The Portfolio Password… Yay or Nay?
Not so much the great debate, but a topic that comes up now and again as designers hit the job market and want to show off some of their awesome work! And let’s face it, most (not all) design jobs require a portfolio during the application process.
Designers spend an incredible amount of time creating their personal portfolio — after all, this artifact is a reflection of their story, including the many years of experience that helped them to grow into the designer they are today! Remember the first time you built your portfolio? It was a BIG DEAL! And as the years continue to tick away and you add all those new accomplishments, it continues to remain a big deal! If you don’t feel this way about your portfolio, chat with some designers in your network and see how you might add some extra spark or flair to your storytelling experience.
So… we’ve established that portfolios are kind of a big design investment. Why choose to password protect versus letting the public have full access?
On one side, this work is personal and designers may feel the need to protect it. Consider the portfolio as the front door of the house. Would you be ok if any stranger enters your house? Or would you prefer them to knock first? In this regard, the password is the gatekeeper to keep unwanted prying eyes out of your stuff — think about all those spam calls you’ve gotten and regret answering the call immediately.
Another reason to use a password allows the designer to keep tabs on when prospective employers are actually looking at their stuff. When submitting job applications, many companies aren’t super transparent about what’s happening with your application, so if your resume passes the test, then you’re bound to get an inquiry about your portfolio.
And lastly, there may be unscrupulous activities happening on the internet at any point in time, and designers don’t want to see their work stolen or duplicated by others — password protect it.
On the other side, password protection represents a barrier to entry for many recruiters. Yet another communication and delayed application processing. In fact, some companies explicitly state in their application process that they will not accept portfolios that are password restricted — I don’t know, you be the judge.
Public access is public access. Anyone can see the content, so this allows your exposure to expand into a much broader network versus the password protected route. The benefit here could be getting noticed or making a connection you didn’t otherwise have that may open new doors for you in the future — after all, your work is open for 24-hour access and you didn’t have to do anything to get it!
In closing, both sides appear to have their pro’s and con’s. It’s ultimately up to you to determine what you’re comfortable with when sharing your design story with others.
Let’s Talk About It
How do you feel about password protecting your portfolio?