Your Portfolio Must Be Completed by December 12 - Before you read through the portfolio requirements on this page, take a few minutes and look at my example portfolio. Below, at the right, I've shared some individual webpages from my portfolio that link directly to them. This is an example of a portfolio similar to what I want you to build this semester for yourself.
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For the course final project, you will create and share an online portfolio that has ten (or more if you want) images you created in Photoshop this semester, revised when needed, that you are proud of, and that demonstrate what you've learned and accomplished in this course. You will work on building this portfolio throughout the semester - and specific assignments will be given in the weekly lessons relating to your portfolio, beginning with lesson 4.
The purpose of the portfolio is threefold:
Your portfolio will be a website gallery that will be finalized by December 12:
What your portfolio must contain:
How will your portfolio be graded? The portfolio, which is the final project for the class, will be worth up to 150 points toward your final grade. You will be working on portfolio exhibits through the semester beginning at week 4. Each exhibit will be scored on a rubric, and if you're not happy with your exhibit, you can fix it and resubmit it for a better score. We'll take time in class to critique the exhibits - the main idea being that we are a team helping each other learn and improve. The portfolio exhibits will be graded as they are submitted during the course. As you learn more about Photoshop, you can revise and resubmit any portfolio exhibit, and I will rescore it. At the end of the course, I will review your portfolio with an eye to what you have learned through the entire course. So be sure to:
The overall design and presentation - its look and feel - along with your short biography and photo of yourself will be worth up to 40 points, graded upon a rubric I'll provide you. Remember to use the graphic design principles you've learned this semester in designing your portfolio. Each of the 10 portfolio submissions will be worth up to 10 points. Up to five points will be awarded for the graphic or image itself, based on its design and the Photoshop skills demonstrated, and how you've presented it in the portfolio (hint: make it the main focus - big and easy to see!). Up to five points will be awarded for the accompanying description detailing how you've designed and composed the submission (and any accompanying citations), as well as a description of the Photoshop skills employed to create it. If you feel you need extra points for the semester, you can choose to submit two extra portfolio pieces - and up to an additional 10 points can be awarded, based on the same grading procedure as for the 10 submissions (only they will be worth 5 points each). FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about the Final Project Portfolio What is the purpose of the portfolio? - The purpose of the portfolio is to show off the graphic design knowledge and Photoshop skills you've acquired during this course. So as you think about your portfolio - it should show a range of images, designs, etc. Although your portfolio can focus around a theme of your choice, be sure that it contains a variety of exhibits that demonstrate:
Can I focus my portfolio on an interest of mine? - Yes, just be sure to include a variety so you can demonstrate the skills and design principles mentioned above. So rather than just a gallery of photographs, you'll want to include flyers, posters, brochures, digital signage, etc. Ask yourself, "Do I have an exhibit that is a good demonstration of the principle of contrast?" (or repetition, alignment, color theory use, typography, photoshop filters, effects, styles, type, etc.) I'm looking for 10-12 exhibits of your best work this semester, and a description of your thought processes as you created them. If I do photographs, how can I show the skills I've learned? - Include a before image so we can see where you started, as well as your final exhibit. Be sure to describe what you did to make the difference between the before/after images. Can I use ideas I got from the internet or print examples? - Yes, just be sure to cite them in your description with a link to them! Don't copy them - that's plagiarism - and it will get you in trouble with USU and get you a failing grade. Take the idea as a starting point, and redesign it so it is truly your own. Can I use public domain images in my design? - Yes, just be sure to cite them in your description with a link to them. Some students have put thumbnail images of the graphics they are citing at the bottom of the portfolio exhibit - and linked those to the originals. I thought that was a great idea! You can see an example of that in the exhibit pages above. |
My portfolio home page
Portfolio Exhibit page
Portfolio Exhibit Page
Portfolio Exhibit Page
My Contact Page
Photoshop settings for web optimizing your exhibit photos
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How detailed do my descriptions need to be? - Detailed enough to convince me that you know what you were demonstrating. Again, I've created a portfolio (website), and you're welcome to look at it - that's what I'm trying to have you do. The examples on this page demonstrate what I'm looking for in your exhibits. Click on any of them. Have a look particularly at this one or this one. I personally think that the bullet point lists for your design considerations and Photoshop skills used works very well. However you decide to describe it, your goal is to specifically show me what design parameters you've purposefully used, and how you used Photoshop to implement them!
Bottom Line? This is a more accurate way of evaluating your progress this semester - much better than a final exam could do. I end up with something I can show off to the Dean and department heads about how good you are - and you can show off your work to any potential employer - or impress that special someone in your life! How awesome is that? By the way, four of the graphic design artists the College of Education hired over the past few years are students from my Photoshop and Graphic Design classes.
Bottom Line? This is a more accurate way of evaluating your progress this semester - much better than a final exam could do. I end up with something I can show off to the Dean and department heads about how good you are - and you can show off your work to any potential employer - or impress that special someone in your life! How awesome is that? By the way, four of the graphic design artists the College of Education hired over the past few years are students from my Photoshop and Graphic Design classes.
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This page last updated April 30, 2018. This lesson combines my own work (images, text, videos) which are ©2018 by Nathan Smith. All other images, videos, and cited text sources are curated from the internet, and are publicly available.
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