I found the portfolio project to be a valuable and insightful experience, although I did encounter some challenges, particularly with time management. My personal circumstances significantly limited the amount of time I could dedicate to working on the project at home, which in turn affected my focus and heightened my stress levels during class sessions.

Despite these difficulties, the project provided me with a much clearer understanding of how to organise visual content effectively and construct a coherent, professional portfolio. One of the most enriching aspects was observing the portfolios of my peers—many of which showcased strong branding, creative mark-making, animation, and well-structured process documentation. These examples helped me to think more critically about the presentation and conceptual strength of my own work. While I did feel that the feedback from first-year students was minimal and somewhat vague—typically limited to general comments such as “good work”—the overall experience was memorable and instrumental in shaping how I approach visual storytelling and design communication.

Among all the feedback I received, Tyla’s was the most constructive and genuinely helpful. I appreciated his problem-solving approach and the way he offered realistic, actionable suggestions. He encouraged me to take ownership of my branding by designing a logo and consistently applying it throughout the portfolio. His suggestion to include brief explanatory prompts (just one or two lines) for each project made me reflect on how to communicate more clearly and efficiently.

Tyla also provided valuable insight into how to curate my content more strategically. I initially included around 80 pages, aiming to show everything I had done, but he advised me to reduce this to approximately 15 pages, focusing on my strongest work. I completely agreed with this point, as it aligns with the principle of quality over quantity. He recommended I include a concise introduction, incorporate real photographs of the handmade book I created for Jane—not just the design layouts—and show my genuine interest in a specific design area.

When I mentioned that I am most passionate about editorial design, Tyla suggested showcasing recent, well-developed editorial projects with strong mock-ups. This advice felt both logical and achievable, helping me shift my thinking toward building a more targeted and professionally aligned portfolio. His feedback not only clarified my next steps but also boosted my confidence in refining my work with clear purpose and direction