Client list?
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- MrT0
+1 @ marky_brown.
Client lists are not redundant, especially when you are solo or a small operation. If you can deal with large corporations, it's not all mates' business cards and wedding stationery, which some clients think is the remit of the little guy.
And what is your 'best work' - are you just showing your personal favourites?
eg. I recently did a logo for a snowboard start-up, a recent favourite but not exactly a widely-known client, then I have staff magazine and environmental report work for Canon. It's hard to see there being no value in Canon as a client...
- but isnt it redundant to have a list with Canon (among others) and than having pieces in your folio that were for Canon? Wont it be obvious they were a clientbaseline_shift
- obvious they were a client?baseline_shift
- fyoucher10
Agree with everyone else too, it is part ego-trippery to some extent. Whatever makes your client feel more comfortable using you.
Also lets potential clients know what kind of industry experience you have (ie. different industries like automotive, retail, financial, etc etc). Sometimes you have experience in something but just don't have the work featured on your site too. I do pharma work every now and then but it's nothing I'd feature on my site because it's not the kind of work I'm trying to get. Maybe a client is looking for a specific style for something that's similar to another brands style, and they're looking to see if you experience in that....if you're competent for the job.
- marky_brown0
I think it always help new clients see the big brands you've worked with before. Helps them feel comfortable that if you worked on some big brand you should be fine to work on theirs.
- harlequino0
I'll throw a list in there, but more from a "resume-ish" approach. It often makes for good talking points when discussing additional work outside a portfolio or other things you may have done like concepting, strategy, any project managing, client handholding, etc.
Also it adds a subtle weight boost to the work you do show, in that here's all the people you've done work for, but this is the short list of stuff you are showing. I just wouldn't put your list front and center, is all.
- erikjonsson0
a bit tricky too depending on the scope of work. did you do actionscript for something or did you actually design something out of your own direction, for the brand? Everything cant be relevant enough to warrant the logo in the list right?
- ximeraLabs0
I recently added a client list to my portfolio, pure egotrippery of course and its only purpose is to show off what a big man I am in m own head. Although, some potential clients will feel more secure in hiring you if they see you've done work for recognizable/reputable companies.
The thing is though: a lot of clients are one-off's in a lot of cases, so you never know if it was just a stand-alone project for client X, or if Client X wasn't really happy and left you after project X.
*ponders.
- d_rek0
I think it is more appropriate for agencies/studios as opposed to a one-man show.
From conversations i've had with management and our sales associate here typically the more business minded clients love the name-drops - it gives them a sense of reassurance knowing you've worked with Company A or Company B. Not that the work is necessarily the best you've done just that you have experience engaging with those types of organizations.
Again, I think for freelance and/or personal portfolio the name-drop probably isn't as important. I would echo sentiments put forth above about it should be apparent who the client is through the or in the description of it.
- dMullins0
I never really understood the client list.
The work you show should be your best, and hopefully some of that work is for some of your best clients.
It's just pointless horn-blowing, IMO, if you don't show the work that backs up those actualized relationships.
- era4O40
I would include it, but purely for SEO purposes. Otherwise, your word should speak for itself.
- baseline_shift0
I tend to think its redundant.
If you are showing work in your folio, it should be obvious who the client was. You usually see client lists when you have an agency site, with a few case studies instead of a comprehensive portfolio.
Guess it all depends on how you are showing your work and to whom.
- MSTRPLN0
People tend to look for these in that section:
Nike
Coca-Cola
Toyota
- MrDinky0
Add client list only if you have some work to show for each.
I tend to distrust list of clients with out any work.
- hear hear!OSFA
- what if some of your work have a 1year non disclosure agreement, with client interesting client names?dyspl
- Name + description of the work but not in detail.MrDinky
- TrueximeraLabs
- dropdown0
only if the people you're targeting would know who the clients are.
- lvl_130
totally depends.
if your client list contains things such as:
Uncle Marty-flyer work
then you should probably not have it on your site.
- cashface
I'm in the middle of updating my online portfolio site and wondering is putting a list of clients beneficial or unnecessary?
Thoughts?