I have created 65 architecture porfrolios for clients on Fiverr, and I have designed my own architecture portfolios that got me university admissions at Czech Technical University and TU Berlin, and helped me find jobs in Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Prague as a foreigner. Here is what I have learned to include in a successful portfolio:
1. Appealing cover page (page 0)
The first opportunity to make an impression is to have a well designed cover page.
Well-designed can mean different things in different industries, but your targed audience is architects or architecture studios. The cover page should be aligned to the industry expectations.
I would higly recommend using a graphic from one of your projects. This way youc cover page can serve two purposes: be a cover page and a teaser at the same time.
Another tip is to not use something too realistic, like a realistic rendering or a photograph. Graphically altered versions of them work much better for cover. Plus, if you include the same graphic inside portfolio, it might look repetitive.
You can use different filters, blending modes, add some elements in photoshop to alter the image for your cover.
Here are several nice examples for a reference:
And here are couple of covers of portfolios I designed for my clients on Fiverr:
2. Short text about you and a one-page resume (page 1-2)
I have noticed that adding a paragraph or two about you adds a touch of personality to your portfolio. What to say? Shortly describe who you are, what you have been doing with your life so far, and what your vision is in relation to your professional development/career.
Here are two examples from a portfolios I designed two years ago:
3. Table of contents
While I am not convinced that this is necessary, it’s definitely a trend in portfolio designs. We can see it in different ways: I think that it’s just unnecessary distraction for the viewer who scrolls your application quick.
However, if you really take your time and make an effort to design something beautiful, than it’s an added value: it communicates your graphic design skills and in some cases it might give you extra points during hiring process.
Bottom line: if you only want to include regular generic texts for table of content, completely skip it. Do not include it unless you design something worthy to be included.
4. Academic projects
If you are applying for an internship or an entry level job, it means that you are probably still in the uni or you have recently graduated.
This means that part of your portfolio will inlcude academic projects.
How to organize the layout:
create a consistent layout for the first spread of each projects.
Include title, subtitle, project details, and desctiptive text.
The descriptive text should clearly articulate the problem statement, your approach, and final solution.
I often see portfolios which do not includeproblem statements and they straightaway jump to the description of the final solution.
As a future architect, you have to learn how to understand, describe and solve problems. If prople have no problems, they are not paying for a service. This skill is essential, so start to improve it.
The first page of each project should also include a graphic that communicates the project essence the best. It can be a realistic rendering, or it can be a post digital drawing. The point is to capture vibe.
Here are some examples of the cover page of projects from portfolios I have designed:
After the first spread, here is the sequence to lay out your material with:
- sita analysis diagrams
- design concept development diagrams
- final design diagrams
- site plan
- floor plans and sections
- facades
The whole idea is to tell a story with your graphics.
This is a basic minimum what you should have to effectively present your project, but feel free to add Physical model photographs, illustrations or collages to enrich your presentation.
5. Professional projects
If you already have a work experience, then you have projects to include in your portfolio.
In the first page of those projects make sure to include the studio you worked for on this project, and what your role was during the process.
We all know that work projects are almost never results of a single personl labor, and we should be honest about it.
6. Competitions
If you have worked on a competition entry, you should include it in your portfolio. Competitions are great way to improve your skills, but also to show to your potential employers that you have a proactive approach when it comes to development.
Do not forget to explicitly mention if this was a team work.
Conclusion
This article covered what you should include in your architecture portfolio.
I am Tamar. I have worked in numerous architecture studios in the Netherlands, Georgia and the Czech Republic and I have completed 65 portfolios for clients on Fiverr with 44 reviews and 4.8 average score by 30-04-2024.
If you need help with your portfolio, whether it is for academic or job search purposes, do not hesitate to check out my profile and reach out!
Here are some of my reviews from past clients:
