Top 5 Instructional Design Portfolio Mistakes

TL;DR

Learn about the top 5 portfolio mistakes that can potentially cost you a job in instructional design.

Transcript

hello my friends and welcome to another video my name is devlin peck and i help instructional designers learn new skills and land opportunities which is why today we're going to take a look at the top five portfolio mistakes that people make that may wind up actually costing you the job so i have plenty of examples lined up for us here i have actua... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 Including projects on the homepage improves user experience and showcases your work immediately.
• 🙃 Detailed write-ups are essential to clarify your role and design decisions in projects.
• 👾 Storyline projects are highly valued in the corporate instructional design space and should be included in portfolios.
• 💄 Personalizing your portfolio site adds uniqueness and makes it more memorable.
• 🤙 Clear navigation and calls-to-action are crucial for a positive user experience.
• 💦 A well-designed portfolio can make potential clients and recruiters more inclined to work with you.
• 🆘 Incorporating personality into your portfolio site helps reflect who you are as a designer.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is it important to include projects on your homepage?

Visitors to your portfolio want to see your work immediately, and placing projects on your homepage improves user experience for hiring managers and potential clients.

Q: What should be included in project write-ups?

Write-ups should include the target audience, your role in the project, the tools used, and a breakdown of your process, including design decisions and deliverables.

Q: Why should instructional designers include Storyline projects in their portfolios?

Storyline is widely used in corporate instructional design, and showcasing experience with this tool demonstrates your ability to hit the ground running in a corporate ID job.

Q: How can incorporating personality into your portfolio site benefit you?

Adding personality to your portfolio site helps make it more unique and memorable, giving visitors a sense of who you are before even meeting you, which can be beneficial in interviews.

Q: Why is confusing navigation a mistake on portfolio sites?

Confusing navigation makes for a poor user experience, and if visitors are unsure of how to navigate your site or access your projects, they may leave and look elsewhere.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Many portfolios do not include projects on their homepage, which is a mistake because visitors want to see the quality of your work.

• Not including detailed write-ups for projects can make it difficult for hiring managers to understand your role and design decisions.

• Storyline projects are crucial in the corporate instructional design space, so not including them can be a big mistake.

• Lack of personality on your portfolio site can make it forgettable, so incorporating uniqueness and reflecting your personality is important.

• Confusing navigation and unclear calls-to-action can lead to a poor user experience.