How to Tell the Full Story Behind Your Design Projects and Build a Solid Portfolio. Having a well-constructed portfolio is one of the most important tools for anyone involved in design, whether it's graphic, web, UI, branding or art direction. It not only works as a professional cover letter, but also as a way to show how you think, how you work and what kind of projects you are interested in developing. One of the most common mistakes is to show only the final result: a beautiful image, a finished logo or a polished interface. However, what really differentiates a solid portfolio from a generic one is the ability to tell the whole process behind each project. In this article we review the key steps to transform a single project into a powerful piece within your portfolio, bringing context, narrative and strategic value to your work. Step 1 - Choose the right project. You don't need to show everything you've done. In fact, a good portfolio is usually most effective when it is brief and coherent. Choose those projects that best represent your style, your current skills or the type of work you want to attract. Prioritize quality over quantity. A single well-explained project can say much more than ten shown without context. It is also valid to include personal or fictitious projects if they are well developed and respond to a clear challenge.
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Santander, Spain
![Personal Branding [SerreraStudio]. Br, ing, Identit, and Graphic Design project by Pedro Manuel Serrera Ortiz - 07.15.2019](https://imgproxy.domestika.org/unsafe/s:88:88/dpr:2/rs:fill/ex:true/el:true/plain/src://project-covers/000/525/761/525761-original.jpg?1563200232)
