Day 1: Portfolio Power-Up
Create these 5 pieces without clients:
1. The Brand Package - Fictional company logo (3 variations) - Business card design - Letterhead template - Social media headers
2. The Social Media Suite - 9 Instagram posts (cohesive theme) - 5 story templates - Facebook cover - LinkedIn banner
3. The Marketing Materials - Trifold brochure - Email header - Web banner ads (3 sizes) - Event poster
4. The Digital Product - E-book cover and layout - Course thumbnail - Worksheet template - Certificate design
5. The Presentation Design - 10-slide pitch deck - Consistent theme - Data visualization - Call-to-action slide
Day 2-3: Design Skills Sprint
Master These Fundamentals: - Color theory (complementary, analogous, triadic) - Typography (pairing, hierarchy, readability) - Layout principles (rule of thirds, white space) - Brand consistency (style guides) - File formats (when to use what)
Speed Training Exercises: - Recreate 5 designs you admire - Design same concept 5 different ways - Create mood boards for different industries - Practice quick iterations
Day 4-5: Client Hunting
Strategy 1: The Redesign Pitch 1. Find businesses with outdated design 2. Create "before and after" mockup 3. Send: "Hi [Name], I redesigned your [specific item] to show how updated visuals could increase your [specific metric]. Attached is a free sample. Interested in discussing a full refresh?"
Strategy 2: The Platform Presence - 99designs: Design contests - Dribbble: Portfolio showcase - Behance: Adobe's network - Fiverr/Upwork: Quick starts
Strategy 3: The Niche Network Join communities where your ideal clients hang out: - Facebook groups for entrepreneurs - LinkedIn industry groups - Reddit small business forums - Slack communities
Day 6-7: Business Systems
Create These Templates: - Design brief questionnaire - Contract with revision limits - Invoice template - Project timeline template - File delivery checklist