1 Know the purpose and audience of your portfolio

Before you start selecting and organizing your work samples, you need to understand the purpose and audience of your portfolio. Why are you creating a portfolio? What are the goals and criteria of the program or job you are applying to? Who are the reviewers and what are they looking for? How will they use your portfolio to assess your fit and potential? These questions will help you tailor your portfolio to the specific context and expectations of your portfolio review. You can also research the program or job requirements, look at examples of successful portfolios, and ask for feedback from mentors, peers, or advisors.

2 Choose relevant and diverse work samples

The next step is to choose the work samples that best represent your skills, knowledge, and creativity. You want to select work samples that are relevant to the program or job you are applying to, that demonstrate your growth and learning, and that showcase your diversity and versatility. You also want to balance quality and quantity: choose enough work samples to show your range and depth, but not too many to overwhelm or bore the reviewers. A good rule of thumb is to include 3-5 work samples that cover different topics, formats, and media.

4 Organize and present your portfolio in a clear and professional way

The final step is to organize and present your portfolio in a clear and professional way. You want to make sure that your portfolio is easy to navigate, access, and view by the reviewers. You also want to make sure that your portfolio is consistent, coherent, and polished in terms of design, layout, format, and style. You can use different tools and platforms to create and share your portfolio, such as websites, blogs, slides, videos, or online portfolios. The key is to choose a tool or platform that suits your needs, preferences, and goals, and that showcases your work samples in the best possible way.

6 Celebrate and update your portfolio regularly

After you submit your portfolio, you should celebrate your accomplishment and be proud of your work. You should also update your portfolio regularly to reflect your ongoing learning and achievements. A portfolio is not a static or final product, but a dynamic and evolving document that showcases your growth and potential. By updating your portfolio regularly, you can keep track of your progress, showcase your current skills and knowledge, and prepare for future opportunities and challenges.