Whether you’re applying to an interior design program, seeking an internship, or preparing for your first professional role, creating an interior design portfolio is a critical step. A well-crafted portfolio does more than just highlight your skills, creative style, and technical expertise; it also demonstrates how you solve problems. Your portfolio should tell the story of who you are as a designer, all the way down to your philosophy and approach. Getting your portfolio just right really can make all the difference!
Building Your Interior Design Portfolio
Your portfolio should reflect the same care and consideration you put into your designs. When building an interior design portfolio, the layout, copy, typography, and visuals must all work together to showcase your abilities and potential.
Layout is key to a good portfolio. Yours should be clean and visually appealing while also aligning with your aesthetic. The layout should keep your projects the main focus. Aim for a balance of text, white space, and images. Speaking of text, it should be meaningful but brief. Avoid overexplaining in words and let a few key points support your visuals. Use a legible font that is easy to read both on screen and on paper, as it’s beneficial to have a physical copy and a digital version of your portfolio. Include a range of visuals like high-res photos, renderings, sketches, and mood boards that put your work in its best light. Photographs should be well-lit, sharp, and thoughtfully composed.
How to Structure an Interior Design Portfolio
A well-structured portfolio makes it easier for potential clients, employers, or professors to navigate your work.
Start with a brief introduction that tells readers who you are, what you do, and where your passion lies. This is the ideal space to discuss your background, design philosophy, and any unique skills that set you apart. This section also sets the tone for the rest of your portfolio. Some designers follow this section with a formal resume to provide additional context about education, experience, and accomplishments.
Before diving into your work, lay out a table of contents. Including this section keeps your portfolio organized and allows readers to quickly find or refer back to specific projects. A table of contents can be organized by project type, design style, or chronological order.
Next, it’s time to include your best work. Choose projects that emphasize quality over quantity, showcasing your best style and technical abilities. You should also consider tailoring the content to your audience.
Potential elements include:
- The client’s original vision and your interpretation
- Your role and responsibilities
- The design tools or techniques you used
- Challenges you encountered and how you overcame them
- Supporting materials like renderings, sketches, color swatches, thematic mood boards, and design concepts
How to Gain Experience to Include in a Portfolio
One of the biggest challenges for new interior designers is creating a portfolio without a lot of practical experience. Fortunately, there are ways around this. For starters, you can redesign a room in your home as a hypothetical project. You could also offer to help friends or family with their interior design needs and document the results. Pursuing internships is also a way to gain hands-on experience and real-world projects to feature in your portfolio. Even speculative work or school projects can demonstrate your potential and creativity. Don’t underestimate the value of these projects in telling your design story.
Why Study Interior Design at Villa Maria College?
Looking for a great interior design program? Villa’s is one of WNY’s best. We offer bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs, specialized certificate programs in historic preservation and furniture design, and study abroad programs across Europe. Plus, our students get to show off their work and compete in competitions and events that provide real-world exposure and recognition. Ready to learn more? Reach out today for more details.
