The document provides guidance on creating an architectural portfolio for an internship. It discusses selecting compelling projects to feature, how to present drawings, models, and other materials. Graphics and layout are emphasized, with color schemes, composition, and font suggestions. The document also offers tips on selecting firms, writing emails, CVs, and other application materials. Overall it aims to help architects effectively showcase their skills and experience through physical and digital portfolios.
3. Topics
Part 2:
How to select a firm, CV, how to write an email,
resources, what a firm looks for, additional
skills, printing etc
Part 1:
Graphics, Composition, colour scheme, fonts and
typography, cover page etc
Source:
Koozarch - Vertical City, Margherita Borroni, Marco Gambarè, Martina Lamperti
4. Using Colour
Colour pallet: colour palettes by Wes Anderson, Kimball Starr Interior Design
Movie: The Grand Budapest hotel, 2014
12. Fonts, typography and writing
Suggestions:
• Keep the text minimal. Let the graphics do the talking. Add a small explanation about each project.
• Have a couple of complementary and contrasting fonts to differentiate between headings, sub headings and body.
• Vary the Colour/saturation and size to emphasise the difference between headings, sub headings and body
• What to include for each project:
Name of the project,
location
semester
faculty/ firm (with email ID if they agree)
professional/volunteer/ academic/personal
Mention it if it is group work and your role in it.
• Always give credits and mention/cite the source if you use content not created by you.
• Use small and not capital alphabets for writing
Sources for fonts:
• fontsquirrel
• Google fonts
• Lost type (not for commercial purposes)
• Dalton Maag (not for commercial purposes)
13. Fonts, typography and writing
Source:
thehandmadehome.net/
designsbynicolina.blogspot.in/
14. Fonts, typography and writing
Source:
http://trydesignlab.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-font-for-your-design/
15. Fonts, typography and writing
Source:
http://print-process.com
Cover of the forgotten web standard
http://designtaxi.com
17. Cover page, Index & Last Page
• Make sure your name is clearly visible on the front page.
• You can arrange the index/projects chronologically
• You can categorise them based on size or whether it is academic/professional etc.
• Keep a final page so its ends well. You can keep some elements of the cover page here and maybe include you email ID and phone number.
23. Index & Last Page
Source:
Jennifer hills Interior design Portfolio
https://shabeebmohammed.wordpress.com
24. Index & Last Page
Source:
Behance/ Bill Rodella
Erica Miller Creative
25. Composition
• Keep it clean, legible and simple.
• Don’t clutter your spread.
• Once you look at your base material, find out whether a landscape, portrait or square format works best for you.
• Choose between a single spread or a double spread depending on your projects/ composition style.
• Remember that it will be viewed on various screens for keep it legible enough for that. People are unlikely to zoom in.
• Hierarchy is important while organising your sheet.
• Have one important graphic/image and then have supporting graphics, material and text.
• Maintain a particular format to introduce each project. It gives a clear break between projects.
• If you can pick certain layout formats, render styles, textures etc through out, it will help tie up the portfolio well.
• Develop small graphics for these introductions/indexes.
• Keep some white space
36. Which projects?
• Look at all the projects you have ever done. Collect everything that you have and look your base material.
• What is your best work?
• Which ideas do you like best? . Use these projects, you will be more willing to work on it and make presentation drawings.
• If you have interned, include those works.
• Limit the projects to 6 and pages to around 30 (some firms have particular requirements for these)
• Quality over quantity
• You can include projects that you have made in workshops
• You ID fixture etc can be added
It’s not just the project that you choose to include but what about it you choose to include.
37. What to include in each project?
• Think about various methods of presenting them and see what works best for your projects.
• Which aspect of the project do you want to highlight? Pick you graphic style based on this
• One good detailed graphic spread over two pages with some supporting elements works great.
Models
• Include images of your models – photograph them in good light.
• Add in some effects, overlays etc on photoshop
• Abstract models and process models are a good way to show your thinking / development process.
Plans
• You can render them or keep them very minimal if you have good views or sections.
• Keep minimal number of plans – especially if you have multiple floors - Pick the most important one.
• Unless you really want to highlight the plan, keep them small.
• A rendered master plan helps for projects with a large scale.
Sections
• You can do a lot with sections. Compose them well on a sheet.
• Add life to them – sections are excellent material to create graphics. Try out techniques that suit your project.
• You can have a two page spread of a section
• Experiment with light, colour, texture.
• Allows you to show the space in use. – show the people using the space in the way you had conceived it.
38. What to include in each project?
Details
• A well done detail whether as a plan or a 3D is very effective.
• It can be rendered – but make sure it highlights the correct aspects of the detail.
• Since a lot of details are required in an office, an ability to detail is appreciated.
Analysis and concepts
• Effective way to graphically communicate your design process and intent.
• Simple and well crafted diagrams are very helpful. Add them in before jumping in to the regular drawings.
• Site analysis is a helpful tool to explain your context. (Make sure to mention that it is a group effort if that is the case)
• Process diagrams are a good way to show your thinking / development process.
3D, views and drawings
• Needless to say, it is the most visual method
• You can experiment with various styles.
• Understand what your view is trying to convey or highlight.
• If you draw/paint well, make sure you include some of your sketches in your book
• While setting the scene try to compose it artistically.
Misc
• On site documentation – of volunteer work and professional work (converting on site images to black and white helps sometimes)
• Light fixtures etc that you have created for ID
39. How to pick a firm
Part 1
• What sort of work are you interested in?
Interiors? Residential? Urban? Architecture? Landscape?
Any particular design ideology you enjoy or want to explore?
• Large firms vs small firms vs something in between
• What about the city or country that you want to live in?
• Any idea about Masters or research?
• Do you plan to switch to a different or related profession? Are you interested in investing time in something else?
Part 2
• Go through their websites and visit the projects if you can.
• Six months vs one year
• Firm structure
• Pick your top 10 to 20 and customize your email etc.
40. CV/ Resumé
General
• Can be included as a part of portfolio or separately. Having both is also ok.
• Can have a small write up about your design ideology (think this over very thoroughly before adding it in)
• Limit it to 2 pages maximum.
• If you are adding a picture – make sure that it is professional. (Look at images of architects on their websites)
• Software skills is important – so keep it in a place where it is visible
• Highlight your team skills – include it in if you were a part of organising the college exhibition.
• Customise you CV if you can
• Keep it simple and easy to read
• Include a web link to your portfolio in your CV if you like
Categories to include
• Personal information: Name, email, contact number (DOB, address - optional)
• Education
• College work – brief explanation
• Work experience + responsibilities
• Competitions you participated in
• Software skills (Don’t add Microsoft word ppt etc)
• Workshops and courses (related to architecture)
• Languages
• Volunteer work
• Extra Curricular
43. Additional skills
• Add a page or maximum of 2 pages showing your additional skills
• They will add value especially if they belong to related creative or technical topics
• Composition matters. Make sure you take photographs in good light.
44. What do firms look for?
Varies from firm to firm
• Compatibility
• Software proficiency – which software depends on the firm and the type of work that they do
• Working drawings (some might ask you for this after they see the initial portfolio)
• Professionalism
• Graphics and composition
• Previous experience is a bonus – state your role clearly and honestly
• Flipside – If you are very good at a particular aspect– you might restrict your opportunity to develop other skills
But most importantly – your potential
Image source:
Alex Hogfree
45. Writing the email – sample format
To: send individual emails - i.e. only to a single recipient
Subject: Keep it concise – e.g.: Application for Internship (Do not leave it blank or use caps)
Body:
Para 1:
Brief intro to yourself .
Include: Name, semester that you are in, semester/term that you are applying for, college that you are from and when you plan to start.
Para 2:
Reasons why you want to work at this firm. Maybe even why you would be a good fit in this particular firm.
Para 3:
Mention that you have attached the portfolio (and CV if applicable)
End on a positive note e.g.: Looking forward to hearing your reply etc. Maybe even mention what you are looking forward to learning during your internship.
Sign off:
Formal tone
e.g.:
Yours Sincerely,
Full Name
Number (optional)
46. Writing the email – Suggestions
General :
• Don’t mention that you are applying because of the college requirement but rather because you want to.
E.g.: ‘As per my college requirements I have to intern for 16 weeks time.’ Instead you could say ‘I would like to intern for a period of 16 weeks, starting from xyz
date. (If you plan to intern for a period longer than the official requirement you could mention that)
• Make sure you have added the attachment before you hit send.
• Proof read and grammar check multiple times.
• Maintain a concise and simple writing style.
• Have a basic outline prepared and add in the specific reason(s) why you would like join the firm (At least for the firms at the top of your priority list)
• If you plan to write specific reasons – do a through background check – your facts should be correct.
• Avoid describing yourself in generic terms – I am hard working, diligent, team player etc.. If you want to mention these qualities make sure you back up your
statement with actions and accomplishments (preferably related to architecture).
• If you would like to change the fonts, colours etc, make sure it is professional.
• Keep it short.
• Spend sufficient time thinking if you plan to include a little about your approach to architecture/ your inspiration. Make sure that it is genuinely about you
and not run off the mill.
• Don’t use capital alphabets.
• Create a professional email ID if you do now possess one already.
• You can mention why you believe that you will be a good fit for the firm – mention actions that back up these claims.
47. Writing the email – Suggestions
Potential reasons you may want to work at a particular firm:
• Have you heard the architect speak?
• Have you visited any of their project that you liked? Or read about it in a book ?
• Have you worked in a professional capacity with people who have worked with the firm and have strongly recommended it? (Be careful with this one as it
might result in requiring a reference from the mentioned person or may rub the reviewer the wrong way.)
• Is their design philosophy and approach interesting to you?
• Are you keen on working on a particular project? (Flipside: it may sound a little too focused/ specific)
Before sending the email:
• Check the website for any mention about internships. They may have specific requirements or formats.
On sending the email:
• Check you inbox frequently. Not all firms will respond on time. This doesn’t mean you have either been accepted or not. It may simply be that they haven’t
begun the selection process yet.
• In case you have not received a reply, resend it once in around 2 weeks.
48. Printing
• Leave a binding margin while making your portfolio in case you are asked to bring a physical copy for your interview.
• Run trial prints on different types of papers to suit your style. You might have to make slight modifications before printing as the print quality rarely matches
the screen quality
• Prints are in CMYK but web publishing is in RGB, so just keep that in mind.
• Avoid a spiral bind if you can
49. Resources and references
For graphics and composition
• Koozarch
• http://www.presidentsmedals.com/
• Instagram – especially architecture colleges from the US – very active
• www.issuu.com
• Evolo projects
• Competitiononline.com
• Pinterest ( start creating/ organising boards and saving ideas )
Resources for renders
• https://visualizingarchitecture.com/
• http://www.escalalatina.com/
• http://skalgubbar.se/
• www.desicutouts.com
