In this series of blog posts Portfolio Conversations, I’ll be talking about some of thoughts and reflections we should take into consideration leading up to the submission of a portfolio. Whether it is for a student submission or job application, I think there are some things that we need to bere in mind to make sure that we are showcasing our design projects in a way that reflects you efforts and interests in the best light. And as you can tell from the title, this article we look at the idea of quality versus quantity and one method I use that allows me to overcome this internal debate.
The idea of an extension to deadlines to submissions sometimes seems like it has given you a little bit more room to breathe. Maybe. For some, this gives you a chance to catch up on all the drawings you thought you wouldn’t have time to do. For others, it might seem like you now have the time to tweak all the work you’ve done throughout the academic year.
So what happens when you aren’t in either of those categories?
You want a substantial body of work. But you also want a portfolio that looks good. You don’t want to sacrifice either but realistically you can’t pick both.
Quality over quantity.
I repeat.
Quality over quantity.
We can’t be dwelling on what we don’t have time to do. So what do we do? We make sure that every part of your portfolio is helping you out. You don’t have time to waste. So what do you do? Here are a few ways to go about to ensure that you have a portfolio of work that is a great reflection of your design investigations and resolutions.
1/ Print your portfolio in a5 single sheets (not double-sided, like postcards) and lay them out in front of you in the order you would submit them in. Number each page to help you remember the order of your sheets
2/ Go through them one by one and read your portfolio like you would a story. Does the visual story make sense? Take a sheet of paper and draw out your squares of each of your sheets like a storyboard of your portfolio, What is missing? What needs to be slightly altered? Note down instructions to yourself for what you need to do, a few words that you’ll remember to get back to in each square of your portfolio, obviously title them and number them to make it clear for you what sheet/drawing you are talking about in the order that you presented them in.
Storyboarding method tutors showed us leading up to final third year submissions
3/ Take your storyboard notes and make sure you note down what you need to do for each sheet and if there is a sheet/drawing that you need to do note it down. If you still have time to complete new drawings - you want to prioritise what you don’t have that you need. It will help you weed out the drawings that you don’t do you any favours. And how do you assess what you need? You need a set of final drawings - each design submission may vary but you’ll need a final plan(s), section and internal and external views/ visualisations, they are like the conclusion to the essay, you need these drawings in your development stages and you’ll need them finalised at the end of your portfolio. Every architecture school examines your portfolio differently, but the basis is that you have a body of work that documents and presents your ideas as you progress through your architectural investigations. There is no right or wrong portfolio, just a clear and unclear narrative within a portfolio.
Note: If you cannot print your sheets, you can simply view them in a grid format if you use InDesign, as long as you make all your sheets in plain sight.
By gathering your sheets in a storyboard format it is easier for you to see that each sheet has a role in your story. When I say quality I refer to the quality of the drawing in the narration of your portfolio. Quality doesn’t necessarily mean that it must have all this colour and fancy renderings. That can be helpful only if you have all the missing pieces to your puzzle. Your portfolio is capturing the whole story of your project, from the initial process explorations and observations to the final drawings to tie your project in together.
Your drawings need to be correct, they need to be clear and concise. For the most part that is how you determine the quality of your sheet. This will help you realise what drawings you need to be working on. Think of the storyboard as a visual checklist that is personalised to you. And if it isn’t personal, it isn’t right for you.
I hope that this was useful in guiding you to making sure that your portfolio has quality content that reflects your interests and skills that you have developed over the year(s). Storyboard your way to a clear portfolio that emphasises your strengths and you will no doubt have a portfolio that is engaging and interesting to go through.