Download DEVELOPING A CREATIVE PORTFOLIO

University Career Services
What should I include in my portfolio?
219 Hanes Hall
Web: careers.unc.edu
Phone: 919-962-6507
1. Resume:
 As a creative, how your resume looks is
critical. Think of it as a typographic design
that communicates your education,
experience, and skills.
 Keep it clean, simple, but visually
interesting.
DEVELOPING A
CREATIVE PORTFOLIO
What is a portfolio? A portfolio is:


Proof of your skills and competencies
shown through documentations of your
previous work.
Always a work in progress. You will change
the content of your portfolio as you grow.
and gain further experience.
Why create a portfolio?


To apply for scholarships, grants, and/or
graduate school
To demonstrate your talent, skills, and
abilities to prospective employers during
your job search
How do I present my portfolio?
1. Hard Copy Format
 Use a leather-bound binder with a spine
that opens and closes to accept sleeves.
 Copy your files to a CD/DVD or store it on
the web as a backup.
2. Digital Format
 Make it easy to access, navigate, and view.
 See sites listed on page 2 to get started
3. Guidelines for both formats:
 It’s really the content that matters.
Consider your work before how you think
about how you showcase it.
 Structure the portfolio with a beginning,
middle, and end. It does not need to be
structured chronologically. Key tip: The
final piece leaves a lasting impression, so
make it your best.
 When presenting in person, gauge the
energy and attention of the interview. Do
not provide extraneous information or
explanations.
2. Sample Work:
 Include 12-20 pieces. Think quality vs.
quantity and select your best work.
 Demonstrate diversity in media application
(print, broadcast, web, etc.) as well as
product and audience.
 Can include: newsletters, articles, scripts,
logos, stationary, direct mail pieces,
brochures, press kits, ads, posters, banners,
websites and/or website copy, photography,
etc.
 Do not show work that is considered
confidential by an employer or client.
 Write brief descriptions or captions including
the project name, date, purpose, and target
audience. Your portfolio should be selfexplanatory in case you are unable to
narrate.
3. Sketches and Photos:
 If you include a personal photo on your
online portfolio, be sure it is professional.
 Use sketches in conjunction with final pieces
to demonstrate thought process.
 Show photos of events you have organized.
Example of a digital student portfolio template on web.unc.edu
COPYRIGHT©2011 UNC-CHAPEL HILL
University Career Services
What resources exist to help get me started?
1. Digital Portfolio Sites:
219 Hanes Hall
Web: careers.unc.edu
Phone: 919-962-6507
PORTFOLIO SPECIFIC SITES
DESCRIPTION
http://carbonmade.com/


Can upload 35 photos for free/basic account
Targeted toward designers
http://shownd.com/
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Tag your skills and be found by others
Targeted toward designers and artists
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About shown at the top of the portfolio
Upload PDFs for articles not published yet
Targeted toward journalists and writers

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Upload files, pictures, certifications, blog
Targeted toward students

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Internet-based, multimedia resume
Can email and save visual CV as pdf
Privacy and sharing options

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Tag your skills and be found by others
Includes About Me, Education, Experience, and links to social
media sections on homepage
http://flavors.me/

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Create tags
Imbed social media pages into site
https://about.me/

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Bio home page with links to social media
Includes analytics
http://dooid.me/
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Variety of clean and simple themes
Add QR codes
http://wix.com

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Large variety of customizable templates
Drag and drop editor
http://web.unc.edu/


Login with your onyen and password
Powered by Wordpress, but with UNC themed sites
http://wordpress.com/

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Includes free and premium blog themes
Add multiple pages
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Owned by Google, use Google account to login
Customizable, free blog template builder
Add multiple pages
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Free blog with hundreds of themes
Includes bookmarklet and ability to email posts
Third party apps
http://www.cuttings.me/
http://corp.epsilon.com/
PROFILE PORTALS
http://www.visualcv.com/
http://zerply.com/
BLOGS/GENERAL SITES
http://blogger.com/
https://www.tumblr.com/
COPYRIGHT©2011 UNC-CHAPEL HILL
2. Professional Associations: Show your portfolio to as many people as you can. Attend portfolio reviews
organized by local professional associations. View a critique constructively and make edits as you see fit.
2.
ASSOCIATION
LOCAL/STUDENT CHAPTER

American Institute of Graphic Arts
http://www.aiga.org/

AIGA Raleigh:
http://raleigh.aiga.org/

American Advertising Federation
http://www.aaf.org/
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Raleigh-Durham Ad2 (32 & younger):
http://www.aaf-rdu.org/
UNC Ad Club

Public Relations Student Society of America
http://www.prssa.org/

Carolina PRSSA
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Ed2010: Young Magazine Editors
http://www.ed2010.com/

Carolina Association of Future Magazine Editors
3. Look at Examples
Other Resources:
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Commarts.com
Howdesign.com
Idonline.com
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Printmag.com
Oneclub.com
Dandad.org
Cmykmag.com
Example of a digital student portfolio, created on flavors.me.
University Career Services
219 Hanes Hall
Web: careers.unc.edu
Phone: 919-962-6507
Example of hard-copy portfolios from stepinsidedesign.com
COPYRIGHT©2011 UNC-CHAPEL HILL