A common thing I see in recent grad portfolios is they're loaded up with what are clearly school assignments, which by their nature have an unfinished quality to them. Realizing that students' time is limited, when I taught I'd give assignments that could be spun into something like personal work.
There's nothing wrong with school assignments in a portfolio. They're not unlike client work.
But you want to show people something beyond what you trained on, something that demonstrates a slice of who you are and what drives you to create.
Something that's shamelessly you.
Jan 30, 2026 15:08Not sure if many students follow me, but figured I'd share that thought. All portfolio advice will be different, but I like to put it out there to counter people giving students the 'check-everything-off-you-have-to-show-you-can-do-anything' advice.
