Karen Gastle

For interior designers, having an impressive portfolio is something that should be taken very seriously. Not only does your portfolio showcase your skillset to potential clients, but it’s also a perfect place to share your contact information and testimonials from past clients. For the most part, your interior design portfolio is what brings in business—so yes, it’ important. It helps your business grow!

 

Download our free guide to find out how to grow an interior design business.

 

If you’re building your portfolio for the first time or revamping your current portfolio, there are some tips and tricks you should consider that will make you stand out, showcase your skills, and make you more accessible to a wider range of clients. Keep reading to find out how to build a successful interior design portfolio that gets the job done!

Consider Your Platform

Gone are the days when a portfolio existed in a massive binder full of images and textiles. In fact, most designers agree that now is the time to make the switch from physical portfolios to digital ones. Not only does this allow your potential clients to get to know you online, but it also makes your work easier to find and easier to share: two things that bring you more clients.

 

Looking at the bigger picture, it’s wise to have a website or blog where you can showcase your work. If you go to a client meeting, bring an iPad or tablet and share your work that way! Regardless, making the transition from a physical portfolio to a digital one will make you more accessible to clients, easier to contact, and more organized.

 

Make sure your website is fitted with the right content. Contact information is vital and should be easy to find, client testimonials are a great persuasive piece, and a variety of images and project “wish-lists” help your clients see what they can expect from you.

 

Overall, a digital interior design portfolio is a great place to start.

Share the Right Work

Sometimes building your portfolio is difficult because you have so many projects you want to share. However, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. You want your portfolio to showcase just the right amount of work, without leaving your future clients with too many images or brainstorming boards to look through. Remember, you want people to be inspired and excited by your work, not exhausted and overwhelmed.

 

It would be wise to go through your projects and decide which ones are the strongest: You want to showcase the best of the best! It’s also helpful for clients to see the project from start to finish, so consider sharing client notes and wish lists, along with final images. And don’t forget, readers love before-and-after pictures, so include a few.

Think about Your Process

While the platform and the content are both important, you, as the designer, are also important to showcase in your interior design portfolio. Don’t forget to add a bit of personality and share with potential clients your design process and what they can expect when they work with you. This will help them get to know you. It’ll also help give them an idea as to what they can expect when you meet.

 

Each designer’s process is unique, and readers will love learning about how you transform spaces from start to finish. While it might not seem like your typical portfolio content, it’s definitely worth considering.

 

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out some sample portfolios online before you get started. These should act as a guide as you begin to build your own.

 

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Karen Gastle

As an account manager, Karen has experience working with design firms of all sizes to integrate DesignDocs to streamline business processes, increase administrative efficiencies, and deliver higher profits.
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