I won an Architecture Portfolio Award in 2022, and I’ve always been intrigued by portfolios. It’s incredible how a simple booklet that takes just 3 to 5 minutes to read can capture an architect’s entire academic and professional journey, effectively showcasing their skills. Here are eight key considerations I kept in mind while creating my own portfolio:
1. Inspiration
Examples and reviews always help. There are many architecture portfolio review that you can find online. The videos are more than an hour each containing brief discussion on why a portfolio design is considered good or bad. These comments are crucial, offering more insight than simply flipping through pages. You’ll encounter various styles that can inspire and showcase different skills and talents. Before starting your own design, bookmark at least five portfolios to use as inspiration and refer to them frequently as you develop your own step by step.
2. Size
When designing your portfolio, you generally have three standard size options :
- Square Format : In my opinion, the Square format is the most versatile, especially if you choose sizes between 8 x 8 inches and 10 x 10 inches. This size range is particularly user-friendly for one-handed reading.
- A4 Portrait : For digital presentations, this format is ideal. When opened as a book, the two pages viewed together closely match the standard aspect ratio of most display monitors. This setup ensures that in full-screen mode, there is minimal bleed and the presentation remains clear and professional.
- A4 Landscape : It’s less effective. A dual-page view in this format tends to be excessively wide, resulting in larger padding spaces around the content, which can detract from the overall presentation of the information.
Ultimately, your portfolio should be designed for both print and digital formats. Whether you’re applying for advanced studies or a job, the Square or Portrait formats are generally the best choices for a polished and practical presentation.
3. Layout
Today, minimal graphics are widely appreciated and accepted. Minimalist designs often feature ample white space and a few bold elements that draw attention to key information quickly. This approach helps the reader focus on what is important without being overwhelmed by excessive details.
When designing your portfolio, choosing the right fonts, header and footer is crucial. It’s a delicate balance: you want to present information clearly without cluttering the page. Simplicity might appear effortless, but it involves significant effort and skill to distill complex ideas into an accessible format. The goal is to make complex content easy to understand and engaging for the reader.
4. Intro & Contents
As I mentioned earlier, a portfolio is typically read in just 3 to 5 minutes. Although you might include detailed briefs, it’s important to remember that 90% of your readers may not read them thoroughly. Without project write-ups, a portfolio can become a monotonous sequence of images, which might not engage the viewer effectively.
Text is a crucial component of your portfolio’s composition. Alongside showcasing your projects, it’s essential to include a brief introduction about yourself and an architectural CV at the beginning. This provides context and helps readers understand your background and qualifications. Additionally, consider ending your portfolio with a page dedicated to personal achievements, accolades or acknowledgements of those who have supported you along the way. This not only adds a personal touch but also highlights your accomplishments and the people who have contributed to your journey.
5. Project Selection
A portfolio is essentially a compilation of your academic journey in architecture. Its purpose is to showcase your talent and skills. Throughout your five-year course, you’ll complete numerous projects, but you don’t need to include them all in your portfolio. Instead, focus on selecting and presenting the projects that best highlight your abilities.
Start by determining how many projects you want to feature in a portfolio designed for a 5-minute read. Ideally, your portfolio should be no more than 30 to 40 pages; even 50 pages might be excessive. With this limited space, you can’t include everything, so choose 2-3 academic projects that best demonstrate your capabilities.
In addition, include 1 or 2 competition entries you worked on during your studies. These can be particularly engaging and impressive. Finally, if you have any professional work experience, feature a selection of that as well. This sequence helps create a well-rounded and impactful portfolio that reflects your development and achievements effectively.
6. Scheme
It doesn’t necessarily mean that your portfolio must adhere strictly to a minimalist style. A portfolio’s primary purpose is to showcase your best work, so it’s not important for all projects to follow the same color palette or design scheme. Feel free to re-render or recreate diagrams as needed to best represent each project.
Your portfolio should demonstrate versatility, showcasing your ability to work in various styles. However, despite the diversity in project categories and presentation styles, it’s crucial that the overall layout remains consistent. This consistency will ensure that the portfolio feels cohesive and represents the work of a single, unified designer.
7. Front & End Cover
That’s right, the cover is on number 7! In a portfolio, people will judge the book by it’s cover regardless the common saying. If your portfolio represents your work, then the cover represents you. While it’s important, the cover should not be your initial focus. Instead, work on it midway through your process, once you’re deeply engaged with your compilation.
Some people choose a simple sketch, others use typography and some showcase visualizations. The cover should reflect your passion and the identity of your work. Additionally, the front and back covers should be designed to seamlessly connect, creating a cohesive and well-bound presentation.
8. Take Others’ Opinion
Personal preference is always subjective. What you might love, others might dislike. While working on your portfolio, you’ll be closely involved with it for an extended period, which can make it difficult to view it objectively. It’s important to seek feedback from other architects or graphic designers who share similar philosophies and perspectives. Their fresh eyes can help identify small issues and suggest revisions, ultimately refining your design and bringing it closer to perfection.
