Target Audience Profiles

Target Audience 1 - Tutor and Peers
This audience requires me to follow a distinct set of guidelines. I must be able to portray my work over the full two year course, showing where I started, and where I'm at now. For this particular audience I think it is key to show how I have built as a designer and I must highlight the new skills I have learnt, and how I have put them into practice.

The portfolio must be well thought out in terms of assessment. Although this is something I could take on after college I must also keep in mind that it is an assessed piece of work and must follow the requirements in order to pass the course.

Potentially my peers may be looking at my work for inspiration and as a sign of how far I have come over the course. It is a very good opportunity to show off and gain a good reputation with potential colleagues of the future.

Target Audience 2 - Clients
For a client looking for a designer, the portfolio is the main catch. A well designed portfolio can alter the look of any piece of work. Using samples to cleverly display even the most boring piece of work is very important.

Clients will want to see samples of your work and there is no better way than through the portfolio. They will also want to find out a little about you, so I must portray myself in the best light in order to impress. I need to keep the portfolio strictly professional and incredibly user friendly.

Search Engine Optimisation can also bring in many clients so it is something that should be considered right the way through the build. For the people who stumble across the site, clear contact information needs to be easily accessible.

Target Audience 3 - Employers
This is the key target audience as I look into the future. Employers within the design industry aren't as bothered about paperwork and seeing qualifications, it is down to the quality and style of your designs.

I have found with clients in the past that even if they have no jobs available they will still ask to see a portfolio. This is because a well design portfolio can influence anyone into offering you a job.

The portfolio has to display professionalism, as this is something that all employers look for. It must also highlight my strengths and smooth over my weaknesses, so to give me the greatest chance of employment.