Portfolio - How to stand out?

[Scavenger]

I had a discussion with a friend a few days ago about the importance of a portfolio for prospect students who are trying to get into a university/college program which requires and/or could be persuaded by a portfolio. So the obvious question was what makes a good portfolio?

I’m sure that there are a ton of designers here who have had experience in making and presenting a portfolio during an interview with either a counsel from a school or someone similar. Or people with interviewing experience.

Please feel free to post your experiences and suggestions about portfolios. Or even sites which provide information about this topic. Or sites/pictures of good examples.


Here are some basic questions:

• Is a traditional portfolio better than a digital one?
• How do you make your portfolio stand out? Stand on its’ own?
• How big should it be?
• What size print should you present?
• Should there be any type of matting on your pictures?
• How do you present your sketches and ideas?
• What’s the best way to present a series of similar works?
• How do you show interactive works? Through a digital portfolio?
• How do you show 3d models?
• What do people look for when they interview you? (I.e. creativity, originality, process, etc)


Thanks, hopefully we can get all types of different designers to contribute a piece of the puzzle through all aspects.

[jstarkey]

Scav, I've moved this to the Boardroom. You'll get better/more answers here.