What should I include in a graphic design portfolio for college or internships?

Question

I’m applying to a few design schools and maybe a summer internship, but I don’t know what should actually go in my portfolio. How many projects should I include? Does it all have to be digital?

Answer 1

Absolutely, creating a detailed portfolio of your work and abilities can be useful in many facets, especially for internships.

You will want to make sure the portfolio showcases various types of projects you have done. The more diverse your portfolio, the more they can see what you are capable of. With each project within your portfolio, it's best to include a brief summary about the project: what the project was, challenges you faced (and how you overcame them), and what tools you used.

Even if the orginal project outcome was hand done, it is best to convert it to digital. When in doubt, use PDF.

Answer 2

This question comes up a lot, especially for students just starting to build their design portfolio.

There’s no perfect number of projects, but 6 to 10 strong pieces is a solid starting point. It’s better to have fewer strong projects than a bunch of half-finished ones. The key is variety and depth, you want to show that you can think creatively, work through a design process, and finish a project with polish.

Here’s what I usually recommend:

1. Logo or Branding Project – Show how you developed the idea and applied it to real-world materials (like business cards, signage, etc.)
2. Poster or Advertising Design – Something with strong layout, typography, and visual impact
3. Packaging Design – Even a fictional product works. Just show your design thinking
4. Digital Illustration or Photoshop Work – Something that shows your ability to build layered, intentional visuals
5. Layout Work – Like a magazine spread or multi-page brochure to demonstrate use of InDesign and structure
6. Passion Project – Anything you made just for fun that shows off your unique voice

Make sure every piece has a short description explaining:

1. What the project was
2. What problem you were solving
3. What tools you used

And yes, it’s best to have everything in digital format, even if the original was printed or hand-drawn. A PDF or simple portfolio site works great.

If you’re still unsure what to include, or want help writing the project descriptions or organizing your layout, I help students build their portfolios all the time. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to tell your story clearly.