7 Realistic Advice for Students' Graphic Design Portfolios

You could be tempted to put off developing your design portfolio as an undergraduate design student who must juggle homework, classes, work, a family, and—if there is time left over—a social life.  

Perhaps you believe that once you graduate, you'll have more time to build an online graphic design portfolio. Or perhaps you believe that since it will be made up of your college assignments and other projects, you won't even need to know how to make a graphic design portfolio.

Think again! Graphic design employers are looking for candidates with well-rounded portfolios that showcase a variety of skills in a professional way. It might feel impossible to create a strong graphic design portfolio as a student, but it doesn’t have to be.

You don’t have to wait until graduation to gather your work into a professional graphic design portfolio. Learn how to create a portfolio that’s sure to impress with these graphic design portfolio tips.

How to create a graphic design portfolio: Expert tips for students

So what should students keep in mind when building their professional design portfolios? We’ve asked design pros to share their best advice—and here’s what they offered:

1. Quality over quantity

Don’t stress about filling your portfolio with every project you’ve ever worked on. Employers understand that students might not have as much work to show as more experienced designers. It’s better to include high-quality pieces in your portfolio than it is to create a “full” portfolio with work you’re not proud of.

“While having eight to nine samples in your portfolio would be ideal, a better impression is to have three to five quality examples instead of padding a portfolio with mediocre work,” says Chris Grayson, creative director at Red Olive.

2. Don’t be afraid to include school projects

The goal of your graphic design portfolio is to show off your skills and design aesthetic, so there’s no reason not to include class projects if they help you accomplish this goal. In fact, employers expect to see school assignments in the design portfolio of a recent grad!

The work itself matters more than the circumstances under which you created it—quality work is quality, no matter where it initially came from.  

3. Seek design opportunities outside of school

With that being said, gaining real-world experience to feature alongside your school projects certainly can’t hurt—and you don’t necessarily need a job in the design field to gain these types of professional experience. Internships and volunteer opportunities are tried-and-true ways to flesh out your portfolio, but they aren’t the only options for design students.

“Create your own real-world experience!” says Rachael Jessney, director at Atelier Studios. “Approach family and friends who own or run businesses to see if they can give you a brief to work on.”

4. Create a graphic design online portfolio

Creating an online graphic design portfolio is important in the digital age. It’s never too soon to start gathering your work into one central, online location. “Whether you are still in your sophomore year or you have graduated, collect your work into an online portfolio,” says Aamina Suleman, senior digital marketer, content creator and visual designer at LogoDesignGuru.com.

Graphic design students can create an online portfolio from scratch by building their own website, or they can use existing communities like Behance or Dribbble to share their design work. Though employers expect to see an online portfolio from candidates, students must be sure to protect the work they share. “Make sure you watermark your designs as there is a high chance of plagiarism,” Suleman says.

5. Showcase your best work

Your graphic design portfolio exists to show off your best work, and that means choosing pieces that reflect certain techniques or skills you’re proud to have mastered. “Compile your best experiments and back it up with notes about inspiration, tools and unique techniques that you have used,” Suleman says. Keep these notes brief to showcase your skills without over-explaining the project—your design should speak for itself!

Suleman adds that your portfolio pieces should display your knowledge of basic design principles, like composition and color, as well as your overall understanding that a good design serves a purpose. “Show your ability to solve problems through design,” Suleman says.

6. Keep your career goals in mind

The graphic design field is broad, with many different specialties and types of companies to choose from. The work in your portfolio should reflect the career goals you’re hoping to achieve.

Students should think about the type of work they want to do and the position they’re applying for as they create their portfolio.  

7. Seek expert feedback

Once you have created your graphic design portfolio, don’t be shy about showing it to others! Ask for feedback from your teachers, internship supervisor and other mentors so you can continually improve your portfolio.

Create your graphic design portfolio, launch your career

Now that you know how to create a graphic design portfolio, all that’s left is getting to work creating standout designs that you’re proud to show potential employers.

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