Assignment: Create a portfolio site showcasing all your projects from COMD 1100. Include an About Me page. Other classwork & personal work may also be added.

Materials: Openlab E-Portfolio, scanner, phone camera, Adobe Photoshop

Concepts: Editing work and saving to appropriate file type for showcasing online, how to draft a summary about yourself as an artist, making a portfolio that is easy to navigate

Outcomes:

  • Have high res, edited, and saved image of your work for any future use
  • Have a base for an artist summary
  • Practice with making a portfolio before Sophomore Review
  • Have a site ready for any potential internships

Example Site

Step 1

Create an ePortfolio on your Openlab account. Follow the steps for setup here.

In the Dashboard of your ePortfolio, go to Appearance > Themes. Look at the live previews to see which you like more. Choosing a theme will allow you to customize it.

When in doubt, keep your site simple and clean. Too many links and steps will overwhelm a viewer and they’re less likely to stay on your site.

A guide to creating your portfolio website

Tips for creating a great portfolio website

4 Easy Steps to Create a Beautiful Design Portfolio

Your portfolio will be made of Pages rather than posts.

You’ll create a new Page for each project, and your About Page.

You’ll organize these under Appearance > Menu.

Step 2

Scan or take very well lit photos of your work of this class (and other work if you wish). Make sure the images are high resolution. You’ll want at the very least 300 DPI and have the file as a JPEG.

Edit the images in Photoshop to remove any smudges and crop them as needed. Save the images as PNGs and lower size files to upload on your site. Use File > Export > Quick Export as PNG.

Create pages for each 4 projects done in class. See here for example. Each project must have a:

  • title
  • images
  • brief paragraph explaining the project

Step 3

Draft an ‘About Me’ statement. Keep it brief, no longer than a paragraph or two. Write it in first person.

How To Write a Graphics Designer “About Me” Section

7 Steps for Writing Your Portfolio’s Biography ‘About Me’ Page

How can I introduce myself in portfolio?

Introduce yourself, any relevant experience (education, job experience, specialty), explain what opportunities you’re looking for, and add something personal. Use the template below to start:

Hi! I’m [Your Name], a [specialization, e.g., “freelance graphic designer,” “branding expert,” or “visual storyteller”] based in [Your Location]. With a passion for [specific focus, e.g., bold branding, minimalist design, or user-focused visuals], I’m currently looking for opportunities to expand my work in [specific areas or industries, e.g., sustainable brands, tech startups, or community-focused organizations],

My journey into design began [brief personal story about how you got started, and what kind of education you may have]. I’m currently studying Communication Design at New York City College of Technology.

Outside of design, I find inspiration in [share a personal touch, e.g., “exploring art galleries, hiking in nature, or experimenting with photography”]. Fun fact: [include something quirky, e.g., “I have a knack for creating custom typography inspired by classic movie posters”].

Feel free to get in touch at [your email].

Include a professional image of yourself (or a handmade image if you’re inclined). Post this on the course Openlab site for review!

Step 4

Submit your site by posting a link to it on the course Openlab. Use the category ” Portfolio Site”.