12.. Portfolios at IU - Comprehensive Study Notes

Portfolios at IU

• Definition: A portfolio is a curated collection of your work used across fields, not limited to design. In this material, focus is on the Bachelor in Communication Design program to illustrate how portfolios are evaluated in a way applicable to other areas (IU, 2020).

• Purpose of portfolios:

  • Showcase skills to market yourself

  • Track learning and long-term growth (Baumgartner, 2012)

• Main portfolio types:

  • Presentation Portfolio: for job applications or attracting clients; online versions are easier to share, update, and show personality

  • Reflection Portfolio: shows learning process and how skills improve over time

  • Development Portfolio: tracks growth and career development over a longer period

• Portfolio content approach:

  • Students document learning by including different assignments

  • Online portfolios allow sharing projects from first ideas to the finished product

Types of Portfolios (Expanded)

• Presentation Portfolio emphasizes external presentation and persona in professional contexts

• Reflection Portfolio emphasizes growth over time and learning trajectory

• Development Portfolio emphasizes long-term career development and progression of skill sets

• All portfolio types can document progress with various assignments; this supports evidence of ability and development over time

Portfolio Structure and Workflow (Overview)

• Stage (conceptual framework): stage saves time and allows more focus on creative work

• Intermediate Result: can be automatically shared on social and professional networks

• Performance to be Submitted: no coding skills needed if using a good, intuitive tool

• Conception Phase (Phase 1):

  • Portfolio Part 1: Concept presentation in text form (approx. $rac{1}{2}$ page); sketch / moodboard / draft, etc.

  • Feedback: –

• Development / Reflection Phase (Phase 2):

  • Portfolio Part 2: Explanation of implementation in text form (approx. $rac{1}{2}$ page); first digital draft / milestone / intermediate step

  • Feedback: –

• Finalization Phase (Phase 3):

  • Portfolio Part 3: Two-page abstract (making-of), final product (action), digital signature

  • Easily forwarded to employers or clients; shows personality with minimal effort, helping you stand out

• Evaluation Process at IU: explain concept, design process, and tools used (IU, 2020); finished product with lecturer guidance, similar to how a model’s photo portfolio showcases their work (Baumgartner, 2012)

Online Portfolios: Advantages and Stepwise Process

• Creating a portfolio follows a step-by-step process:

  • Conception Phase: Sketch ideas on paper; submit these with a short written concept (max $rac{1}{2}$ page)

  • Development/Reflection Phase: Define design parameters (color, font, shape) and create the first digital version; develop intermediate steps while reflecting and receiving tutor feedback

  • Finalization Phase: Complete the final product and submit with a two-page abstract explaining the design process, the original concept, the parameters used, and the software involved; final version shows the completed logo and selected typography (IU, 2020; Bilz & Schneider, 2017)

Formal Guidelines and Submission (Simple Explanation)

• Submissions: All portfolio assignments must be submitted online via the PebblePad portal; cannot submit by email or any other method

• Details: A separate manual on myCampus (IU, 2020) provides detailed instructions

• Legal/Ownership: Students must agree to an affidavit confirming work is their own

• Online links: Formal guidelines include linking to a OneDrive Business folder (including all files)

• Optional: The guide may include links to feedback and grading within the portal

Development Process: Concrete Example (URBAN DYNAMIC SYSTEMS)

• Conception Phase (Phase 1 for URBAN DYNAMIC SYSTEMS):

  • First step is research: look online for inspiration and study the company’s history, colors, shapes, and societal influences (IU, 2020)

  • After research, students create initial sketches or scribbles

• General submission workflow:

  • All portfolio assignments must be submitted online via PebblePad; cannot be emailed

  • A separate manual on myCampus provides detailed instructions (IU, 2020)

  • Students must agree to an affidavit confirming ownership (IU, 2020)

Abstract Guidelines and Task Overview

• Abstract guidelines: The abstract must follow formal rules provided by IU (IU, 2020)

• Task overview: Each course proposes one or more portfolio topics; students are expected to complete a theory-based, structured, and practical project, ideally connected to their future profession

• Specific details: Provided in the course; questions can be discussed with the tutor

Supervision, Responsibility, and Assessment

• Supervision: Tutors provide guidance

• Responsibility: Students are responsible for developing their portfolio independently

• Assessment: Completing all parts of the portfolio is part of the overall assessment

• Where to find more rules: Exam Guide on myCampus and the specific course guidelines (IU, 2020)

Additional context and practical implications

• Portfolios as a bridge to employment: online forms enable easy forwarding to employers or clients

• Iterative process: from sketches to multiple digital drafts to a finalized product, with tutor feedback guiding refinements (shape, color, font, layout)

• Purpose alignment: portfolio work should connect to future professional practice and demonstrate capability across the Conception, Development/Reflection, and Finalization phases

• Ethical considerations: formal affidavit ensures originality and responsibility for authorship

Summary of the Portfolio Process (one-page recap)

• Conception Phase: research, initial sketches, short concept write-up (approx. $rac{1}{2}$ page)

• Development/Reflection Phase: first digital draft, design parameter definition, intermediate steps, tutor feedback

• Finalization Phase: final product, two-page making-of abstract, digital signature

• Submission: online via PebblePad with a ${2}$-page abstract and final product; OneDrive link kept for file consolidation

• Evaluation: concept + process + tools + final artifact; guided by lecturers; aligns with industry practices (e.g., model portfolios) and existing literature (Baumgartner 2012; Bilz & Schneider 2017)

• Legal/ethical: affidavit confirming original work; associated guidelines on myCampus and course syllabus (IU 2020)

If you’d like, I can consolidate these notes into one integrated guide that covers Conception, Development, and Finalization as a single cohesive workflow with cross-references to IU 2020 sources and the Bilz & Schneider reference. Would you like me to do that?