Now that you have a collection of work that’s been selected and professionally documented, it’s time to decide how you’ll put together a professional presentation of your portfolio. There are many software options to choose from, but these are our top recommendations:
Adobe InDesign
Pros:
- InDesign affords you complete control over the design of your portfolio.
- Accessible to you as a RMCAD student.
- InDesign has become the standard software for creating portfolios in some creative industries. Using it will help you develop a skill to include in your resume.
Cons:
- InDesign is complex, and there is a bit of a learning curve for those who have never used it.
Google Slides
Pros:
- The user interface is easy to use and slides are customizable.
- The presentation will auto-save to the cloud so you can update it on any computer.
Cons:
- Template designs are limited and some are not ideal for a professional portfolio.
PowerPoint
Pros:
- For many, PowerPoint is familiar and easy to use.
Cons:
- Many of the templates and design options in PowerPoint are either limited or outdated.
Once you’ve decided which method to use, begin designing a clean, professional design that supports and reflects your work. Don’t forget that you can always schedule an appointment with the SLC if you need help navigating your chosen portfolio-building tool. Below, learn some general rules of thumb to follow when designing your digital portfolio:
- Use a simple, uncluttered background. White or black are common and effective because they are most similar to viewing work in a gallery setting. It’s important that the background doesn’t distract or detract from your work, which is the main focus! If you must have a background, it’s a good idea to reduce the opacity so images are the main focus, and text can be easily read. Or, you can incorporate large geometric shapes as background elements that provide variety and color to a more decorative styled portfolio. You can also use lines to break up areas of information.
- If you’re using a simple background but still want to add some color, larger text such as titles are a good place to include it. Avoid choosing colors that are difficult to read or look at, such as yellow on white or red on green. Choosing a limited color palette for your text is also ideal, and the colors should remain consistent page to page.
- Create a layout and stick with it. If you have some pieces that don’t fit into the layout you’ve established, you can develop an alternate layout, but generally, you should only have a maximum of three different layout options within your portfolio (excluding the title page or any other pages that don’t include artwork).
- If you’re unsure of where to begin with the design of your portfolio, try searching for “portfolio layout examples” on Google or Pinterest and take note of anything that inspires you.
- Establish some hierarchy with the text on your slides. For example, titles should be the largest, and paragraph text should be smallest. Just be sure to avoid text that is too large or too small. Think about how your viewers will view this portfolio. Will they see it projected on a large screen or will they see it on their personal computers? In general, paragraph text can be between 14pt and 20pt in size, while titles can be nearly 50 points larger for a presentation that’s 14” x 11.” However, it really depends on the typeface you’re using and the size of your presentation. Try to view your presentation in its final form to decide if the text needs to be larger or smaller.
- Finally, get some feedback on the design of your portfolio! It’s best to get feedback from a variety of sources to get opinions from all angles. You can post your portfolio to the RMCAD app, ask for suggestions from a faculty member, classmate, or schedule an appointment with the SLC!
