We all know portfolios matter. A lot of people will ask if you’ve got one, especially if you’re a designer. But knowing it matters and actually getting it built are two very different things.
You mean to get round to it. Then a paying project lands, and the portfolio goes back in the drawer. Sometimes you just need a bit of motivation and accountability that only a group can give you.
That’s what this is, it’s a group that’ll keep you accountable, a group that will push you to get it done.
Limited to 8 places
Only available to paid Free Spirit members*
Cohort starts 4 August 2026
Applications close at 5pm on 17 July
*membership is only £30 per rolling month
What to expect
Four weeks developing and building a portfolio that showcases your best work.
We sort out where your portfolio’s going to live right at the start, so you build straight into it from week one rather than leaving it all to a mad scramble at the end. By the time the Club wraps up, you’ll have a portfolio you’ll be proud to show off.
What we’ll cover each week
- Who your portfolio is really for when you’re self-employed, and what makes you stand out.
- What “work” means for your niche before you worry about format.
- Choosing where it lives, your website, the Free Spirits portfolio area, Canva Sites or LinkedIn, and setting up the shell so everything you build has somewhere to go.
- Using YouTube to host showcase reels you can embed anywhere. Plus buddy pairing.
- A professional summary that hooks a client in under a minute (and doubles as your elevator pitch).
- Case studies that sell, including what to do when you can’t share the metrics or don’t have a client example.
- Evidencing work you can’t simply show: the value of a conversation, a workshop or a strategy when there’s no file to point at.
- Asking for testimonials, and making it easy for people to say yes.
- Handling NDAs: what you can show, what you can’t, and how to showcase work that’s under wraps.
- Showcasing the things you can’t show, with demo projects and hypothetical case studies that hit real pain points.
- Showing how you actually work with AI, because clients want to see your process, not just a line saying you use it.
- The first live showcase slots open up this week.
- Pulling it together and making it client-ready: structure, flow, and what to cut.
- Making it findable and shareable, the link you send a prospect.
- Repurposing your best bits into social content, because prospects google you before they buy.
- Keeping it alive so you don’t have to do it all again in a few years.
- Final showcases and wrap-up.
What you need to know before you apply
You’ll need to apply, and there are only 8 places. If more than 8 eligible members put their name forward, we’ll pick the cohort at random, so it’s fair to everyone. You’ll hear either way once applications close.
Before you apply, have a proper think about what you’re signing up for. This is your portfolio, and you have to be committed to building it, because nobody else is going to do it for you. So here’s what we ask:
- Show up to all four live sessions. They’re mandatory, so if you can’t commit then wait until the next cohort.
- Be active in the Circle channel. The feedback only works if we all give it.
- Put time aside each week. Around an hour of pre-watching, and a couple of hours actually working on your portfolio.
- Be generous and honest with feedback. Kind doesn’t mean vague, so be constructive.
When: Four Tuesday evenings (4, 11, 18 and 25 August 2026)
Time: 5:30pm to 7:00pm. 90 minutes, live on Zoom each week
Where: Zoom, plus a dedicated Circle channel you’ll need to be active in
Places: Capped at 8, so there’s room for everyone to shine
Who can join: Paid Free Spirits members (membership is just £30 per month)
We’ve only got 8 spots, so once they’re gone, you’ll go onto the waitlist for the next cohort.