How to: Build a Great Art or Design Portfolio

Building a portfolio is a long, stressful, ongoing process that is vitally important to the success of any type of artist. While most other students depend on resumes to introduce them into the workforce and get jobs, artists show their work in a more visual format, picking and choosing pieces that clearly express their innovation, mastery of skills and ability to research and complete a project. Begin collecting pieces for your portfolio as soon as you start your craft: you can always edit and ask for critiques from teachers and other artists later on.

1. Express your own artistic voice: Make sure that your portfolio represents who you are as an artist and what your best talents are. Just because you got an A on a design of a three piece suit in fashion class, doesn’t mean you should include it in your portfolio if you only want to design shoes.
2. Understand your audience: Even though you’re ultimately the one who has to like and respect your work, understanding your audience can help you communicate your voice to potential employers and clients. If you intend to show your drawing abilities and computer skills to someone at a graphic design firm, understand that they may be expecting a CD of your work instead of just sketches on drawing paper. Students going back and forth between more traditional job interviews and meetings with curators or clients will also have to pitch their portfolio in different ways, according to the needs of their audience. Use your portfolio to explain your strengths and versatile talents, even if your work doesn’t always exactly represent the expectations of each kind of audience.
3. Make it accessible: Keep your portfolio clean, organized and logical so that a variety of managers, agents and curators can understand what you’re trying to convey. Don’t clutter up your work with extra headings and designs that will take away from your work. You will also want to start a website that includes a digital version of your portfolio, especially if you intend to do a lot of freelance work. Online portfolios will reach a broader audience and can connect you to clients around the world.
4. Enlist the help of a teacher or other artist: Before you present your portfolio, ask your teacher, who should already be knowledgeable about your strengths and potential, to review the layout and selections. Another artist who has experience putting together portfolios can also be helpful, as he or she will be able to tell you what your audience will be looking for.
5. Don’t forget your contact information: Slip in a business card to leave behind that includes your name, phone number, e-mail address and degree.