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What are colleges and employers looking for in art portfolios?

I'm putting together an art portfolio to apply for college animation programs, and I'm wondering what I can do to make mine stand out and improve its overall quality. Also, does it matter what order you present your work in? Thanks! #art #design

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Jonathan’s Answer

When I'm hiring for a creative position I like to see several projects that showcase your talents along with short descriptions of your involvement. Just as much as it is important to put in good work, it's also important not to include bad work. So pick your best and leave out the rest.


Also, I would look at a few top people in your industry and look at their sites/portfolios to see what they have done. Draw inspiration from those who do it best.


Also it's very important to have professional level copy even if writing isn't your thing. Get a friend to proofread your portfolio!
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David’s Answer

Similar to Karen's answer, I recommend quality and organization over quality. You're showing not just what you've done but also how you think.

There are multiple parts of organizing and presenting your portfolio, but the biggest is to have a coherent story for:

what you did
why you did it
what you were hoping to achieve/the result would be
what the next steps would be
what you would improve if you did the work again (for your past work)

My son studied animation at SVA in NYC, and he got a lot of value in his pre-college period by going to portfolio reviews that different colleges hold (these were generally mass events with representatives of several schools rather than for an individual school). From those sessions and over time he kept improving his portfolio, and improving his story. The hard work is part of the value.
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Karen’s Answer

Hi! As a user experience design manager, I recommend leading with your best work, and only including a few great cases -- rather than everything you've done. I recommend including very different styles, to show your flexibility and technique. You will have to design for very different people in the future - different ages, aesthetic tastes, background.

Consider also including 1 bullet each on 'target audience / design constraint / key design principles you optimized for'. E.g. US teens, mobile friendly, or goal of making something delightful. The bullets can show that you've thought through the design rationale for why you approached the project in a certain way, or what effect/reaction you were hoping to achieve. This makes a reviewer perceive you as being organized and structured in your thinking.
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