What is a good portfolio size? Making my first intial steps in the industry
(Just finished my stage one BA Hons). A2 I know is too big and bulky. Between
A3 and A4 - Is A4 considered to small? Would A3 give of a better impression as
it is bigger? Does it depend on the studio?
I know it is said to have between 20-40 pages but what would be a safer size
for a Professional Architectural Design Portfolio?
Thank You.
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James Francis
A3 is a good format for a portfolio but ensure that if you are using reduced size pages (e.g. A1 reduced to A3) they are still legible. As to the quantity this is not so much an issue of number of pages but more to do with the content. Also be able to navigate your portfolio and be able to flick to pages relevant during your interview. Make sure that every page can bring something to your interview and try a dry run in presenting it so you can identify if there are any redundant pages.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /><o:p></o:p>
Finally be clear on your strengths and how your portfolio demonstrates these and if you have no industry experience make sure you have researched your prospective employer and identify where you might be weak in the eyes of an interviewer and be ready to respond. The portfolio should not dominate the interview process but be a tool to help you sell yourself.<o:p></o:p>
Good luck.
Nick
I'm a recently graduated Part II and I - and several others I know - are doing portfolios at A4 size. If you can use InDesign you can put together a really good portfolio by putting the pages portrait and then treating the two facing pages almost as one large A3 page. Added to this, an A4 portfolio may be cheaper to print, so you might want to print high quality two copies in case you're being interviewed by two or more people - that way they're not crowding around one copy and will feel more comfortable flicking through as you speak.
And don't forget - don't use too much text! More than three sentences or so on a spread and they won't even bother to read it. You don't need to explain everything in text - they have you there to explain anything they don't understand.
Good luck!