Your portfolio website is one of the most important tools for presenting yourself as a designer/artist/creative/maker. It demonstrates the breadth and depth of your skills and will be used to market yourself, share with potential employers, and link on social media.
A successful portfolio not only includes strong work but also emphasizes:
- Organization — how clearly and logically your work is presented.
- Context — descriptions that explain the purpose, process, and outcome of each project.
- Professionalism — the polish of your visuals, writing, and presentation.
Remember: the portfolio must speak for you, since you will not always be there to explain your work in person.
Requirements
- Your portfolio site must include:
- A domain name and hosting service to publish your website.
- A minimum of 20 works/projects.
- A bio/design statement, including contact information and a printable résumé.
- A consistent visual layout across all pages.
- Written copy for each work/project that:
Grading
Your grade will be based on four elements:
| Criteria | Exemplary (Full Points) | Proficient | Developing | Beginning | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Visual Design (25 pts) | Cohesive, professional, and visually polished; strong typography, color, and layout choices; highly usable and engaging (25) | Clear and functional design; mostly consistent visuals; minor usability issues (18–22) | Inconsistent design; layout or visual style distracts from work; usability issues (12–17) | Minimal design effort; confusing, cluttered, or unpolished visuals (5–11) | 5–25 |
| Organization of Works (25 pts) | Portfolio flows logically; works grouped meaningfully; easy to navigate; 20+ works/projects well presented (25) | Works organized with minor gaps; navigation mostly clear; 20 projects included (18–22) | Portfolio lacks structure; projects disorganized or fewer than 20 works (12–17) | Little or no organization; difficult to navigate; missing projects (5–11) | 5–25 |
| Context (25 pts) | Every project includes thoughtful, concise descriptions with clear goals, process, and outcomes; writing free of errors (25) | Most projects have descriptions; some missing details or minor writing errors (18–22) | Few projects have context; writing unclear or error-prone (12–17) | Little to no context; writing missing or unprofessional (5–11) | 5–25 |
| Professionalism (25 pts) | Site includes polished bio/design statement, contact info, and printable résumé; domain and hosting functional; content feels industry-ready (25) | Most professional elements present; minor issues with bio, résumé, or site polish (18–22) | Missing one or more key professional elements; site not fully functional (12–17) | Many elements missing; site unpolished or incomplete (5–11) | 5–25 |
Explore
- http://portfolios.risd.edu/
- http://portfolios.pratt.edu/
- Interaction Design http://www.gsa.ac.uk/media/1189722/interactiondesign_04092015pptfinal.pdf
- Fine Art Photography http://www.gsa.ac.uk/media/1162277/fa-application-guideines-15_16-.pdf
- Product Design http://www.gsa.ac.uk/media/1162245/product_design_admissions-guidelines_2016_entry.pdf
- https://www.scad.edu/admission/portfolio-and-writing-guidelines/portfolio-guidelines-and-tips
- https://calarts.edu/admissions/portfolio-audition-requirements/art/graphic-design
- https://cias.rit.edu/prospective-students/portfolio-guide/
- Do’s and Don’ts https://medium.com/car-visual-art/graduate-school-portfolio-preparation-dos-and-donts-c23a197d3f89
Portfolio Checklist:
Technical Setup
- I purchased or registered a domain name.
- I set up a hosting service for my portfolio site.
- My site is live and accessible.
Content
- My portfolio contains at least 20 works/projects.
- Each project includes:
- A title.
- A short description (goal, process, outcome).
- Original graphics and/or documentation of the work.
- My portfolio includes a bio or design statement.
- My portfolio includes contact information.
- My portfolio includes a printable résumé.
Design & Layout
- My layout is consistent across all pages.
- My design choices (typography, color, layout) are professional and highlight my work.
- The site is easy to navigate (menus, links, project grouping).
Writing & Context
- I provided clear, concise context for each project.
- My descriptions explain the goals, process, and outcomes of the work.
- All text has been checked for spelling and grammar errors.
Professionalism
- My site looks polished and industry-ready.
- All links work correctly.
- My portfolio is mobile-friendly (can be viewed on phone or tablet).
👉 Final Self-Check Before Submission
- My site meets all requirements.
- I tested it on multiple browsers/devices.
- I am proud to send this portfolio to a potential employer.