{"id":2243,"date":"2025-12-01T19:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T00:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/?page_id=2243"},"modified":"2026-08-11T15:02:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T19:02:35","slug":"portfolio-tips","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/portfolio-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Portfolio Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Tips for a Strong Portfolio<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Review the tips below for a strong portfolio.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. Keep the Homepage Simple & Clear<\/h3>
  • Use a clean theme with minimal distractions.<\/li>
  • Include a short tagline explaining who you are and what you do (e.g., \u201cMedia Creator | Audio \u2022 Graphic \u2022 Storytelling\u201d).<\/li>
  • Feature 3\u20136 of your best projects up front\u2014your \u201cwow\u201d pieces.<\/li><\/ul>

    2. Create an Engaging \u201cAbout Me\u201d Page (see below)<\/h3>
    • Write in first person, conversational but professional.<\/li>
    • Include: who you are, what you study, your creative interests, and one unique detail that makes you memorable.<\/li>
    • Add a good<\/em> portrait or candid photo that feels authentic.<\/li>
    • Keep it brief\u20143 short paragraphs max.<\/li><\/ul>

      3. Add An artist Statement<\/h3>
      • See Project 6 tips for Creating your Artists Statement.\u00a0<\/li>
      • Artists statement focuses on your creative work, while your About Me is a more general biography that includes your creative work in the context of your larger life pathway.<\/li><\/ul>

        4. Make Your \u201cContact\u201d Page Impossible to Miss<\/h3>
        • Include a simple contact form.<\/li>
        • Add professional email and optional social links (LinkedIn, Instagram, Behance, YouTube).<\/li>
        • Avoid clutter\u2014users should see exactly how to reach you in seconds.<\/li><\/ul>

          5. Categorize Posts by Media Type<\/h3>
          • Add all NMD 100 posts<\/li>
          • Add any other class posts<\/li>
          • Add posts for any other creative work you want to include<\/li>
          • Use clear, intuitive categories like:
            • Audio<\/li>
            • Graphic \/ Visual<\/li>
            • Video<\/li>
            • Story \/ Writing<\/li>
            • Interactive \/ Web<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
            • Use tags for secondary details (e.g., \u201csound design,\u201d \u201clogo,\u201d \u201cshort fiction\u201d).<\/li>
            • Keep categories consistent so your site stays organized as it grows.<\/li><\/ul>

              6. Add One Project Per Post (Not Everything on One Page)<\/h3>
              • Each project should get its own post with:
                • A short description of the project (not class based; make it sound professional: “for this project my goal was to…so I …)<\/li>
                • Your role<\/li>
                • Tools used<\/li>
                • The final media (audio file, graphic, video, etc.)<\/li>
                • A sentence or two on what you learned<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
                • This helps with navigation and makes your portfolio feel more professional.<\/li>
                • Write clear post excerpts so viewers can see a simple description in the archive\/category pages.<\/li><\/ul>

                  7. Use High-Quality Media Only<\/h3>
                  • Export images at 1024px for the widest\/longest side for crisp display.<\/li>
                  • Keep file sizes optimized so the site loads fast.<\/li>
                  • For audio\/video, embed from YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud. All video will be deleted at the end of the d of the semester–so be sure you have a copy of yours and it is uploaded to Youtube * linked.<\/li><\/ul>

                    8. Write Short, Clear Project Descriptions<\/h3>

                    Good formula: What was the project? \u2192 What was your goal? \u2192 What did you create? \u2192 What did you learn? Avoid long paragraphs\u20142\u20135 sentences is enough.<\/p>

                    9. Be Consistent With Visual Style<\/h3>
                    • Use the same fonts, colors, and thumbnail style across posts when possible.<\/li>
                    • Thumbnails with consistent framing help your portfolio look cohesive.<\/li><\/ul>

                      10. Add a Simple Navigation Menu<\/h3>

                      Suggested top menu:<\/p>

                      • Home<\/li>
                      • About<\/li>
                      • Portfolio (dropdown with categories)<\/li>
                      • Blog (optional)<\/li>
                      • Contact<\/li><\/ul>

                        This keeps your site clean and easy to explore.<\/p>

                        11. Proofread Everything<\/h3>
                        • Spelling and grammar matter.<\/li>
                        • Read aloud to catch mistakes.<\/li>
                        • Keep your writing concise and professional.<\/li><\/ul>

                          12. Include a Short Resume or \u201cSkills & Tools\u201d Section<\/h3>

                          This makes you look job-ready. Examples:<\/p>

                          • Audio Editing: Audacity, Adobe Audition<\/li>
                          • Graphic Design: Photoshop, Illustrator<\/li>
                          • Video: Premiere Pro<\/li>
                          • Writing: Short-form storytelling, scriptwriting<\/li><\/ul>

                            13. Update Your Site Weekly (Even Small Improvements Count)<\/h3>
                            • Add posts as projects are completed.<\/li>
                            • Refresh your homepage as your best work changes.<\/li>
                            • Consistent updates show growth and commitment.<\/li><\/ul>

                              Tips for Writing a Great \u201cAbout Me\u201d Page<\/h3>
                              • Keep it short<\/strong> \u2014 aim for 2\u20133 small paragraphs, not a full autobiography.<\/li>
                              • Lead with who you are right now<\/strong> (e.g., \u201cI\u2019m a media student focused on audio storytelling and visual design.\u201d<\/em>).<\/li>
                              • Share what you love creating<\/strong> \u2014 mention your interests, specialties, and any creative passions.<\/li>
                              • Add a personal spark<\/strong> \u2014 one small, memorable detail (a hobby, a fun fact, or what inspires you).<\/li>
                              • Use a friendly, professional tone<\/strong> \u2014 write like you\u2019re having a confident conversation.<\/li>
                              • Include a good photo<\/strong> \u2014 clear, natural lighting, and a genuine expression.<\/li>
                              • End with what you\u2019re looking for<\/strong> \u2014 internships, collaborations, or opportunities to grow your skills..<\/li><\/ul>

                                \u00a0<\/h3>

                                Tips for a Strong \u201cFeatured Works\u201d Page<\/h3>
                                • Choose only your top 3\u20136 projects<\/strong> \u2014 this page should show your best<\/em>, not everything.<\/li>
                                • Mix media types strategically<\/strong> (audio, visual, writing) to show range without overwhelming the viewer.<\/li>
                                • Lead with your strongest piece<\/strong> at the top of the page.<\/li>
                                • Use large, high-quality thumbnails<\/strong> so the page feels polished and visually engaging.<\/li>
                                • Keep each project preview short<\/strong> \u2014 include a title, 1\u20132 sentence description, and a \u201cView Project\u201d link to the full post.<\/li>
                                • Maintain consistent formatting<\/strong> (same thumbnail size, same spacing, same style of text).<\/li>
                                • Arrange work intentionally<\/strong> \u2014 group by theme or skill level, or tell a story by order of development.<\/li>
                                • Update it every semester<\/strong> so your Featured page always reflects your current strengths.<\/li><\/ul>

                                  \u00a0<\/h3>

                                  Treat It Like a Real Portfolio, Not Just a Class Blog<\/h3>

                                  Even though it\u2019s for class, design it professionally, as if future employers will see it\u2014because they will.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                  Tips for a Strong Portfolio Review the tips below for a strong portfolio. 1. Keep the Homepage Simple & Clear Use a clean theme with minimal distractions. Include a short tagline explaining who you are and what you do (e.g., \u201cMedia Creator | Audio \u2022 Graphic \u2022 Storytelling\u201d). Feature 3\u20136 of your best projects up […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2243","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2243"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643,"href":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2243\/revisions\/2643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umainenewmedia.org\/nmd200\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}