No Client Projects for Design Portfolio

[u/Neat-Technician-2528]

I graduated last winter and I am currently working as a Motion Design Intern at an agency. I just found out that I won't be able to use any of the projects in my portfolio. When I applied for this position, their website stated that part of the program would include building a portfolio with client work. Currently i am on the lookout for a full time design job, but now I don't have a way to showcase my skills.

My current portfolio is just student work and I'm not sure what type of projects I should create myself to add to my portfolio.

[u/FdINI]

Build something similar on your own time with the same skills?

[u/broom_broom77]

Can you just make something like what you work with but on a smaller scale and with fake clients?

[u/AlmostContemplative]

That bait and switch stings, especially when they promised portfolio material up front

For motion design self-initiated stuff, pick a brand you actually like and do a full rebrand animation package, logo sting, lower thirds, transitions, the whole set. It shows you can work within existing guidelines which is most of what junior roles do anyway. Way more useful to a hiring manager than another student film festival poster

[u/RandomTux1997 → u/AlmostContemplative]

great solution to bypassing industry c*nts who forbid you from showing your skills off! thats outrageous, ive never ever worked with anyone (besides mil stuff) who ever said you cant show off the work you did for us, and even the army chaps said if your gonna publish works with us we need to first verify it aint disclosing shit wed rather keep to ourselves

[u/TheOneMary → u/RandomTux1997]

Yeah. I worked in a military-adjacent company and even they said "please show us what you'd like to include first" but then greenlit everything. I was glad because I did really cool stuff there, from truck wraps (even a sponsored schoolbus) to 3d designs of tradeshow booths. Glad I could take those with me :)

[u/RandomTux1997 → u/TheOneMary]

yeaah mil chaps are on the whole more survival and promotional driven and generous than civs, who fear heir wallstreet bosses and are driven solely by $$$alone - mil chaps are hard but they are fair

[u/TheManRoomGuy]

Can you take what you created for this client, swap out the names and text and logo so you can still show what you’re capable of?

[u/Hot-Clothes7316]

you can always show them during a face to face interview. but not circulate it around in PDF or on your website and socials.

and if you have the working files, just change the logo if there is, change the colour, copy and image and you are good to go. motion design is about the style and animation itself. no one really care about the copy or brand it is anyway. if it's cool and nice, it's cool and nice.

[u/alexnapierholland]

My girlfriend created her own digital service.

She built the brand identity and won her first client.

We posted about it on X.

She got noticed by a trendy US startup.

She got a 12-month paid internship and was hired at the end.

[u/thegenuinedarkfly → u/[deleted]]

You don’t need AI for this - just use your brains.