The Perfect Portfolio | How to create a portfolio for Architecture & Design

Gain a clear understanding of the portfolio's purpose and its critical role in your career. This lesson outlines what to include, how to present your skills effectively, and the key differences between academic and professional portfolios. You'll learn to identify your target audience, understand portfolio expectations across different career stages, and establish the strategic framework that guides every portfolio decision from content selection through final presentation.

Learn how to select and organise your projects to create a compelling narrative tailored to your audience. This lesson also examines the types of media to include and how to sequence your work for maximum impact. You'll master project curation strategies, understand the balance between breadth and depth in project selection, and learn narrative structuring techniques that guide viewers through your design evolution and capabilities.

Discover how to set up your pages in InDesign, choosing the appropriate format and size for your portfolio. This lesson covers industry standards for print and digital outputs to ensure professional presentation. You'll understand the implications of different page orientations, learn about standard portfolio sizes used in professional practice, and master document setup techniques that support both high-quality printing and optimal digital viewing experiences.

Master layout design to create organised, visually engaging pages. Explore strategies and InDesign tools that streamline the process, enabling you to present your work with clarity and precision. You'll learn grid systems specific to architectural portfolios, understand visual hierarchy principles that guide viewer attention, and master composition techniques that balance project imagery with supporting information while maintaining professional consistency throughout your portfolio.

Refine your portfolio's text with professional typography techniques. This lesson covers font selection, text setup in InDesign, and how to ensure your written content complements your design work. You'll learn typography principles that enhance rather than compete with architectural imagery, understand hierarchy creation through type treatment, and master techniques for integrating project descriptions that inform without overwhelming the visual narrative.

Create a cohesive and polished graphical style for your portfolio. This lesson explores colour schemes, page elements, and visual markers to enhance the overall design and achieve a professional finish. You'll develop signature graphic systems that distinguish your portfolio, learn color theory applications for architectural presentation, and master the creation of consistent visual elements that unify diverse projects while highlighting your design sensibility and attention to detail.

Bring your portfolio together by assembling your project pages. This lesson guides you through applying everything you've learned to create a cohesive and professional document. You'll implement your graphic system across all projects, learn to maintain consistency while allowing each project its unique character, and master techniques for creating seamless transitions between different project types and scales that maintain viewer engagement throughout your portfolio.

Organise your portfolio with clear navigation tools. Learn to design a professional table of contents, create chapter pages, and implement automatic numbering for a structured and seamless flow. You'll master InDesign's automated content generation features, understand navigation system design that enhances rather than disrupts the viewing experience, and learn organizational strategies that help viewers quickly locate specific information while encouraging complete portfolio review.

Craft a standout cover that sets the tone for your portfolio. This lesson explores essential elements, design principles, and inspiring ideas to ensure a strong first impression. You'll learn cover design strategies that communicate your design philosophy, understand the balance between personal branding and professional presentation, and master techniques for creating memorable covers that accurately represent your work quality and design approach while standing out in competitive selection processes.

Prepare your portfolio for final presentation with expert advice on exporting. This lesson details the settings and techniques required for high-quality digital and physical outputs. You'll learn export specifications for professional printing, understand digital optimization for various viewing platforms, and master file preparation techniques that ensure your portfolio maintains visual quality across different presentation contexts while meeting technical requirements for submission and display.