Portfolio - Please Give Me Any Feedback

The Crit Pit
#1

Hi everyone! I’ve been job hunting for a graphic design position but haven’t had much success. I left my previous role and I’m ready to transition back into a full-time 9-5 position. I have experience in the field, but I’m struggling to gain traction in this market. I worked in real estate and the church industry.

I’d love your help reviewing my portfolio and providing feedback to make it stronger. Am I still competitive in today’s market, or are there areas where I can improve? I’m nervous posting here (I know I’m going to get ripped to shreds). Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Portfolio Link: https://chucksnow.design/home-3

#2

The Portfolio is too heavy - too many of the same types of designs - there’s no showcase.
If I’ve seen one design I’ve seen them all - have maybe 1 or 2 and then a click here to see full suite.

Your resume is very text heavy - very long - seems unfocussed and messy.

I’d work on tidying up the Portfolio and cleaning up ‘duplicate’ designs and shorten your resume to snappy points and a lot shorter and easy to read format.

When I click on the resume there didn’t seem to be an easy way to move from Page 1 to Page 2 - then found the buttons on side of the website that are hidden and far left and right of my 32 inch monitor. Which wasn’t easy to find.
Add the arrow beside the image so it’s easy and obvious.

Why isn’t the Work Experience in chronological order?

Big problem is you say you’re ready to get back into the market - yet you’re still advertising you’re running your own company 2009-Present

Here’s a punchier version of your resume

WORK EXPERIENCE

Freelance Creative Director & Graphic Designer
Charles Snowden Creative | January 2009 – Present

  • Design and deliver creative solutions using Adobe Creative Suite to meet client needs and exceed expectations.
  • Drive brand development, execute sales promotions, and manage social media campaigns.
  • Consistently deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Multimedia Graphic Designer (Graphic & Video Editor)
Shorewest, REALTORS® | Brookfield, WI | March 2014 – August 2022

  • Designed impactful marketing materials (logos, postcards, social media graphics, videos) for over 100 agents.
  • Created recruitment and training campaigns in collaboration with the Career Development Center.
  • Worked with leadership and external vendors to ensure cohesive and professional branding across five companies.
  • Streamlined project management and maintained high-quality standards in a fast-paced environment.

Graphic Designer & Online Editor
MATC Times | Milwaukee, WI | March 2012 – May 2014

  • Designed visually appealing newspaper layouts by coordinating with a 20-person editorial team.
  • Ensured cohesive final products by formatting articles, images, and advertisements.
#3

There’s way too much of the same thing. You seem to have included every variation of everything you’ve ever done, which is unnecessary, confusing, and counterproductive.

I have difficulty differentiating between your explanations about the work and the work examples since everything looks similar.

After scrolling through the dozens of examples, an inconspicuous link at the bottom leads to hundreds more work examples.

A portfolio shouldn’t be a repository for everything you’ve ever worked on. Instead, it should show a few representative examples of your best work that clearly communicate, at a glance, why an employer or a client should hire you.

1 Like
#4

@Smurf2 Thank you for your feedback has given me a lot to think about.

I can see how including too many similar examples and variations might make my portfolio feel overwhelming. Your suggestion to focus on a curated selection of my best projects. I’ll work on refining the portfolio to highlight examples that clearly demonstrate my skills and versatility.

I also appreciate your point about improving the distinction between project explanations and visuals.

Your note about creating a separate section for additional work is particularly helpful. I’ll work on reorganizing the portfolio to make the main page more impactful.

This feedback has been insightful, and I’m excited to apply these changes to make my portfolio more user-friendly and effective. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts!

#5

@Just-B Thank you for taking the time to review my portfolio and provide such detailed feedback—it’s incredibly helpful.

You’ve brought up excellent points about curating my work to focus on quality over quantity. I understand now how including too many variations can feel overwhelming and detract from the impact of my portfolio. I’ll work on selecting projects that best showcase my skills and versatility.

Your insight about reorganizing the landing page and moving additional work to a secondary section makes a lot of sense. I’ll focus on creating a stronger first impression by highlighting only my best work upfront while making other examples easily accessible for those who want to explore further.

This feedback has given me a clear direction for improving my portfolio. Thanks again for your thoughtful input—it’s much appreciated!

#6

I agree with others. Too much and too similar work.

3 Likes
#7

Hey CASnowden—bit late to the thread, but just had to drop in and say thanks for sharing your work!

Your experience really shines through, but yeah, the volume can feel overwhelming. Maybe try showcasing just 5–6 standout projects, each with a one-liner about what makes them special. If someone wants more, they can click to see the rest.

Also, your resume feels a bit dense—how about breaking it into clear sections with short bullet points? That way, it’ll be a breeze to skim.

You’re doing the tough work—curating means choosing what truly represents you best. Slow and steady wins the portfolio race!

1 Like
#8

It appears Mr. Snowden did not take everyone’s advice.

1 Like
#9

Thanks so much for taking the time to give feedback, I appreciate it.

A little context: I’m doing freelance work to keep my skills sharp and show that I’m actively working. The field I’m in now is unrelated to design, so my portfolio is partly about proving I can check certain boxes and demonstrate versatility. Not everything in there is my passion project, but it’s a mix to cover different skills for a variety of fields.

I’ll admit, I’ve sometimes felt like I didn’t have enough or wasn’t “good enough." I leaned into adding variety and even included that “inconspicuous link” to more work. Funny enough, I had a recent interview where I got good feedback on the portfolio, but it just wasn’t the right fit.

Your advice on focusing the main portfolio on a handful of standouts makes a lot of sense, and I’m going to start working on that balance between quality and range. Thanks again for the thoughtful push!

#10

Thank you so much for jumping in and sharing your thoughts! I appreciate the kind words and the helpful suggestions.

You’re right, curation is the hard part. I’ve been thinking about narrowing things down, and your advice to lead with 5–6 key projects (plus a click-through for more) makes a lot of sense.

Right now, I’m applying to a range of roles, so my portfolio’s first page is designed to quickly show my range. In interviews, I’m often asked if I can do certain things, so having examples for different fields right up front helps cover those bases. I want them to see I can do it.

That said, your suggestion to narrow the spotlight to a handful of standouts resonates. I can keep the range for those who want to dig deeper, but make that first impression cleaner and more focused.

Thanks again for the thoughtful feedback. It’s a work in progress, but I’m excited to keep refining!

#11

I’m unsure that you know how good art directors look through portfolios.

For thirty years, I’ve seen how other art and creative directors, like me, looked through them. When a job opens up, no one looks through every page in a portfolio unless the applicant makes the final cut.

With an average of several dozen people applying for a job, the routine is to quickly go through them and eliminate applications. At a single glance, it’s possible to toss aside the majority — the pages at the bottom or behind an inconspicuous link are never seen. At the first indication of a not-so-good design or sloppy typography, the portfolio is added to the rejected list. There’s no reason to look further than that.

For those who pass the first cut, the routine is to quickly look through the remainder to find the worst piece in each. If something is found that the art director couldn’t live with, that person’s application is put into the rejected pile.

The dozen or so remaining portfolios get a closer inspection, where the best pieces are examined to determine if the applicant has the potential to do the job they’ll be hired to do. If the other pages don’t display a similar level of quality, those applicants are rejected.

Typically, five or six finalists get much closer scrutiny. Their work is closely examined. Their online presence is searched. Their social media posts are read to discover potential problems. Their former employers are evaluated and contacted if it seems warranted. It’s surprising how many applicants come up short after some basic background research: lies, plagiarism, drug problems, sex offenders, narcissists, criminal records, and various awkward personality quirks that remove them from the running. With luck, three or four people remain who are worth bringing in for the interview.

The process is a bit different for every company, but the most important thing to remember is that your portfolio is only as good as its weakest piece. You absolutely should not use your portfolio as a repository for everything you’ve done. That alone will ensure that a good art director will toss your application aside on the first round. The few art directors who might let that problem slip by are the art directors that you probably don’t want to work with.

1 Like
#12

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I know you’re not critiquing me as a person or a designer, and it’s really helpful to hear how art directors review portfolios. I actually made it to a final interview recently, which reminded me how important it is to stay confident. My speech impediment may play a role in how I’m perceived, but it doesn’t stop me from pursuing my passion.

I see your point about the weakest piece being as important as the strongest, and I’ll keep that in mind as I refine mine. I know my portfolio is still a work in progress, and I appreciate you taking the time to break it down.

#13

Yes, that’s right. I wasn’t critiquing you or your work. I was only giving you some advice from my experience to consider as you reorganize your portfolio. Good luck.

#14

This is some eye opening information. Thanks for sharing