Portfolio Development

The Department of Portfolio Development offers specific guidance on portfolio creation through refining skills and competencies regarding individuality, creativity, presentation methods, and professional growth.

3 semester credits. This course introduces students to the basics of how to assemble personal portfolios that exhibit strength of imagination and prove professional skills and competence. Whether the focus is fashion and accessories design, graphic design, interior design, digital photography, or fine arts, a finely tailored portfolio is an essential element for applications and interviews. A successful portfolio documents the creative process and displays an individual's talents and qualifications. Its purpose is to feature an evolving, experimental process that adequately expresses the trajectory and growth of ideas. Coursework will include the exploration of visual strategies, formats, styles, and multimedia to best promote the student's self-image. By demonstrating mastery of techniques and overall creativity, portfolios are an important opportunity that can support applications to new academic opportunities, including internships and scholarships, as well as first employment.

3 semester credits. The focus of this course is to develop the skills for creating an individual portfolio that summarizes a coherent, articulate, and visually comprehensive body of work. Students will utilize digital media approaches to fully showcase areas of specialization as represented by the project(s) to be featured in the portfolio. A rigorous level of professional design criticism will be applied to portfolio content development, organization, assembly, and presentation across varied media channels. Advanced forms of rendering and thematic exploration will be covered, as well strategies for integrating conceptual and experimental approaches and relevant historic and contemporary influences inherent to the featured work. Coursework will require the analysis and maturation of both personal identity and an in-depth understanding of the related fields and industry contexts associated with the portfolio content including market demands, professional expectations, standards of quality and competency, and overall creativity. Prerequisites: Open to Visual, Fine Arts, and Fashion Majors of Junior or Senior standing.