How do I build a portfolio that shows future gigs instead of past work?

[DonaldJA]

I’ve been a freelance illustrator for a few years, but I’m starting to feel like my portfolio is just a collection of my past client work and doesn’t really show the kind of projects I actually want to attract. How do you go about building a book that reflects your future goals instead of just your past jobs?

[James45]

I started by mapping three future gigs I want and then built six pieces that fit those themes, all self directed or reworked from older work. The older client pieces stay in a separate file so they don't hijack the feel of the book.

[Camila77]

I kept a messy folder of ideas that scare me a bit and added one new piece each week. When the new work began to feel cohesive I stitched a simple narrative through the set so it reads as a direction rather than a random mix.

[Harper.J]

Do you really need to plaster the change on your front page or could you run a separate case study page that shows the kind of work you want and a short note about the move?

[Dennis17]

One night I drifted and started tidying the fonts and grids on the site and it felt silly but it reminded me how a look can telegraph direction. I still kept a simple through line for the work and it made choosing pieces simpler.