Expert Tips to Make Impressive Portfolio for Design Students

For an individual aspiring to be a designer, a well-fabricated portfolio holds immense significance, serving to be a cornerstone for carving a successful design journey. A good student portfolio design gives the confidence to stand out by demonstrating versatility in ideas, catering to diverse challenges that may or may not be design-specific. The portfolio for design students is not only crucial for getting into top design schools, but it is a never-ending constant process of updating projects with every experience and adding new learnings, that promote the credibility in the professional life of a budding designer.

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Through this article, aspirants can get an idea of how to make a portfolio for design schools. Moreover, aspirants are provided with answers to some of the common queries on how to make a good portfolio for design.

Experts’ tips on how to make a portfolio for design students

The student portfolio design is a document talking of one’s conscious awareness of surroundings, the skill set that is contemporary to the need of the hour. In the earlier stages of aspirants' career, the portfolio plays a significant role in landing the D-schools of your preference. Portfolio for design students is a constant practice for career advancement showcasing growth and accomplishments. There is no strict guideline for crafting up portfolio design. However, in this article, we will be focusing on a bunch of healthy practices compiled in the form of Learnings from the experience of diverse stakeholders in industry and academia for more than a decade.

Learning 01

“It is not quantity but quality that matters”

The idea is to showcase your best that communicates your skill set but does not include everything. It is not only the drawings or sketches but also “Your thought process” Most critically, how you approach a given challenge or situation whether you are appearing for NID or NIFT or any good D-school doesn’t matter much. You can communicate your thought process through sketches or illustrations creatively. Secondly, your urge to reflect on challenges around you. Amongst all the most crucial thing is to be genuine and humble in your efforts, believe me, it pays.

Learning 02

“A strong Portfolio is like a good Restaurant, that serves varieties, but all equally good”

I have seen students repeating one common mistake where they assume the portfolio is only to showcase their sketching skills. Sketching is a medium in design to communicate unlike any other language, better the quality better the impression. But always try to include a variety of works in your portfolio, unlike a restaurant that serves a variety of things rather very good idli only on the menu. Try to include your classroom projects, your craft work, and even any good piece of literature like a poem or Shayari provided where to use and how to use is crucial.

Learning 03

“ Overcome the fear of not being extraordinary”

Sharing with experience of more than 06 years being part of the design community, and multiple professional experiences earlier.

Design is not for extraordinary people, rather it is for ordinary people with extraordinary efforts. What makes a design, or portfolio effective, are extraordinary efforts to communicate your idea very simply.

For example, a simple depiction of Pythagoras' Theorem to make it understandable even to class two students is a good piece of design that could make a strong portfolio. Only the crucial factor is looking at how a student would learn, which can be through digital or physical mediums.

Learning 04

“Be Organised”

When I say "organise," I don't only mean neatly arranging papers; I also mean assigning tasks a priority. I'm going to give you a cheat code: your second-best project should always be the best, but your best project should always be the second. Why? This would provide the ideal atmosphere for arousing people's curiosity. People are naturally intrigued when they look through your portfolio, but the final project may be purposefully left unfinished with a clear perspective plan. If done effectively, this could spark intriguing discussion among the jurors. Once more, this is merely a suggestion and not a rigid guideline that must be adhered to.

Learning 05

“ If a good design portfolio is like a good restaurant that serves variety, what should be on the menu? ”

The most crucial question by the time you might be seeking for all along this article, is what to and not to include in the article. What should be the chronology of the projects etc?

a) Good Opening Page (First Impression of a good Menu)

A good opening page is graphically attractive enough but to convey the idea about your skillset and understanding Of design at this level.

b) Second Page talks about you (The chef)
The second page should talk about you and depict you being full of energy and life facilitated by a good photograph of you (The chef). When talking about photographs one should avoid sincere passport size, rather a good mid-shot photo graph depicting you in an activity is an ideal click.

c) The third Page Onwards (Projects- The Recipes)

Ideally, we should keep between 05-08 different projects in our portfolio, the chronology of the portfolio should be as per the best and most relevant work.Sketching/Portraits Should not be more than 02-03 sheets, rather a better practice is to showcase the sketching as part of projects as a medium to communicate the thought process.

d) Overall Theme (Be Specific)

It is advised to include works more as per the opted domain, e.g. if someone has opted For Fashion design Particularly in Lifestyle Accessories, your portfolio should include more works around the same theme rather than including photography or product sketches.

Through this article, we tried taking you on the journey along with tips that would be immensely useful in crafting an impactful portfolio being a design aspirant. We have shared experiences and lessons that have worked for many. Additionally, whatever is shared here is the summation of years of collaboration with professionals from diverse design backgrounds.

Wishing you All the very best!