Weekend Portfolio Workshop
The 2-day workshop, Designing Impactful Portfolios: A Design Thinking Approach, empowers design students to create compelling portfolios by applying user-centered design principles. Over two immersive sessions, participants will learn to understand their audience, generate creative ideas, and craft effective portfolio layouts. Through hands-on activities, peer feedback, and expert guidance, students will refine their presentation skills and storytelling techniques, ensuring their portfolios stand out in academic or professional settings. This workshop aims to bridge the gap between technical skills and creative expression, setting students up for success in their design careers.
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Whatsapp - 9810926000
Email ID - nainlulla20@gmail.com
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Individual & Group Sessions Available
Day 1 - Understanding the user and the ideation
Session 1 - 30 mins
Introduction to Portfolio Design
- Overview of different types of design portfolios (Interior Design, Graphic Design, Communication Design, etc.).
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What makes a good portfolio? Key elements: clarity, creativity, consistency.
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Introduction to Design Thinking and its relevance to portfolio design.
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Activity: Quick group discussion on what students feel is essential in a portfolio and why.
Session 2 - 45 mins
Empathize – Understanding the Audience
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Understanding who will view the portfolio: admissions officers, potential employers, clients, etc.
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Discussing their needs, expectations, and preferences.
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Activity: User Persona Creation: Students create personas for different types of viewers (e.g., design recruiters, university faculty, freelance clients) to understand their needs and preferences.
Session 3 - 45 mins
Define – Crafting a Design Problem Statement
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How to frame the main objective of a portfolio based on the target audience.
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Examples of portfolio objectives (e.g., showcasing creative range, demonstrating technical skills, telling a design story).
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Activity: Students craft a design problem statement for their portfolio (e.g., "How might I showcase my skills in interior design to demonstrate versatility and innovation to prospective employers?").
Session 4 - 60 mins
Ideate – Generating Portfolio Ideas
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Techniques for brainstorming and coming up with unique portfolio ideas.
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Discussing different formats (print, digital, website, PDF) and their pros and cons.
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Activity:
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Mind Mapping: Students create a mind map of potential themes, layout ideas, and features for their portfolios.
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Group Feedback Session: Students share their mind maps and receive feedback from peers.
Day 2 - Prototyping, Testing, and Finalization
Session 1 - 60 mins
Prototype – Creating a Portfolio Draft
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Layout techniques, typography, and use of grids for consistency.
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Introduction to tools for creating portfolios (Adobe Illustrator)
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Activity:
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Students start creating a low-fidelity prototype (e.g., sketch, wireframe, digital mock-up) of their portfolio based on Day 1's activities.
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Instructor gives personalised tips and feedback as they work.
Session 2 - 60 mins
Empathize – Understanding the Audience
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Understanding who will view the portfolio: admissions officers, potential employers, clients, etc.
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Discussing their needs, expectations, and preferences.
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Activity: User Persona Creation: Students create personas for different types of viewers (e.g., design recruiters, university faculty, freelance clients) to understand their needs and preferences.
Session 3 - 45 mins
Final Refinement and Presentation
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Tips on polishing the final portfolio (adding details, refining typography, improving the flow).
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Techniques for storytelling and presenting the portfolio in an interview or application.
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Activity:
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Students work on refining their portfolios based on feedback and instructor guidance.
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Mock Presentation: Students present their portfolios to the group, simulating an interview or design school application.
Session 4 - 15 mins
Wrap-up and Q&A
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Key takeaways from the workshop.
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Discussion on further improvements and ongoing portfolio development.
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Q&A Session: Open floor for students to ask questions related to their specific portfolio challenges.
Materials Required
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Sketching materials (paper, markers).
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Laptops with design software (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator)
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Mouse with Scroll
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Example portfolios for reference
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Creative minds and Loads of Energy
Prerequisites
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Basic knowledge of design principles.
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Some existing project work to include in the portfolio.​
This structure ensures that participants apply design thinking principles, making the process user-centered while also emphasizing iteration and feedback.