Create a design portfolio that consists of a digital or print collection (your choice) of your work this semester. The purpose of this collection is to demonstrate your communication skills to an audience of professionals. You should revise your text and images to correct errors, and you may choose to revise your pieces substantively as well. Your portfolio should include at least the following:
- A cover page (or digital equivalent) that contains your name, title, and original visual element
- A professional biography including an image of yourself appropriate for your intended audience
- Resume page and LinkedIn link
- An introduction to the overall portfolio that gives an indication of purpose
- Your typographic self-portrait
- Your blog entries, reformatted as appropriate for print
- A brief explanation of each piece that provides context for the audience (Overall, your design portfolio should look like a unified document rather than a hodgepodge of text and images thrown together.)
If you choose to create a print portfolio, your work should be reformatted for print production, and the final document should contain a title or cover page, be printed in color, and be professionally bound. The ERAU Print Shop can assist you producing this project (at very low cost). Contact the Print Shop in the M-Building at 386.226.6464. Keep in mind that you need to give them sufficient time to produce your document before the due date.
If you choose to create a digital portfolio, you can use your WordPress site (clearly the easiest option), use a site designed for that purpose such as www.FolioSpaces.com, or publish a portfolio on your own site. (Note that this course does not cover the technical skills required to build such a site.) Refer to “10 Steps to the Perfect Portfolio Web Site.” Here are some helpful links:
- “Post vs. Page – WordPress support
- list of WordPress themes designed for portfolios
- “Create A Professional Portfolio Using WordPress 3.0 Custom Post Types” (for the technically-advanced)
- “10 Steps to the Perfect Portfolio Web Site” (read this)
- “How to Create a Separate Page for Blog Posts in WordPress”
- “Page or Post? Simplified”
- “40+ Portfolio WordPress Themes that Will Fit your Needs”
- “15 Essential WordPress Plugins for Portfolio Sites”
- “15 Best & Free WordPress Portfolio Themes” (good themes here)
- “25 Fresh Designer Portfolio Websites”
- “38 Impressive Graphic Designer Portfolios”
- “32 Amazing Graphic Designers’ Portfolio Sites”
Your design portfolio will be evaluated by the following main elements:
- form (design and aesthetics)
- originality (of graphics and text – all should be original except for assignments where instructed)
- function and usability (ease of use, navigation)
- components (presence and communication of the required samples with outside source citation when appropriate)
- cohesiveness (introduction, unity of presentation of projects)
- professionalism (being free from written and visual errors)
See the syllabus for additional grading criteria. Worth 100 points.
