Overview
Behind every design project is a series of ideas, decisions, and creative problem-solving. An effective portfolio helps tell that story while showcasing your skills, design process, and professional potential.
In this course, you'll explore contemporary portfolio practices while developing a showcase of your design projects. Through topics such as creative rationales, personal branding, typography, page layout, digital portfolios, and professional development, you'll examine how designers communicate the thinking behind their work and creative decisions.
This live online course uses milestone-based assignments to guide the development of printed and digital portfolio formats. You'll select project samples, create creative rationales, develop branding materials, build layouts, and participate in portfolio reviews and presentations.
By course completion, you'll be better prepared to present your projects with clarity and purpose. You'll also gain experience developing personal branding materials and communicating the design decisions behind your work.
This course is ideal if you:
- want to organize and showcase graphic design work in a professional portfolio
- are interested in personal branding and presenting your creative work effectively
- would like to strengthen your ability to communicate design concepts and rationale
- need to develop printed and digital portfolio materials for professional or personal use.
There are no prerequisites for this course; however, we strongly recommend completing the following courses before registering for this course:
Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- discuss the value and purpose of graphic design portfolios, including design approaches, industry standards, and design theory
- discuss industry examples of graphic design portfolios and how to prepare work for a graphic design portfolio
- write effective creative rationales that explain design concepts
- create personal branding collateral in preparation for a career in graphic design
- use typography tools and practices to develop an aesthetically appealing design portfolio
- describe industry practices and how to prepare for a career in graphic design
- use industry software to create and modify complex page layouts to complement and display design work
- create and publish a professional digital portfolio
- present printed and digital portfolios for instructor and peer reviews
- design a complex and compelling design portfolio that showcases your conceptual, creative, and technical skills and communicates your design process.
To request a course outline, contact ConEdAdvising@sait.ca.
Upcoming dates
Select an available section and add it to your cart. When you're ready, proceed to check out to sign into your student account and complete your registration.
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Register early!
- We recommend registering at least three weeks before the course section start date to support course planning and help ensure a smooth start to your course.
- Course sections require minimum enrollment and may be rescheduled or cancelled two weeks before the start date.
- Registration closes seven days before the start date for on-campus, online scheduled and blended courses, and three days before the start date for online self-paced courses.
After you've completed this course
Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to self-print a proof of completion document from your Continuing Education student account.
Costs
Textbook and reading list
Included in the purchase of this course, you'll receive access to online course content in Brightspace (D2L).
Technology
To be successful in this course, you’ll need:
- Access to your own computer or laptop that meets system requirements for Adobe Creative Cloud and standard hardware/software requirements for D2L
- Functional webcam and microphone
- Internet access.
Though not required, a second monitor or additional device may be helpful during live online sessions.
Before the start of the first class, please have Adobe Creative Cloud downloaded and installed on your computer. Educational pricing is available, and you can use your SAIT “edu” email address as proof of student status to access the software at a reduced rate.
Financial support
Financial opportunities are available to help pay for your course fees. Learn more about how to reduce your education or training costs with available awards, bursaries, loans and grants, including the Canada Alberta Productivity Grant.
Applicable certificates
This course applies to the following certificate programs:
- Certification type
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Certificate of Achievement
Train your team
Interested in group training opportunities for this course? Tell us about your organization's needs, and one of our training consultants will contact you within one business day.
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Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.