Portfolio

There are 4 main sections to your portfolio:

1. Gallery (where you have properly labeled examples of your work)
2. Technical Writing (where you have writing about your work, etc.)
3. Accolades (if you have any)
4. Career Resource Documents (in a folder in the back pocket of your binder)

Place in the following order:

Cover

Your cover should be eye-catching without being busy.

There should be a hierarchy in the text (your name being the largest, most prominent).

Use a font that can easily be read.

It should be printed on high-quality paper.

Avoid putting the year/date to keep it more timely

Table of Contents

Build your Table of Contents document in Adobe InDesign.
Include the following sections:

* Gallery

* Technical Writing & Process Documents

* Accolades [include this section only if you have a minimum of 3 of the following: Awards, Certificates, Recognitions, Documentation of Community Service Work, letters of recommendation

* Career: Resume, References, 1-9, W-4 Optional: Business Cards, Letterhead or Cover Letter

* ??

Use the same font(s) and design elements (colors, borders, etc.) on your section dividers as you did on your resume, cover and Table of Contents….think MARKETING and BRAND RECOGNITION!

Your Work/'Gallery'

Documenting your work is, perhaps, the most important part of your portfolio.

These documents should be created in ONE InDesign document (portrait orientation). You should have one page for each project. Pages can be added by choosing the 'Pages' palette. In some cases, you may choose to have a detailed view (smaller, inset) or have a page that shows 3 pieces on one page, if they are related.

At the end of the year, you will save both the InDesign file and the PDF file (which you will learn how to format).

Sample Page

Technical Writing & Process Docs

Your technical writing section may include some of the following:

1. Art and Design Terms Chart
2. CD Dissection / Analysis of professional work with call-outs
3. Any process documents that you may have (thumbnail sketches, reference/inspiration images, photos of your presentation boards, etc.)

RESOURCES:
Personal Reflection: Purpose/value of

Artist statement resource

Resume

To DO:

1. Skills Identification Worksheet: CIRCLE the traits that best fit you 
2. Resume Example using Google Templates
3. References Sample: Collect 3 references

HELP!:

1. GoogleDoc Example with Tips!
2. Tips courtesy of Purdue University

Career Documents

Your 'Career' section of your portfolio should contain the following:

1. Resume
2. I-9 (complete, without Social Security number)
3. W-4 (complete, without Social Security number)

Please do not include your social security number on these forms. Secure information should only be provided to an employer once a job offer has been made and verified.

Job Application

This is a practice job application. Fill it out, print it, place it in a plastic protective sheet and put it in your 3-ring binder.

I-9 Form

We will fill out the I-9 together in class. Print your I-9, place it in a plastic protective sheet and put it in your 3-ring binder.

Definition:
I-9 refers to a form issued by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The employer is responsible for ensuring that each employee completes Form I-9 at the time of hire. Employees must provide documents that establish both identity and employment eligibility from a list of acceptable documents as determined by USCIS.

W-4 Form

We will fill out the W-4 together in class. Print your W-4, place it in a plastic protective sheet and put it in your 3-ring binder.

Definition:
A form completed by an employee to indicate his or her tax situation (exemptions, status, etc.) to the employer. The W-4 form tells the employer the correct amount of tax to withhold from an employee's paycheck.
Investopedia Says:Remember that you can file a new W-4 anytime your situation changes. A change in status can result in more or less tax being withheld.

HELP!
Info., Links and How-To
How to fill out a W-4

Make it KILLER by...!

Students that have figure drawings (from life) have a considerable advantage when submitting their portfolios to schools

Figure Drawing Drop-in Classes at BCA

Students that reinvestigate forms and subjects or create a series of related works in their portfolios have more success.

Students that have art work with a strong conceptual layer do well in portfolio reviews.

National Portfolio Day

This year's National Portfolio Day is Saturday, October 20th at Hartford University in Hartford, Connecticut.

National Portfolio Day FAQs

Participating Schools

National Portfolio Day Sign Up

View a Student Portfolio (accepted at: MICA, CCA, Pratt)

View another Student Portfolio

See a video of a young woman talking about her portfolio (accepted to RISD, OTIS, Parsons)