What’s the smartest way to shape a first portfolio so I can land an entry-level graphic design job? I just graduated last month and it finally hit me — no more campus lab hours, just me at my kitchen table exporting a 3.5 MB PDF at 1 a.m. I’ve got 4–6 pieces I’m proud of (a café brand, a small nonprofit poster set, and a mobile UI concept in Figma), but I keep second-guessing what belongs. The I want a tight, beginner-friendly portfolio that proves I can do the job and helps me land that first junior role.
Posting this in Jump into Graphic Design as I’m just getting started. I’m leaning toward 3 case studies with a clear path — brief, a few process pics, and a simple outcome, plus quick captions so a recruiter can skim in under 2 minutes. For the next 2 weeks I’m sticking to a daily routine: polish one page, tighten copy, and make sure my files are tidy (names, grids, exports) so it refl
Pick 3–4 pieces and turn each into a tiny case study: one hero image with 2–3 captions that show the brief, your key decision, and the outcome, so skimmers see your thinking fast. If you’re aiming brand/print, lead with the café and posters and treat the UI as a bonus; flip it for product roles. Do you have a public Figma prototype link you can add for quick click-through?
Cut it to three that match the jobs you want - your café brand, the strongest poster, and the mobile UI - and make each a one-screen mini case study: one hero image, 2-3 captions (brief, key decision, result), plus a link to a live Figma prototype. Order by relevance and ship as a simple single-scroll page or a clean sub‑8 MB PDF; what roles are you targeting so you can pick a fourth piece only if it shows a different skill?