GIF It All You Got: How GIFs and animation can expand your portfolio
As an illustrator, your portfolio is your bread and butter. It’s the first impression you make with clients and should set a precedent for the work you want to create while showcasing your skillset in its full capacity.
To say that your portfolio is important is an understatement. Portfolios are an essential tool for professionals to introduce their work to potential clients, employers, and collaborators. As most portfolios are now digital, animation and GIFs can be used to add a whole new dimension.
But what are the benefits?
1. Captivate your audience
Moving images are eye-catching and engaging, which makes them an excellent tool for capturing the viewer’s attention. A well-designed animation or seamless looping GIF can immediately set you apart from your competition and create a lasting impression, especially when a client has been viewing a multitude of static portfolios that day. Unsure where to start when it comes to getting your files ready for animation? Check out our blog post all about preparing your files for animation here!
2. Demonstrate your technical skills
By including animation in your portfolio, you can demonstrate a wider range of capabilities and open the door to new areas. If you don’t animate yourself but have teamed up with a studio for an animation project, this can also showcase your ability to work with others and deliver suitable files for such a purpose. It never hurts to promote a collaborative project either, double the exposure is great for both sides!
3. Creativity and innovation
Animation is an excellent way to demonstrate your ability to think outside the box and enhance your artwork for the client’s benefit. It’s an incredible tool for storytelling, even a short GIF can add more narrative to an illustration, leaving a memorable impression. Motion can add depth and variety to your portfolio, and break up a static page of images to offer a more immersive experience for the viewer.
All in all, animation can add significant value to your portfolio, but it is worth keeping in mind the quality of the files that you’re uploading. Too many GIFs can slow web pages down and feel a bit chaotic. It can also pull a client’s attention away from your stronger pieces.
Pick a few of your favourites and space them out to ensure they make the biggest impact and don’t forget to have fun with it!