In your Graphic Design Portofolio is it okay to make example pieces for existing companies?

Yeah, it’s okay, as long as your tell the person interviewing you that they are conceptual pieces, and are in no way affiliated with the company.

In fact, a lot of my school projects were like that. And, I even had some conceptual pieces from non-existent companies in my portfolio. Until you get real world experience in the field, a lot beginning graphic designers have conceptual pieces in their portfolio.

I see this a whole lot, I usually get bored and make a concept of something existing (improving it, by my terms) and I’d use that in a portfolio, just make it known to the one viewing your portfolio.

State their concept and you’ll be fine. You could even make up fictional companies and do work on branding or design for them.

I highly recommend making up a fictitious company and designing a suite of branding around it. It’s easier to show off your talent without having a detracting factor such as comparing it to a well known brand. Beyond that, you demonstrate your own creative abilities in thinking up branding and imaging for a completely new company. If I were hiring a graphic designer I would prefer to see an example of this versus an example of a concept work for redesigning a popular brand logo.

*they’re. Ug.

I agree with making up a fictitious company. I think it shows more talent and creativity, plus it allows you to expand on the brand rather than it looking like you copied a well known company. Interviewers look more highly on something that is made up, it shows more creativity than something that is just ripped off and reworked.

thanks guys for all your answers…I knew a fictional company was okay and probably would go that route but I was just curious about existing companies as well. Great answers everyone :)

It is okay, but you have to understand that it would devalue your portfolio to some degree. I would only advise fresh designers with little experience to take this road until they’ve something considerable to put in their portfolios.