Architect's portfolio: how to design correctly and avoid mistakes

A portfolio is a professional document of any specialist in a creative direction. Designers, fashion designers and architects, when applying for a job, must attach presentation material to the resume. However, it is much more difficult for architects in this matter. Their work very rarely fits on a landscape sheet format, so you have to improvise. Moreover, a detailed explanation must be attached to each work.

An architect's portfolio is his calling card. A specialist with extensive experience has more than one page of such folders. But for students who have just finished their studies, it is very difficult to compose a portfolio. First, they only have educational drawings in stock. Secondly, they do not know the rules for designing self-presentation.

For these reasons, former students use a single design template. However, there are certain norms of this business card, which are not recommended to evade.

• File size. The total file size must not exceed 15 MB. Failure to do so may result in document damage when the portfolio is sent to the employer's email address.

• Words and mistakes. When compiling a portfolio, it is important to check the text for errors. An illiterate specialist cannot work in a large company.

• Length and content. The electronic version of the portfolio should not be voluminous. But the printed material in the folder can take any number of pages.

• Creation... Decorating portfolio pages shouldn't overshadow the main details.

• Image selection. In the portfolio, it is necessary to exhibit works of different types of execution, for example: technical drawings, complex figures in section, as well as term papers in paints.

• Layout. It's important to keep track of the structure of each individual portfolio page. There should be no empty spaces on the sheet, especially on the title page.

• Details. Small, subtle design details will help fill in the empty parts of the pages.

There are 5 basic principles for creating the perfect portfolio. And if you don't ignore them, you will be able to create a gorgeous self-presentation.

• You can't think long about the cover.... Painted decoration only repels customers and employers.

• The rule of three. Professional growth should be visible in the portfolio. For this reason, it is divided into student, professional and personal parts. The first section shows the work done during the studies. The second section presents working drawings, taking into account career growth. The third section tells about the architect's imagination and his additional possibilities.

• Many images - little textual information. The employer looks at the work of the applicant, he will not read a long text with an explanation for the images presented.

• Images taken by hand. This format of work is of great interest to customers. An architect who can create not only on a computer, but also on plain paper will never be left without work.

• Identical format. When compiling a portfolio, one must not deviate from the intended design. The indentation, font and even the presence of the image frame should be the same on all sheets. Otherwise, the overall picture will go wrong.

Many young professionals make a number of serious mistakes when compiling a portfolio. Unfortunately, such oversights lead to a lack of work.

• You cannot display all works in the portfolio.... For such an important document, you should choose the best pictures.
• The first page of the portfolio must include a brief biography of the architect... When talking about yourself, you should not go into the smallest details of your career. Leading phrases will make the employer become interested in the person of the applicant and learn more about him during the interview.
• Only those works should be published in the portfolio which are to the liking of the architect himself.
• You are allowed to use joint projects in your personal portfolio. However, in the explanation of the work, it is important to indicate the names of all the creators of the architectural masterpiece.

It's really easy to make a good architect portfolio. The main thing is to adhere to the basic rules and try to avoid mistakes in the design.

The best architects, realizing the importance of portfolios for young professionals, are ready to give some important tips to help you make the perfect self-presentation.

• When reviewing a portfolio the employer must read footnotes and postscripts to images... There should be no errors in this text.

• For a portfolio in several languages, it is extremely important to compose foreign texts in the correct meaning. Moreover, the descriptions contain architectural terminology that is familiar only to specialists. Online translated text may not be correct. To prevent this from happening, it is best to contact a professional translator.
• Explanatory text should be easy to read and understand... The complex structure of speech only discourages employers and customers.

• It is strictly forbidden to use someone else's text... Copying is plagiarism. There is no need for a serious specialist to steal someone's work and words. The deception will be revealed in any case, which means that the reputation will suffer.And not everyone can restore confidence in themselves.