You’ve made a new contact in Design. How can you make sure they remember you?

1 Send a thank-you note

The first thing you should do after meeting a new contact is to send them a thank-you note. This shows that you appreciate their time and attention, and that you're interested in staying in touch. You can use email, LinkedIn, or another platform that suits the context. Keep your message short, friendly, and personalized. Mention something specific that you learned from them, or that you enjoyed talking about. You can also ask them a relevant question, or offer to help them with something.

2 Share your portfolio

One of the best ways to showcase your design skills and personality is to share your portfolio with your new contact. Your portfolio should be updated, organized, and easy to navigate. It should highlight your best work, your design process, and your value proposition. You can send your portfolio link along with your thank-you note, or wait for a few days and follow up with another email. Make sure you explain why you're sharing your portfolio, and how it relates to your contact's interests or needs.

3 Connect on social media

Another way to stay on your contact's radar is to connect with them on social media platforms that are relevant to your field. For example, you can follow them on Twitter, Instagram, or Dribbble, and engage with their posts. You can also join groups, communities, or forums where they are active, and participate in discussions. This will help you learn more about their work, their opinions, and their challenges. You can also share your own insights, resources, or projects, and show your value and expertise.

5 Set up a meeting

The ultimate goal of networking is to create meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships. To do this, you need to move beyond online communication and meet your contact in person or virtually. You can set up a meeting to discuss a specific topic, to collaborate on a project, or to explore new opportunities. You can also invite them to an event, a workshop, or a webinar that you're attending or hosting. The key is to have a clear purpose and agenda for your meeting, and to respect your contact's time and availability.