The following guidance is offered for architecture students applying to the PSU School of Architecture's Professional Track (the third and fourth years of the BA/BS Architecture degree), to graduate programs, and for job opportunities in design and architecture firms. 

A portfolio of work is extremely important for the evaluation of a student’s qualifications, strengths and weaknesses, as well as a record of student work for employment and future graduate school applications.  Your portfolio should demonstrate an interest and awareness in how architectural ideas can be described, analyzed and transformed through the making of meaningful architectural space.

General Advice

• Few things demonstrate a student’s potential as an architectural student as well as the apparent care with which the portfolio is assembled and presented.   

• An effective portfolio demonstrates a variety of interests, abilities and skills.

• A portfolio that is well-rounded, with a diversity of media and project types, is stronger than one that is dominated by one type of work or method of representation.

• Edit all written text for clarity of expression, grammar and spelling.  Do not submit a portfolio with typographic errors and garbled prose.

• Avoid either a minimalist approach or over-stuffing - both approaches raise concerns. 

• In addition to finished products, include work that shows project development, such as sketches and study models.  The majority of works presented should be architectural in nature; you may include additional endeavors, such as sketching, sculpture, painting, furniture design, photography, etc.

• Selected examples of mechanical or computer-assisted drafting may be included; however, drafting alone does not constitute adequate material for evaluation.

Organization and Format

• Be judicious in the selection of your best works so that a fair evaluation can be made.

• Make sure the portfolio possesses a clearly organized, thoughtful arrangement.

• Give special attention to the sequence of projects so that they flow with thoughtful progression.

• Avoid a chronological organization of material.  Lead with quality - show your strongest work first.  If you insist on chronology, try a reverse one.

• Use a consistent format whenever possible to avoid requiring evaluators to turn your portfolio upside down and inside out to look at your work.

• Format and composition should be consistent with each project, if not throughout the portfolio.                   

Page Layout

• Introduce each project with a title, some brief text, and time length of project.  The text should illustrate and describe the design project and your respective solutions.  Use a clear, handsome typeface. 

• For each new project, present a strong general image first; more specific project images--drawings, model shots, progress sketches--can follow.

• Don't overcrowd. Use enough blank,  or white, space between images, text and margins to provide contrast and to avoid a crammed or compressed look. 

Reproductions

• Use only quality reproductions.  Quality work is often handicapped by poor reproductions that make projects difficult to see, appreciate and evaluate.

• Quality photographic reproductions are highly recommended; however, high quality digital prints--either black/white or color--can provide an economical alternative.