Part I CV and Portfolio Guide

A Part I CV and portfolio should give a practice enough confidence to start a conversation. The CV explains your level and evidence, while the portfolio shows your thinking.

The goal is not to include everything you have ever made. It is to choose the work that proves you are ready for the next step.

Watch: architecture portfolio tips

This Architecture Social video is useful if your Part I portfolio needs clearer project choices before you send applications.

Make the CV useful

The CV should be practical and clear. Use it to frame the portfolio rather than repeat every page in words.

• State your Part I status and availability.
• Use a short, specific profile.
• Explain academic projects with brief context.
• List software with evidence, not just names.
• Place the portfolio link near the top.

Related audio: sample and full portfolios

This related episode explains when to send a sample portfolio, what to hold back and how to avoid overwhelming the reader.

You can also open the related Architecture Social podcast page.

Build the sample portfolio first

A sample portfolio should be lean. It should show your strongest and most relevant work without asking the reader to sit through an entire degree show.

Choose projects that demonstrate design thinking, representation, process and communication. If you have any practice work, label it clearly and explain your role.

Use captions properly

• Name the brief, scale and location if relevant.
• Explain the project idea in plain language.
• Clarify individual, group and tutor-led work.
• Mention the software or method only where it helps.
• Avoid captions that sound like a manifesto.

Common mistakes

• Sending a full portfolio when a concise sample would work better.
• Hiding the best project after weaker work.
• Making the CV and portfolio contradict each other.
• Not explaining academic context for professional readers.
• Using images that look good but do not prove a useful skill.

Architecture Social view

Stephen’s recruiter view is that Part I applications should be easy to understand and easy to represent. A clean sample portfolio gives the reader confidence to ask for more.

Next step

Use this with the sample portfolio guide, live Part I jobs, the Part I career guide and the CV guide.