Portfolio example
Architecture portfolio website examples
An architecture portfolio has to communicate spatial ideas through drawings, models and photographs, while also showing that you understand construction and teamwork. Practices typically review portfolios quickly, so clarity and editing matter. This guide covers how to present projects for both job applications and client work.
Recommended template: Minimal. Open it in Portfolio Studio and replace the sample content with yours.
What to include
- Four to eight projects, with your strongest and most relevant work first
- A clear mix of concept, design development and technical work such as details and construction drawings
- For students, academic projects plus any internship or practice work
- For practising architects, built work with photographs, project stage and your role
- Software and fabrication skills, kept short and specific
- A downloadable PDF portfolio and CV for applications
How to present each project
Open each project with one strong image that sums up the idea, then a short statement covering the site, brief, programme and concept. A reader should understand the project in under a minute before diving into the drawings.
Use a consistent drawing language across projects: similar line weights, scale bars, north points and labelling. Mix diagrams, plans, sections, physical models and renders so the reader sees how the idea developed, not just the final images.
- Project facts: location, type, size, stage and year
- Your role: what you personally designed or produced, especially on team projects
- Concept diagram that explains the main idea in one image
- Key plans and sections at a readable scale
- One or two technical details that show construction knowledge
Homepage copy and example headlines
Use the headline to state your focus, whether that is a building type, a sustainability approach or a stage of work such as technical delivery.
- Architectural designer focused on low-carbon housing and timber construction
- Part II architecture graduate with experience in competition and concept design
- Architect delivering education and community buildings from brief to completion
Layout and design tips
Let the drawings breathe. White space and a restrained layout make complex drawings easier to read on screen. Avoid tiny text inside drawings, since it becomes illegible on a laptop or phone.
- Export drawings at sizes that remain legible on a laptop screen
- Keep a consistent grid and type style across all project pages
- Compress large renders and photographs so pages load quickly
- Offer the full PDF for practices that want to review offline
- Credit photographers and collaborators on built work
Common mistakes to avoid
- Relying only on renders with no drawings to show how the building works
- Including every project from school, which hides the strongest work
- Unclear authorship on group projects
- Huge PDF files that are slow to open or exceed email attachment limits
- Inconsistent drawing styles that make the portfolio feel unedited
Getting found and sharing it
Name each project page clearly, for example Timber community library competition entry, and include a short written description so the work can appear in search. When applying to a practice, tailor the order of projects to their typical work and send a shorter PDF with a link to the full site.
Frequently asked questions
How many projects should an architecture portfolio have?
Four to eight projects is typical. For applications, practices often prefer a shorter selection that matches the kind of work they do, with a link to more.
Should I include hand drawings and physical models?
Yes. Sketches and models show how you think and develop ideas, which many practices value as much as polished renders.
What should an architecture student portfolio include?
Your strongest academic projects, any work placement experience, and evidence of technical understanding such as details or construction studies. Show process, not only final boards.
How long should an architecture PDF portfolio be?
For applications, a sample portfolio of around 10 to 20 pages is common, kept under a manageable file size for email. Bring or link a longer version for interviews.