The portfolio project - the class final
Why a portfolio instead of a final Test?
How will I create my Portfolio?
Why a portfolio instead of a final Test?
- The portfolio is the best way to truly demonstrate what you've learned in this and also the advanced course! Its purpose is to prove you have learned the covered graphic design principles and Photoshop skills, as well as to serve you as a working professional portfolio.
How will I create my Portfolio?
- Your portfolio needs to be an online website gallery - professionally designed and presented. Your portfolio's URL needs to be submitted to the instructor by the time the first portfolio assignment is due. For an example, have a look at Gallery 1 and Gallery 2 in my own online portfolio. These two galleries I have specifically created as examples for you - and are what I'm looking in your portfolio. Other galleries in my portfolio are for sharing my photography and art with the world.
- Google Sites, Weebly.com and Wix.com are great tools for creating a free website portfolio. There are many other free hosting and creating tools available as well.
- Below are two video tutorials I've made to show you how to do this in Google Sites and Weebly. My example portfolio was created in Google Sites.
Video: Create an online portfolio using the new Google Sites (16:38)
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Video: Tutorial on setting up a Weebly portfolio (14:50)
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What does my portfolio need to contain?
- A landing page with a brief bio and introduction of yourself, along with a photo of you.
- A gallery of 10 required exhibits that will be assigned and scored throughout the semester beginning with lesson 1. Each needs to be clearly labeled - exhibit 1, exhibit 2, exhibit 3, etc. You are welcome add more exhibits to your portfolio than the required 10, and up to two may be used as extra credit. Label them Extra 1, Extra 2, etc.
- A contact page. Or, if you prefer, your contact information can be a part of the landing page.
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What does each portfolio exhibit need to contain?
- Each exhibit needs to be on its own page, beginning with a title (Exhibit 1, etc.), a large image, or images.
- Underneath each exhibit's image, you need to describe your design thoughts. What design principles did you consider and use?
- What were some of the new Photoshop skills and tools you used to create your exhibit?
- Also, each exhibit should contain a section where you credit and cite fonts, images, or other items you've used that are not your own creations.
- Optional: screen shots or other items that help explain your design thoughts or photoshop skills.
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How will my portfolio be scored and what is it worth toward my grade?
- The portfolio project will be worth up to 150 points of your final grade. (about half of your total grade)
- Each of the 10 required exhibits will be scored at the end of the semester (for 100 points total toward your final grade).
- All the variety of your portfolio submissions need to clearly demonstrate your graphic design knowledge and Photoshop skills you've learned this semester.
- You will need to submit your Photoshop file and its associated portfolio exhibit URL to the instructor in Canvas by its due date. You will be awarded 5 points if submitted on time, with one point docked each day it is late. The instructor and the class will critique and give you feedback on your submission. Then, it's up to you to revise and resubmit any changes to your portfolio. Your portfolio exhibits will be scored by the instructor at the end of the semester after the portfolio is due.
- At the end of the semester, each of the 10 required exhibits in your portfolio are worth 10 points.
- Up to 5 points will be awarded for the exhibit image itself - based on your demonstration of Photoshop skills and application of design skills, as well as your creativity. You will submit the Photoshop file to me in Canvas. And you'll need to prepare it for web and post it to your portfolio as well - see the directions below for doing that in Photoshop.
- Up to 5 points will be awarded for the exhibit's description you've provided in your online portfolio - the description must contain your thoughts about how you designed the exhibit image, the Photoshop skills you used, citations for resources used that were not your own (images, ideas, fonts, etc.), and any other resources (such as screenshots) that you've included. (see the samples above)
- Scores based on a 5 point scale should be interpreted as follows:
- 0 = incomplete - not submitted
- 3 or lower = 60% or lower: You had difficulty with this. It flopped. That happens to all creative people! Try again. Do better. Resubmit!
- 3.5 = 70%: There are some good things going on - but it still needs work! Try again and get a better score!
- 4 = 80%: Passable - but it's not professional yet. It's worth a re-work and resubmission
- 4.5 = 90%: Quite good! Almost there! There are some little details that still need attention.
- 5 = 100%: Professional in every respect. Outstanding!
- All the variety of your portfolio submissions need to clearly demonstrate your graphic design knowledge and Photoshop skills you've learned this semester.
- In your final portfolio, you can have as many exhibits as you would like! Ten are required for grading. Up to two others may be used for extra credit (worth up to five points each).
- At the end of the semester, when the final portfolio is due, up to 40 additional points will be awarded for the overall look and feel of your portfolio. It will be scored on a rubric that will be provided to you.
- Remember to use the design and composition principles you've learned this semester when designing your portfolio. It should look very professional - something you'd be proud to submit to a potential employer!
- As part of each week's portfolio assignment, a required Canvas discussion will give the class an opportunity to view, critique, and suggest helps that will give you ideas for improving your exhibit! We're in this to help each other become better designers and Photoshop users!
Frequently asked questions about the portfolio final
Can I focus my portfolio around an interest of mine? - Yes, just be sure it meets the requirements in the assignment. 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.). Also ask, "Does this exhibit demonstrate something new that I've not shown before in my portfolio?" (You want variety in the types of designs and exhibits you submit!)
Can I use assignments I've completed during the course? - Yes! Each week you'll be submitting a portfolio exhibit as part of your assignment. 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 you've been given a design assignment in another class this semester, you could use that as a portfolio exhibit for this course. You should not submit exhibits you created prior to this course!
If I do photographs, how can I show the skills I've learned? - If the assignment allows for photos, yes! Be sure to include a before image as part of your exhibit, 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. For example, if I were assigned to create a newsletter - it could (and should) include photos. Be sure to use Photoshop and Camera Raw to makes those photos the best you can, and show that in your portfolio exhibit!
Can I use ideas I got from the internet or print examples? - Yes, but 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 cause you to receive 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 - including an active link to them in your portfolio.
How detailed to my descriptions need to be? - I'm not looking for a dissertation, please! 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.
Can I focus my portfolio around an interest of mine? - Yes, just be sure it meets the requirements in the assignment. 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.). Also ask, "Does this exhibit demonstrate something new that I've not shown before in my portfolio?" (You want variety in the types of designs and exhibits you submit!)
Can I use assignments I've completed during the course? - Yes! Each week you'll be submitting a portfolio exhibit as part of your assignment. 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 you've been given a design assignment in another class this semester, you could use that as a portfolio exhibit for this course. You should not submit exhibits you created prior to this course!
If I do photographs, how can I show the skills I've learned? - If the assignment allows for photos, yes! Be sure to include a before image as part of your exhibit, 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. For example, if I were assigned to create a newsletter - it could (and should) include photos. Be sure to use Photoshop and Camera Raw to makes those photos the best you can, and show that in your portfolio exhibit!
Can I use ideas I got from the internet or print examples? - Yes, but 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 cause you to receive 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 - including an active link to them in your portfolio.
How detailed to my descriptions need to be? - I'm not looking for a dissertation, please! 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.
Before you upload your images into your online portfolio, you should optimize them for quick viewing on the internet! To optimize your images for the web - do the following:
- Pull the image into Photoshop.
- Go to the FILE > EXPORT > SAVE FOR WEB (LEGACY)... Or if you're using artboards, go to FILE> EXPORT > EXPORT AS...
- Make sure it's set on JPEG Medium - Quality = 30.
- Optimized is checked.
- And on image size pick 1000 pixels for the largest side. The other dimension will resize accordingly.
- Then click save.
- Your images will load much faster, and you won't get that size restriction limit message.
- Click on the image below to see the save for web (legacy) dialog box.
Click to enlarge image
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Click to enlarge image
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This page last updated January 6, 2019. This lesson combines my own work (images, text, videos) which are ©2019 by Nathan Smith. All other images, videos, and cited text sources are curated from the internet, and are publicly available.
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