Computer with photo portfolio on table 3d rendering

Portfolios

What is a Portfolio?

A portfolio is a curated collection of your best work that showcases your skills, interests, and creative voice. It can be digital (website or PDF), multimedia (video, audio), or physical—depending on your field.

Why Portfolios Matter in the Creative Fields

Portfolios are often required for the following:

  • Internships and Jobs in creative fields
  • Graduate programs, fellowships and residency programs
  • Networking and informational outreach

TIP: Start Early and Update Regularly —-> Your portfolio will evolve as you grow!

Getting Started

  1. Review Portfolios by others in your Field
  2. Choose Your Format
    • Websites (Wix, Squarespace, Adobe Portfolio, Webflow, etc).
    • Platforms (Behance, Dribbble, YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud)
    • PDF or Portfolio – Great for interviews or reviews
  3. Select your Work
    • Include class projects, personal/freelance work and internship projects
    • Make sure to focus on work that shows your skills and interests
  4. Write Short Project Descriptions
    • What was the goal of the project?
    • What was your roll in the project?
    • What tools or skills did you use to complete the project?
  5. Lead with your Strongest Work
    • Put your best and most relevant projects first
    • Pick out 5-10 of your best projects
  6. Include your Contact Information
    • Make sure you include your contact information so others can easily reach out to you
  7. Get Feedback
    • Make sure to have a Faculty Member, Employer, Advisory Board members and someone from Career and Professional Development (CPD) to review your portfolio for impact and clarity.

What makes a Strong Portfolio?

  1. Show Your Process
    • Include your sketches, drafts or iterations — don’t just include your final product.
  2. Provide Context
    • Briefly explain each of your projects including goal, audience, tools and any collaboration.
  3. Tailor your Portfolio
    • Tailor your work to the roles that you are applying to whether internships or full time roles.
    • Prioritize Quality materials over Quantity of materials.
  4. Keep it Clean and Professional
    • Provide high quality visuals
    • Make sure to include consistent design and formatting.
    • Include easy navigation throughout your portfolio.
  5. Limit the Content
    • This relates to the prioritizing Quality over Quantity.
    • Aim for around 8-12 pieces (this can depend on how far you are into your program)
    • Smaller projects can be grouped together when needed.

Portfolio Quick Tips

What to Include in your Portfolio Sections

  • Home or Landing Page
  • Work Samples
  • About Me Section
  • Contact Information

What to Avoid in your Portfolio

  • Cluttered layouts
  • Too many projects
  • Irrelevant or outdated work
  • Poor image quality
  • Inconsistent Designs
  • Spelling and grammar errors
  • Including too much personal information — (DO NOT include your home address)

Questions to Ask Yourself or a Reviewer to See if your Portfolio is Ready

  1. Does my portfolio clearly show what I want to do professionally?
  2. Is my portfolio easy to navigate?
  3. Does each of my projects include context or an explanation?
  4. Does it looked polished and professional?
  5. Can someone easily find how to contact me?
  6. Does my portfolio work well on a mobile device?