What is a Portfolio Review?

COMD Portfolio Review at Adobe, New York, 2019. Courtesy ‘Moving Pixels Club’

Portfolio reviews are designed to give senior level students advice and perspective on how to present their work and themselves when interviewing for a position in the design industry. They give students a chance to practice their interview skills and receive honest feedback on their work in a non-competitive environment. Most importantly portfolio reviews provide the opportunity to network with industry professional and potential employers.

The CityTech Communication Design portfolio review is organized for an afternoon that takes place at the end of the semester. Students are assigned to one hour time-slots by their professors. Seated at tables, they present their body of work to reviewers. Reviewers come and go and generally sit with students for 15-20 min.  

The guest list is comprised of industry professionals from a selection of different backgrounds in the design field and includes graphic design studios, advertising and interactive agencies, printing houses and companies with in-house design teams. It’s also a nice opportunity to network with faculty and alumni who are also present.

How It Works

During a Portfolio Review you will sit down with another ‘creative’ who has experience in the field, to talk about your work. Be sure to introduce yourself and give your reviewer a chance to introduce themselves. You will then present your work, most likely your website.

Your reviewer can give you advice and also offer a fresh perspective. This may include feedback about the work itself or broader career advice. As with any feedback, listen to what the reviewer has to say, take notes, and thank them for their time. You do not have to agree with or take all the feedback they provide, consider whether it’s relevant to you. Accept what make sense to you and furthers you creatively. This is your practice, not theirs.

This is also an opportunity to ask questions. Do you have questions about getting your foot in the door? Make a list prior to the date and use the time to ask them!

What You Will Need

A portfolio (see Lessons/Portfolio). Be prepared to show your best work. This can include finalized projects or assignments that were created for a class, as freelance work, commissioned work, or personal work. 

  • Arrive 15 minutes before your assigned time. This will give you time to set up. If you are showing your work through a website have the URL ready to go (often your are paired with a reviewer before you have time to set up.)
  • Have a back up plan. A ready-to-go PDF version of your portfolio can be useful if for instance, the network goes down.
  • Bring a printed version of your:
    • Resume (see Lessons/Resume)
    • Business Cards (see Lessons/______)
    • and Leave Behind if you have (see Lessons/____)
    • And a note pad for taking notes