Hiring qualified talent for creative roles (digital, marketing, UX or design) is an art unto itself.
In addition to reviewing resumes and looking for specific skills or years of experience, reviewing a portfolio and understanding the nuances in a creative’s work requires a unique talent. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Here are 3 tips to consider when looking to hire creative talent and evaluating portfolios.
1. Concept or Execution
Are you looking for a conceptual creative or one who is more executional? A conceptual talent ideates, pushes the creative boundaries, comes up with new ideas, new campaigns and a way to challenge the status quo. This person may or may not have hands-on skills— as they concept and ideate, someone else may actually sit behind a computer to bring it to life and take it to the finish line.
An executional candidate is someone who is very hands-on still. They know all the design programs well, can take the big picture idea and apply it to a variety of formats and deliverables. They’re able to read between the lines, interpret the big idea and execute it across multiple media and channels.
In some instances, one person can have both strengths—or they may favor one over the other. Who do you need on your team?
2. Your Brand
When looking at a resume and comparing two design talent, both may have similar proficiency with design programs, both may have the same years of experience and both may seem like the ideal candidate…on paper. When reviewing creative talent, a portfolio must accompany the resume, and in many cases it holds more weight than the resume.
When you review portfolio links, you may notice one designer’s aesthetic is bright, colorful, fun and illustrative, while the other candidate is minimalistic and corporate with a clean UI design aesthetic.
Both are beautiful, which aesthetic fits best within your company brand?
3. The Portfolio and to How Navigate it
When reviewing a portfolio, it can be difficult to get the full picture. Designers often work in collaboration with others: art directors, illustrators, copywriters, production artists, developers and many other talented teammates
How can you best tell who was involved in the work you are reviewing?
If the information isn’t clearly defined in the sample, ask for clarification to help you get the full picture.
Do you need help hiring creative talent? Connect with us.