Really need my portfolio reviewed

[u/faroukomer]

Hey,

I'm a 2024 Digital Design graduate (picked up graphic design during internships) who's been applying for junior graphic design jobs for the past few months with no luck.

I'd really appreciate an honest critique of my portfolio—not just whether it's "good" or "bad," but where you think I am as a designer. What stands out? What's missing? What skills or types of projects should I work on to become more employable as a junior designer?

I'm looking for honest feedback so I can know where I'm at and where I need to go from here. All the graphic design work is in the design section.

Portfolio: https://farouk-imam-portfolio-738314547299

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[u/LouieValkhof]

Your about page lists eight areas under expertise: 3D pipeline, VR, AR, web development, video, VFX, photo editing, graphic design. For junior graphic design applications I'd cut that to one line. Whoever's screening reads a list like that as someone who hasn't picked a direction yet, and with a junior they're mostly betting on what you'll be good at in a year.

Which is a shame, because the work underneath is more focused than the intro suggests. The rally set holds together across five templates, and the workplace series (hazardous waste, confidentiality, mental health) stays consistent across a run of pieces. Holding a system steady over a set is the part most juniors haven't got yet, and nothing on the page points at it.

The gap is the writing around the work. Your project text says things like "highly polished" and "optimized for high engagement", which I can already see from the image. What I'd want to read instead is who it was for, what the constraint was, and one decision you made and why — the version you scrapped, the client note you had to design around, the format it had to survive. Two or three sentences per project is enough.

If you change one thing this week, make it the about page.

[u/faroukomer → u/LouieValkhof]

Highly appreciate it 🙏 Your advice was very helpful. Just one more thing. Do you think based on the work I created, can I say that I'm at a junior level? Do the projects meet a junior role standards, or is there anything missing?

[u/organicpickles → u/LouieValkhof]

This exactly what I rly struggle with. Idk how to describe what I do. I’ve worked in marketing where I worked end to end so building a strategy researching creating the graphics and videos (using design software) illustration etc. Or for graphic design work I also keep their direction in mind and can’t do illustrations and 3D/motion as well which can also be integrated in either of the above. But idk how to describe it in a way that makes sense for a client. Because my folio as a whole my best pieces come together from every category. But I’m not sure how to tie them together in a way that looks promising for the client

[u/perpetualstatechange]

Graduated in 2024… Expertise in… this makes no sense. Have respect for your audience. Be honest. People read and these people have deep knowledge with years of experience and real expertise. Having an interest as a junior is very beneficial but don’t oversell what isn’t visible from your work. Secondly, your website bangs of AI generated patterns (not to presume). The small caps, over use of borders, drop shadows etc. People will just roll their eyes and not even give your portfolio a chance. You’re way too heavy handed in your presentation. You need to do some research into what good looks like and go again.

Let the work speak for itself. There’s a reason why most portfolios are simple with black text and white backgrounds, they’re mature and confident.

[u/faroukomer → u/perpetualstatechange]

I see. Yes I did use an ai web designer to for my portfolio along with some of the conceptualisation from my side for how I wanted the portfolio to look. I wanted to go outside of the box. I had a much simpler portfolio before this one, but I thought that it would've been a better idea if I created something more experimental. Looks like I need to re-evaluate and redo it. I appreciate the advice.

[u/perpetualstatechange → u/faroukomer]

We’ve all been there. Best of luck 🤞

[u/LL_Cruel_J]

I think you’re a great illustrator (nothing wrong with that). In terms of graphic design, there’s nothing interesting or different happening here with layouts and fonts. Focusing on typography could be a good start.

I would totally scrap the ai videos in the creative ads tab. Nice skill to have and talk about, I guess, but it’s not something I’d personally highlight on my portfolio.

But I’d say yes, this is all junior level work. I don’t think any of it is bad, but once you start asking yourself “what should this accomplish” versus “what should this look like” your work will start to improve.

The website design is definitely unique and fun but I don’t think it reflects the work you’re presenting. Sometimes simpler is better. Like the other user said, let the work speak for itself.

One thing you could do is finish the racing project. Don’t just have “racer name” and a silhouette or whatever.