throwing their work up on their site as low-quality, pixelated screenshots with no context of what that beautiful design is supposed to be. Is it a business card? A website? An app? A logo? A custom textile? A wayfinding system? A billboard? There’s an endless list of possibilities, and you can’t expect your audience to guess. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also add some written descriptions of the project, including the client name (or niche if they prefer anonymity), a brief summary of the problem, the objective of the project, your role in the project if you worked with a team, etc. All of that information is very helpful for recruiters, potential clients, or prospective employers to understand how you work.

7 | No Next Step

If your reader is unclear where to go next, this is called a “dead end” in user experience. We’ve all experienced this at some point. You’re web surfing, you find an interesting blog post and then a broken link takes you to a 404 page. You forget what you were looking for in the first place. You probably exit the tab and never return to that site. We wouldn’t go down a road if we know it leads nowhere. So the same is true for websites—even portfolio sites! Give your audience a reason to come back and keep their interest piqued with fresh content—whether it be a blog post, an opt-in incentive, a social media link, or a pastiche of your best work. Don’t lose their interest when a simple call-to-action or a sidebar could keep them from abandoning your site.

Although there are probably a million more potential pitfalls, these are just the most common issues that you can easily fix. And remember, everyone makes these mistakes—even seasoned designers. That’s how we learn! If you found this list helpful, share it with a friend so they can look like a pro too!