Who is portfolio guidance for?
Three groups of students come to us. Third and fourth year B.Arch students applying for the mandatory internship, who need a compact portfolio that shows drawing skill and software ability. Graduates applying to firms, who need a portfolio that shows design thinking and working drawing competence. And applicants for M.Arch or other master's programmes in India and abroad, who need a portfolio that shows research, process and a clear design voice.
Each audience reads differently. A firm partner may spend two minutes on your PDF; an admissions committee may read every page. Mentoring starts by agreeing who the portfolio is for.
How should projects be selected and ordered?
Choose quality over quantity. Three strong, well-presented projects beat eight uneven ones. Lead with your best project, not your most recent, and end with something memorable. Show range, such as a housing project, an institutional building and a detail-heavy project, but only if each one is strong.
For each project, decide on the one idea you want the reader to remember, then select drawings that prove it. Remove anything that does not.
| Audience | Length | What to emphasise |
|---|---|---|
| Internship applications | 15 to 25 pages | Clear drawings, software skills, hand sketches |
| Jobs at design firms | 20 to 35 pages | Design thinking, working drawings, built or detailed work |
| M.Arch admissions | 25 to 40 pages | Research, process, a clear design voice, writing |
| Email sample | 5 to 10 pages, under 10 MB | Best spreads only, linking to the full version |
What makes a portfolio layout work?
- A grid of 2 to 4 columns used consistently across every spread
- One or two typefaces, with clear sizes for titles, captions and body text
- Generous margins and white space instead of filling every corner
- Drawings re-exported at consistent line weights and scales
- Renders colour-corrected to sit together, not each with its own mood
- Short captions that explain why a drawing matters, not just what it is
How does the guidance run, step by step?
- Send your existing projects, target audience and deadline.
- Free call to agree the audience, page count and project selection.
- Pay 50% to book; the balance is due after you see the agreed draft.
- Project selection and story outline for each project.
- Drawing rework guidance: line weights, cleaning up plans, consistent scales.
- Layout system set up in InDesign or your preferred tool, then spread-by-spread reviews.
- Export settings for print and screen versions, and a short email sample.
What do you get?
- A project selection and ordering plan for your target audience
- A layout grid and typography system you can keep using
- Spread-by-spread review notes
- Guidance on reworking drawings and renders
- Export settings for a print PDF, a screen PDF and an email sample
- A checklist for your CV page and cover email
What mistakes do firms and universities notice?
- Too many projects of uneven quality
- Low-resolution or pixelated drawings and renders
- Inconsistent fonts, margins and colours between projects
- Process missing entirely, or so much process that the outcome is lost
- A 60 MB file that the reader cannot open on email
- Spelling mistakes in titles and captions
How is portfolio guidance priced?
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Portfolio design guidance | from ₹2,499 |
| Sheet composition and presentation | from ₹1,499 |
| 3D model and renders | from ₹3,999 |
How should each project be told?
Treat each project as a two- to four-spread story. Open with a title, a one-line description and a strong image. Follow with the question or brief, the site in one clear diagram, the concept in one or two diagrams, then the drawings that prove it: a plan, a section and one detail or perspective. End with a short reflection on what you learned or would change.
Readers skim. Large images with short captions communicate far more than dense text. If a drawing needs a paragraph to explain, it probably needs to be redrawn more clearly.
What should the CV page and cover email include?
- Name, contact details and a link to your online portfolio or LinkedIn profile
- Education with college, year and any distinctions
- Software skills grouped by use: drafting, modelling, rendering, layout
- Internships, competitions, workshops and relevant volunteer work
- A three- to five-line email that names the firm or programme and says why you are applying
- The portfolio attached as a single PDF with a clear file name
How do you adapt a portfolio for universities abroad?
Admissions committees abroad look for curiosity and process as much as polish. Include sketches, models and research that show how you think, and a short written statement for each project. Check each programme's requirements carefully: many specify a page limit, a file size and sometimes a page format. Prepare a version that meets the strictest requirement and adapt from there.
How should college drawings be reworked for a page?
Jury sheets are drawn to be read on a wall from two metres away; a portfolio page is read on a laptop screen. Re-export plans and sections from CAD or Revit with lighter, consistent line weights, remove dimension clutter that is not needed for the story, and crop to the part of the drawing that matters. Redraw key diagrams cleanly rather than scanning old sheets, and keep a consistent north point, scale bar and label style.
Should the portfolio also be printed?
Yes, if you expect in-person interviews. Print a short version of 10 to 20 pages on good paper, bound simply, with images checked for colour and sharpness on a proof first. Bring it along with a tablet version so you can zoom into details when an interviewer asks.
Frequently asked questions
How many projects should my architecture portfolio have?
Three to five strong projects for most purposes. Internship portfolios can be shorter; master's applications may add a research or writing sample.
Which software is best for a portfolio?
Adobe InDesign is the standard for layout. Illustrator and Photoshop help with drawings and images. Affinity Publisher or Canva can work if you keep a strict grid.
What file size should the portfolio be?
Keep the application PDF under 10 MB, or follow the portal's limit. Prepare a separate high-resolution version for printing and interviews.
Will you redesign my portfolio for me?
We guide you through selection, layout and drawing rework with spread-by-spread reviews. You produce the final pages, so you can update them yourself later.
Should I include college sheets as they are?
Usually not. Jury sheets are designed for a wall. Rework them for a page: fewer drawings, larger and clearer, with short captions.
How much does portfolio guidance cost?
Portfolio design guidance starts from ₹2,499, depending on the number of projects and how much rework the drawings need.