An architectural portfolio is a representation of the work you have completed in your time as a student and later as a professional. Within any good portfolio is a careful selection of images, drawings, text, and photographs that represent and are a record of your expertise. Additionally, it demonstrates your ability to craft a clear and curated set of work for others to see.
Below you will get more information about:
What should your portfolio show
How to create your portfolio
What Should Your Portfolio Show
A designer's (or a student’s) portfolio is an essential tool to presenting yourself, your skills, and the services that you can provide to a future employer. This may be for a freelance position, or architecture firm, or a client or design position. Additionally you may want to apply to obtain your master's degree and most graduate schools for design will require a portfolio of some kind.
So your portfolio often will be the first thing clients, employers or school committees will go to first. This is important to remember. Your portfolio needs to make an impact. It needs to show what you can do as a student, and soon to be professional. So when in doubt highlight your strengths. Know AutoCAD from front to back, well you better show us your beautiful line drawings. Learned rhino and can produce amazing renders, then your portfolio should lean on those.
Some items that I believe are critical to have planned for your portfolio are as follows:
Resume in the first five pages.
This may be before or after your table of contents, and in some cases may not be needed, but it is important to have provided space for it.
Minimum of 4 projects.
I say four because each one should do something for you. One may be the “rendering” project. Another your “process” project and a third is the “CAD” project. It does not mean they won't all have these things in common, but I am sure some are better in an area than others.
Minimum of 1 personal project
Show something that you do in addition to school. Photography, a competition, carpentry. It doesn't matter just provide that supporting project.
- A CLEAR DESIGN AESTHETIC FROM START TO FINISH
I can't stress this enough. A portfolio is a design exercise and you should treat it as such. Make no mistake future employers are looking for a well organized, curated, and thoughtful portfolio.
How to Create Your Portfolio
Step 1 – Project Selection
Choosing the right projects sometimes can be difficult, but they should always be your best. Each project should showcase your abilities, range of skills, experience, and media. This list may be larger than the final portfolio but work through each project like it will have a place. This method will help you to edit and properly curate your work.
Step 2 – Drawing and image selection
Now that you have selected the project you need to choose the best images. DO NOT SHOW EVERYTHING. This is important. People do not need, nor do they want to see every scrap of paper. Edit, curate, and craft an image of the project that is complete if viewed in a minute or less.
Part 3 – Format & Template
This step should not be rushed. How you format your work will determine the look and feel. This will be decided by several factors. Some may include:
Horizontal or vertical
Printing method
Page bleed
Project selection
Precedent portfolios
Desired project density
This will be the first part of the portfolio where you will need to open Photoshop, InDesign and illustrator to start the portfolio process.
Part 4 – Portfolio Construction
In this phase, you will develop your portfolio much like a studio project. Iteration is key. Try developing several layouts for the same project. Print (digital and physically) them and compare them against other portfolios you have seen. This process of testing is essential and will, despite the process, will be visible in the end.
Part 5 – Publishing
In this phase, you will finally have it ready for printing or digital publishing. If you are using a digital portfolio it may be as simple as creating a PDF, but if you are printing and binding there are a variety of methods.
Perfect binding
Stitch (hand) binding
Spiral bind
Each method of delivery is unique and has its merits, but don’t forget its part of the design
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