How to create a portfolio

With university applications starting to be sent out, it’s important not to forget about the interview process. I did exactly that: I didn’t think about what I’d need for interviews, so that’s why I’m here reminding you! 

If you’re applying to an art course/theatrical course, most universities will ask you for a portfolio, which is a showcase of your work. If you do textiles, it will probably be full of designs and pictures of finished products. If you do art, it’ll probably be full of your artwork. If you’re a lighting designer, it will probably be full of your light designs and the finished products. It’s a way for the interviewers to see what you’re capable of. It’s an important part of an arts course, and even though the universities won’t say you need a portfolio, it will definitely help. Here’s the structure I was taught for portfolios -

1. Personal Statement - this will probably be in your application, but by having it in your portfolio provides a bit more to talk about, especially if the interviewers have any questions.
   
2. CV - this is nice to put in so that the interviewers can see your experience. Personally, I put in my ‘show CV’, which is full of the shows I’ve worked on. You can use a regular CV if you want, or even skip this step, but if you’re going into a theatrical course or if you have any experience working in your subject, a CV won’t go amiss.
   
3. Your work - start with your most recent work in education and work backwards, then go into your experience out of education or your personal work.
   

That was the advice my lecturers gave my class and it worked for us! Something that I felt intimidated by was the style. What was it meant to look like? What kind of work was I meant to put in? What makes a portfolio stand out? Here are some of the things I learnt -

• Show off different styles - this is especially important for artists. Show off everything you can do. Range is key. If you’re a techie, show that you can do more than your specialty (if you have one). Show off everything you’re capable of. 
  
• Make it pretty - this is more for artists and designers. Go wild with decorating your portfolios. You’re an artist, use that to your advantage. Write things in your favourite pens and make it as colourful as possible!
  
• Keep it simple and structured - this is for techies! If you’re not set, props or costume, don’t go artistic. Keep it simple. Don’t decorate pages, keep them plain. Type everything out and glue it in. Don’t go artistic. 
  
• Choose paper wisely - this might sound weird, but you’re going to want a nice book to put your work in. Keep in mind that plain white pages are boring to look at, so if you’re going into an artistic course or if you’re a designer, go all out with colour! Make the pages interesting to look at! Or get a black page book. Stick white paper on it and it’s got a bit more life to it. Techies, I recommend that one, but designers and artists, if that peaks your fancy, go for it!
  
• Structure - choose what way you want your book to be: portrait or landscape. If you’re going landscape, put pictures on top and an explanation on the bottom. If you’re going for portrait, put pictures on the right and explanations on the left. The interviewer will probably flick through your portfolio as they’re asking you questions, so by putting the pictures on these pages, they’ll be in their line of sight and draw their attention a bit more. Keep the explanation brief.if it’s a project, don’t go into detail and if it’s a show, give a brief overview of your role. That way, they can ask questions and you won’t be reciting the words on your portfolio.
  
• Be fussy over what you put in - show off what you’re proudest of. The education work will show your growth. With the outside of education work or your personal work, only show your best. If you don’t like it, don’t put it in.  
  
• Show your process - as RADA have on their website, a good portfolio should display your process as well as your finished result.
  

Making a portfolio can be intimidating because it’s your impression on your interviewers, but as long as you have the passion, they’ll take in anything you show them. Creating your portfolio is best to do as soon as you can. I waited until I had at least one confirmed interview which ended up with me rushing to create a portfolio within a week. Learn from my mistakes, make one as soon as you can. It isn’t mandatory to have one, but it really helps. 

If you’re doing textiles or a costume course, take an example of something you made. My friend took a tailcoat she made to all of her interviews and that went down really well. If you’re working on a project, take some of the work with you. I took a prompt copy from a show I was working on at the time to my last interview and that went down amazingly, it gave us something else to talk about and it showed my growth form my portfolio and it was relevant. Plus it’s a very good way to get a free ego boost. Those are my tips on creating a portfolio, I hope they helped! 
~ En

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