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Design · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Portfolio Making

A portfolio is not just a collection of work; it is a curated narrative of your identity as a creator. This capstone course is designed to bridge the gap between student life and professional practice. Students will learn the art of editing (what to leave out), the technical skills of photographing artwork, and the graphic design principles required to create a cohesive physical and digital presence that gets them hired or signed.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master the art of "Curation": Selecting works that tell a cohesive story
  2. Execute professional photography of physical artwork (Lighting & Color Correction)
  3. Design effective layouts using InDesign: Grids, Typography, and Pacing
  4. Draft essential professional documents: Artist Statement, Resume/CV, and Cover Letter
  5. Develop a multi-platform presence: Physical Book, Website, and Social Media
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Purpose of a Portfolio: Commercial vs. Fine Art
  2. 02The Audit: Reviewing and Selecting Work
  3. 03Photography of Artwork I: Lighting Setup
  4. 04Photography of Artwork II: Post-Processing
  5. 05Layout Design I: Grids & White Space
  6. 06Layout Design II: Typography & Captions
  7. 07The Physical Book: Formats & Binding
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09The Artist Statement & Bio: Writing for Impact
  10. 10The Resume/CV: Design & Hierarchy
  11. 11Digital Portfolio I: Website Builders (Squarespace/Cargo)
  12. 12Digital Portfolio II: UX/UI & Navigation
  13. 13Social Media Strategy: Instagram & LinkedIn
  14. 14Printing & Binding: Material Choices
  15. 15The Mock Interview: Presentation Skills
  16. 16Final Project: The Complete Portfolio Review

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Complete Portfolio Review

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Burn Your Portfolio by Michael Janda
  2. Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
  3. Building a Graphic Design Portfolio by Kimball and Hurlburt
  4. No Plastic Sleeves: The Complete Portfolio Guide by Larry Volk and Danielle Currier
  5. Graphic Design Portfolio Strategies for Print and Digital Media by Robert Rowe
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