The Design Break - 020 — What Should Go Into Your Portfolio

020 — What Should Go Into Your Portfolio

Explicit content warning

01/20/21 • 25 min

The Design Break

In today's podcast, the first in over a year, we talk about what goes into your portfolio to help you achieve your goals—whether it's to find a job or get freelance work.

This is a continuation of a new series I started on my YouTube channel designed to help you build your portfolio from the ground up. So if you'd like to, please check out those videos and even my first Creative Challenge—designed to help fill your portfolio with an awesome case study.

So if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them on my Instagram account or Twitter, and please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this first new podcast episode of 2021! (:

Always remember to stay Passionate, Positive, and Creative!

Want to level up your freelance business? Check out our newsletter!

To stay connected with us and be part of our design community, follow us on Twitter @thedesignbreak. Join the conversation, access valuable content, and stay updated on industry insights. If you enjoy this episode, please take a moment to leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only motivates us but also helps others discover our show and benefit from the discussions we have.
Don't forget to leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episode. Your support means the world to us as we continue to deliver valuable content to our incredible community of design professionals and freelancers.
And be sure to check out these resources:
The Futur Accelerator Program
Hoodzpah — Freelance, and Business, and Stuff
RetroSupply Co. (Code: ROCKY20)

In today's podcast, the first in over a year, we talk about what goes into your portfolio to help you achieve your goals—whether it's to find a job or get freelance work.

So if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them on my Instagram account or Twitter, and please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this first new podcast episode of 2021! (:

Always remember to stay Passionate, Positive, and Creative!

Want to level up your freelance business? Check out our newsletter!

Previous Episode

019 — Interview with Tom Froese

Our first new episode of 2020 features an interview I had with the award-winning illustrator Tom Froese—a freelance illustrator based out of British Columbia. Tom is not only an illustrator but a speaker and teacher on Skillshare—he's featured as a "Top Teacher."

In today's episode, Tom shares his story on how he went from being a freelancer, then art director, and ended up choosing to work for himself full-time. He shares how originally he went to school for computer engineering but found his love in design and later illustration.

If you would like to read an excerpt from the transcript of our interview, you can find one on the Blue Cyclops Design Co. blog.

Nuggets of Wisdom:

1. Give Yourself Permission to Pursue What You Love

If you love illustration, that's your permission to pursue it. Don't feel like you somehow have to meet some kind of qualifications or criteria to start learning illustration or even calling yourself an illustrator.

2. Be Obsessed with Learning Your Craft

You must be obsessed enough to study it and put in the effort. A lot of people like what they do but they don't geek out on it enough. Find out who's doing what you want to do or the work that you love and absorb as much information—videos, tutorials, articles and more as possible.

3. Make Your Own Opportunities, Now

There's no time like the present and you shouldn't just sit around and wait for an opportunity to fall into your lap.

Show Notes

Follow the Design Break podcast: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Follow Host Rocky Roark: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Follow Tom Froese: Instagram | Twitter | Dribbble | YouTube | Skillshare

Podcast Music by: Royalty Free Rock via Pond5

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Please remember to subscribe to the Design Break Podcast where ever you listen and if you have a moment, leave a rating and review. Always remember to stay Passionate, Positive & Creative!

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Want to level up your freelance business? Check out our newsletter!

Next Episode

021 — Being Reflective vs. Reactive

*This episode was pre-recorded at the end of the summer of 2020.

In today's episode, we discuss something that many of us know we should do but don't always, and that is to reflect before we act.

Over the years that I've been working as a freelancer, in-house, and as a studio owner, I've found myself jumping to conclusions on feedback I deemed negative or "uncalled for" only to reflect and review it later and see that I was wrong or I simply over reacted to it.

It takes a lot to admit that. It's not an easy thing to do either, but I've found many of us do it.

Whether it's with a client or even a loved one, the secret to any relationship is not to react to your first instinct but instead to give yourself some time and reflect on it. If it's an email, re-read it later when you've got a clearer head.

If you'd like to check out a blog post I wrote that discusses this very topic and goes a bit deeper.

So if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them on my Instagram account or Twitter, and please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this first new podcast episode of 2021! (:

Always remember to stay Passionate, Positive, and Creative!

Want to level up your freelance business? Check out our newsletter!