Building a better portfolio

Design Teaching Methods

Design is vastly different from most academic programs because design students must graduate with a completed portfolio of work demonstrating mastery in problem-solving, technical, and storytelling skills, conveying a personal point of view. As the Graphic Design Portfolio course instructor, I aim to ensure that every design student graduate with a portfolio of work that can get them a job. To help them along the way, I have developed teaching methods in ideation and multi-course collaborations to provide them with a foundation for developing intelligent, strategic-based, and aesthetic work.

When I teach students how to develop ideas, I connect the “design research” process to the “design ideation” process. It shows them how to first understand the problem and the necessity to speak to people about their needs/wants/desires. At the end of the research, the solution often presents itself. As a result, developing a design strategy and moving through the design ideation phase is much easier because the research validated the solution.

Design Research and Ideation Method / © Denise Anderson

STUDENT PROJECT OUTCOMES

To prepare students to advance their projects further, I partnered with my colleague Ed Johnston to codify the "proto-portfolio" teaching method. This process guides students in developing integrated brand experiences over multiple design courses before entering their final course, Graphic Design Portfolio. For example, students who initiate a project in my brand identity course can develop additional touchpoints—such as UI/UX, motion, social media, and editorial—in other major elective graphic design courses. Students who validate their ideas by studying with subject matter experts and continually iterate their projects are more likely to develop believable design concepts that professionals interpret as "real." The outcome of this process is that students who comprehend how to create real projects in the classroom are prepared to develop actual client projects in the industry.

Proto-Portfolio Method / © Denise Anderson + Edward Johnston