Digital Portfolio Guide:

Let’s start with how Calli Zarpas describes a portfolio in their article, Best Portfolio Platforms for Creatives: Top Picks for 2025:

An online portfolio serves as a digital home for your creative work that can be found by both clients and employers. Before hiring you for a project or a long-term project, your potential collaborators need to know the type of projects you’ve worked on in the past to see if you’re the right fit for them. When looking through your work, clients and employers can determine the scope of previous projects, your design style and what services you offer.

A portfolio can take many forms depending on your creative discipline. Common portfolio elements include:

• Hard copy or printed work: Drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography
• Writing samples: Short stories, journalism, creative nonfiction, scripts
• Digital visuals: Graphic design, UX/UI projects, illustration, animation
• Performance samples: Videos of performances, demo reels, audition tapes
• Case studies and project breakdowns: For designers, marketers, UX researchers, and others who solve problems through their work

Your portfolio serves as both a visual showcase of your work and a storytelling tool that highlights how you think, create, and innovate.

These Are Not The Only Pathways:

Although there may be other options beyond the lists below, this overview highlights common professions and Binghamton University academic majors where portfolios often play an important role in the application process.

Career Paths That Typically Require a Portfolio:

Visual Arts & Design: Graphic Design, Illustration, Fine Arts (painting, sculpture, mixed media), Fashion Design, Industrial/Product Design, Interior Design, Architecture

Media & Digital Storytelling: Photography, Videography/Film Production, Animation, Web Design and Development, Game Design and Development, Social Media Content Creation

User Experience & Technology: UX Design, UI Design, Creative Coding, Front-End Software Engineering, App Development

Creative Communication: Advertising (especially art direction and copywriting roles), Marketing/Branding (for creative-focused positions), Writing/Editing (for creative writing, journalism, copywriting)

Performance & Production Arts: Set/Production Design (for theater, TV, film)

Specialized Fields: Art Therapy (especially for graduate programs)

Data & Analytics: Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst, Data Scientist (entry-level), Data Visualization Specialist, Research Data Associate

Majors at Binghamton University That Likely Lead to Careers That Require Portfolios:

Art and Design (drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography, graphic design, and more)

Cinema (film, video, and production work)

Creative Writing (within English — portfolios often needed for MFA programs and creative roles)

Theatre (for Set Design, Costume Design, or Technical Theatre — design portfolios typically required)

Architecture/Urban Design (covered partially through Art History and Geography — portfolios often include maps, planning documents, and design samples)

Digital and Data Studies (for creatively focused projects like data visualizations, digital storytelling, or website creation)

Photo Source for Both Pictures: Jonathan Cohen / University Photographer

Depending on where you are in your career development and the specificity of your goals, you may find yourself asked to submit a portfolio multiple times throughout college and beyond. Here are some common examples:

• Internship Applications — Many internships in creative fields, marketing, media, tech, or design will require a portfolio to showcase your work and skills.
• Job Applications — Full-time roles in industries like graphic design, UX/UI, advertising, writing, filmmaking, and software development often request a portfolio to evaluate your capabilities and style.
• Graduate School Programs — Programs in fine arts, creative writing, architecture, film, and design usually require a portfolio as part of the admissions process to assess your technical skills and creative growth.
• Art Residencies — Artists applying to residencies typically submit a curated portfolio to demonstrate their artistic style, body of work, and project vision.
• Freelance Work — Freelancers across fields like design, photography, writing, coding, and video production often need a portfolio to attract and secure clients.
• Scholarship Applications — Some scholarships, especially those for artists, writers, and designers, may require a portfolio to evaluate creative potential.
• Competitions — Submissions for art, design, writing, or coding competitions may require portfolio samples to demonstrate eligibility and skill level.
• Grant Applications — Artists, filmmakers, and creative writers applying for grants often submit a portfolio to support their project proposals.
• Publications or Exhibitions — When submitting work for galleries, literary magazines, film festivals, or other showcases, a portfolio or sample of works is usually required.

In the article Best Portfolio Platforms for Creatives: Top Picks for 2025, Carlli Zarpas explains the importance of a portfolio from a hiring perspective:

“Before hiring you for a project or a long-term project, your potential collaborators need to know the type of projects you’ve worked on in the past to see if you’re the right fit for them. When looking through your work, clients and employers can determine the scope of previous projects, your design style, and what services you offer.”

In general, employers are always looking for evidence of your skills and proof that you have successfully applied them. This is true for your résumé, cover letter, and interview, and it’s just as important for your portfolio!

When it comes to creative industries, each organization may have specific qualities they look for to determine if you align with their brand, mission, and expectations. A portfolio gives employers a deeper understanding of your abilities, your creative approach, and your potential to succeed in the role they are hiring for.

Start right away! Every project you complete could play an important role in helping you land internships, jobs, or other professional opportunities.

Keeping track of your creative work from the beginning makes it much easier to pull together strong, tailored portfolios when it’s time to apply.

When you go to make or edit your online portfolio, you will need to apply different pieces of advice depending on which creative field you are focusing on. Therefore, it can be beneficial to go into this process with some clarity to guide yourself.

I have gathered a variety of career quizzes for the creative fields, and a few articles about identifying a specialization, to support you with your career/academic exploration. These tools are meant to feel supportive and not meant to make you feel boxed in by their recommendations. We encourage meeting with a Career Consultant to do a deep dive into your exploration!

With some career confidence and clarity guiding you, what do you do next?

As you are thinking about making your portfolio, some of these questions may have naturally come to mind:

• What should I include?
• How do I start the process?
• What additional tips should I consider?
• Where can I get ideas and inspiration?
• How do I create the “About Me” section and descriptions for each piece of work?
• And one of the most common questions: What platforms can I use to build my portfolio?

Let’s start with that first question: What should I include in my portfolio? As you gain more relevant experience, you’ll likely narrow your focus, but when you’re just starting out, there are plenty of options! Consider pulling from:

• Class projects
• Volunteer projects
• Hobby projects
• Internship projects
• Scholarships and competitions
• Freelance gigs
• Projects from student organizations

Not sure where to begin? Consider these ideas:

Visual Arts & Design:

• Design a custom gift (poster, illustration, digital art) for a friend’s birthday- showcase it in a portfolio.
• Create flyers, logos, or merch for a student org or local event.

Media & Digital Storytelling:

• Record and edit a short video about someone’s story or a local topic.
• Run a social media “takeover” for a club or small business with storytelling-focused content.

User Experience & Technology:

• Audit a website (like your club’s) and redesign a more user-friendly layout.
• Build a prototype (like an improved RSVP form) and test it with friends for feedback.

Creative Communication:

• Start a blog or newsletter on a topic you love- develop your voice and consistency.
• Launch a short podcast interviewing peers on creative or career topics.

Performance & Production Arts:

• Volunteer in campus/community performances- on stage or behind the scenes.
• Create and share your own skits, dances, or scenes online with friends.

All Creative Fields:

• Browse CCE’s volunteer listings or explore remote creative volunteer opportunities on Idealist to build experience and give back.
• Connect with the Broome County Arts Council (BCAC)—they’re often seeking volunteers for events or committees. Email information@broomearts.org to get involved.
• For support with brainstorming more opportunities, be sure to connect with: The Fleishman Career Center

A helpful approach comes from Alex Muench, who shared his advice in a Dribbble article: Strategize first, write second, design last.

Muench also encourages having an easy navigation that includes: Start Page, About Me, Your Work, and Contact.

Review the dropdowns below and select which topics you are looking for support with to reveal tailored content and actionable steps to complete.

Before you begin building your portfolio, here are some questions Muench suggests asking yourself:

1. “What’s the goal of your portfolio?
2. Who is your audience? Potential clients? Future employers? Yourself? List out the most relevant information these people want to know or read about you. Generally, this includes a combination of things.
3. Who are you as a designer? What should people know about me? Describe yourself and the work you do (and want to do in the future)
4. First impressions count. Which message do you want to convey with your portfolio? How can you transform this into your design? If someone looks at your website, how can they identify you are a product designer, for example?
5. Which projects and work samples do you want to include? Sort them by type of work, time, or just put your most impressive project at the top.
6. How should people reach out to me, if at all, and why?”

Taking a little time to map out your answers to these questions will help you build a stronger, more intentional portfolio! If you find yourself struggling to answer some of these questions, you might consider going to your professor’s office hours to ask them about some of the thoughts they have from seeing your work. The same goes with asking your peers who you have worked on projects with, your friends who have seen your work, and so forth. It can be tricky to talk about ourselves in this manner, so hearing from your close network first can help create the momentum you might need to do a deeper dive!

Below are pieces of advice that have been graciously shared by many of the School of the Arts staff/faculty, as well as insights from alumni and creative professionals. You’ll also see these emphasized in popular articles across the creative fields.

Avoid Misleading Impressions:

A common mistake is including projects you wouldn’t want to do again. Hiring professionals may focus on that piece and consider you for a role that specializes in it, even if it’s not the direction you want your career to go.

Quality over Quantity:

Focus on showcasing your best work, not all your work. It’s a good idea to keep a master list of everything you’ve completed, but your online portfolio should only feature your strongest pieces. As Alex Muench also emphasized, your selection should be tailored to your goals.

Consider Separate Portfolios for Different Fields:

If you’re exploring more than one creative path, it can be helpful to build distinct portfolio websites for each focus area. This allows you to craft a clear, cohesive narrative tailored to each field, making it easier for viewers to understand your direction and strengths. (Thank you, Corrina)

Add a Disclaimer:

Depending on the type of work you are displaying, there may be a need to have a message prior, to alert the viewer of the graphic nature of the content.

• Make a strong first impression – Include your name, a professional photo (if appropriate), and a short tagline or intro that summarizes who you are and what you do.
• Keep it clean and easy to navigate – Use simple, clear design and guide visitors to explore your work (e.g., “View My Projects” or “Explore My Work” buttons).
• Highlight your focus or goal – Briefly mention your field (e.g., design, writing, engineering) and what type of opportunities you’re seeking.
• Avoid clutter – Less is more. Don’t try to show everything on the homepage.
• Include a call to action – Invite visitors to check out your portfolio pieces or contact you.
• Decide whether to include your “About Me” on the start page or in a separate section: Some creatives briefly introduce themselves on the homepage with a link to a full “About Me” page, while others keep everything right on the front. Either is fine, as long as it’s clear and easy to read!

This is not an Artist Statement!

You might be wondering what to say in the “About Me” section of your portfolio. The Muse Editors do a great job in their article, “How to Write an Effective “About Me” Page (Examples Included!),” explaining the purpose and components of this section, and include a few examples for you to reference. This is not to be confused with an artist statement! As Amy Aronoff explains in their NYFA article titled, “The Artist Statement: 5 Do’s and Don’ts:”

“Don’t confuse artist statements with bios. A bio covers factual experiences and accomplishments, such as where you went to school; relevant awards, residencies, grants, etc. An artist statement is about the conceptual underpinnings and aesthetic choices behind your work.”

To learn more about artist statements, I would recommend reviewing our resource, titled “Artist Statements, Bios, and About Me’s: A Creative Writing Guide.”

What is the Purpose of an About Me Bio?

The Muse article goes on to explain that an “About Me” page serves multiple purposes:

• It outlines your mission and vision, helping visitors understand what motivates you and what sets you apart.
• It can serve as a platform to showcase testimonials, notable projects, and any media coverage or recognition you have received.
• Your story helps humanize your brand. People connect with people, not faceless entities. 
• It lets visitors know what they can expect from your site and how you can help them.
• A well-crafted “About Me” page can improve your website’s SEO for Google by incorporating relevant keywords and phrases.

Portfolio “About Me” example: Student Version

Hello! Hi there! I’m Baxter Bearcat, a senior at Binghamton University majoring in Computer Science with a passion for clean design and problem-solving.

I specialize in front-end development and UX/UI design, and I love building web experiences that are both functional and visually engaging. My journey started with a class project that turned into a campus-wide app used by over 500 students. Since then, I’ve interned with a local tech startup, where I redesigned their client dashboard and boosted engagement by 30%.

Take a look at my portfolio to see what I’ve built, from class projects to freelance work, and let’s connect about your next digital idea!

– Source: ChatGPT & The Formula Above

Website “About Me” example: Student Version

Hey! I’m Baxter Bearcat, a communications major and aspiring content strategist who’s passionate about storytelling, social media, and all things digital.

Since joining Binghamton University, I’ve led marketing efforts for two student orgs, launched a podcast about campus life, and completed a summer internship in nonprofit communications. I started my blog to share career tips, creative content ideas, and lessons I’ve learned navigating college as a first-gen student.

Want to collaborate on a project or just swap ideas? Let’s connect- follow along for content strategy tips and behind-the-scenes campus stories!

– Source: ChatGPT & The Formula Above

How to Write Strong Captions – Source: Robert Half

“A well-written, compelling description of each digital portfolio sample adds vital context on your contribution to the work and your creative process. Your caption information should include:

• The client or agency
• A few sentences outlining the main goal of the project
• Your role in the project
• When you completed the work

Did the work produce results? Then, say so. If a campaign boosted traffic by 40% or won an industry award, that’s worth mentioning. Numbers stick with people.”

Make it easy to reach you – Include your email (use a professional one), LinkedIn profile, and possibly a contact form.

Be mindful of privacy – Skip your phone number or home address unless it’s necessary or you’re applying to jobs that expect it

Add a short message or greeting – A friendly note like “I’d love to connect about internship or project opportunities” can humanize the page.

Test it – Make sure links work and messages can be sent without issues.

Building an online portfolio is one of the most effective ways for you to showcase your work, skills, and creative identity. The resources below offer clear guidance on how to design a compelling portfolio, choose the right platform, organize your projects, and draw inspiration from top examples. These articles and guides can help students at any experience level, not just artists or designers, build a professional online presence that highlights their strengths and supports their job or internship search.

Looking at other portfolios can be a great way to strategize your own. Consider looking at the examples below to offer inspiration. Pay close attention to the different parts they include and what tool they utilized to create their portfolio.

Tip: Just remember that some of these are professionals with years of experience, so their portfolios are going to be much more developed than where you will be just starting out. Use their content as inspiration, not as comparison!

• Upwork – Instagram Portfolio Examples
• Wix – Digital Portfolio Examples
• 18 Digital Portfolio Examples & a Guide for Yours
• Screen Skills – Various Portfolio Examples Across All Industries

TEMPLATE.NET:

Template.net offers a variety of customizable portfolio templates, helping students get inspired by different styles and layouts. It’s a great resource for finding ideas on how to structure and showcase their work.

People Search Tool:

Use this tool to find professionals by company, industry, or role. Once you find professionals in your field, check their profiles to see if they’ve linked their portfolio websites- often at the top of their profile or within their experience section.

LinkedIn Alumni Profiles:

Explore what past graduates are doing and how they present their work.

Mentor Match:

Mentor Match is an online platform that connects you to alumni mentors from various industries and career fields. For support with any networking, check out our guide here.

Quick Disclaimer: Although this resource will be reviewed routinely to check for what updates need to be made, some information below could have changed before then. Always go to the website to the website to confirm the most up-to-date information!

Here are several more tools to consider using, as listed in the article, “How to Create an Online Portfolio (Even When You Don’t Have Work Experience)” written by Zoe Kaplan and edited by Emily Courtney.

Note: Make sure you test out your link(s) to any of your online portfolios.

Certain tools may require you to change the permission access for your portfolio to be viewable to an outside audience. You do not want to find yourself in a position where the recruiter has to “request access” to review your portfolio.

Test your link by sharing it with a peer and see if they can open it. Or open an “Incognito” window and paste your link in the Address Bar. Click Enter and see if it opens to your portfolio or shows you a display noting you don’t have access to the page.

Make sure to go through and download the following forms that are listed at the end of their webpage:

GYST is a great resource for all artists to know about! In their section on “GYST: Portfolios,” they mention the following do’s and don’t and provide 2 downloadable resources that I would highly recommend saving!

• GYST: Portfolio Checklist Form: Download the Portfolio Checklist Form to keep track of everything you need to have in your portfolio
• GYST: Portfolio Evaluation Form: Help a fellow artist or evaluate your own portfolio with this handy Portfolio Evaluation Form.

Template.net also has a great checklist for student portfolios that you can use to review your content.

Drop-ins: When classes are in session, Monday-Friday, from 12-4 p.m., you can visit our office to schedule a 20-minute drop-in with our staff.

Appointments: You can schedule your 30-minute career session on Handshake. These are offered all year and can be done virtually and in person.

Online Resources: Visit uConnect, our virtual career center that is always accessible to support your career needs.

Picture Source: Gemini (AI-generated image by Google Gemini)

Website Sources: Special thanks to the organizations, industry experts, and thought leaders who share valuable career resources, research, and articles with the public. Your work provides important insights that support students’ career development.

Website Sources: Special thanks to the organizations, industry experts, and thought leaders who share valuable career resources, research, and articles with the public. Your work provides important insights that support students’ career development.

Staff Support: Thank you to the School of Arts for sharing some of their resources and the valuable insights from the previous panels! And thank you to Ellen, Aly, and Lexie, who took time to review the tool and provide feedback to elevate the guide!

AI Assistance: Portions of this resource may have been developed with support from AI tools (such as ChatGPT by OpenAI or Gemini), used to help synthesize research, generate summaries, and refine formatting. All final content has been reviewed and customized for Binghamton University students.