Top Portfolio books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Portfolio books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Portfolio

Understanding the concepts of Portfolio starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Winning Portfolios for Graphic Designers: Create Your Own Graphic Design Portfolio Online and in Print

Preparing a smart, attention-catching portfolio is every art student's first important step before entering the job market. This comprehensive guidebook presents hundreds of demonstrative color illustrations, lists of do's and don'ts, and a wealth of sound advice on how to create a portfolio that will get beginners their all-important first job at an agency or studio. Each page of this book il…

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Creating a Successful Graphic Design Portfolio

Being able to present yourself and your work in the best way possible is a necessary skill that all new designers must master before embarking on a career--be it freelance or working within a design firm. The author provides practical advice combined with insights and personal stories from leading design professionals. The book focuses on the practical aspects of creating a great portfolio suc…

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No Plastic Sleeves: Portfolio and Self-Promotion Guide for Photographers and Designers 2nd Edition

A polished and professional portfolio―including both print pieces and an online presence―is more important than ever for photographers and other creative professionals to make a great first impression and secure employment. This new edition of No Plastic Sleeves has been updated to address all facets of portfolio production, with a special focus on self-promotion and new information about blog…

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Design: Portfolio: Self-promotion at its best

Featuring a curated collection of approximately 300 exquisite designs, along with essays from designers in the field about the essence and importance of a good portfolio design, Design: Portfolio contains mini-workshops that dissect several featured projects and highlight the effectiveness of exceptional design treatments from around the world. Designers will discover the underlying details th…

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Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff they don't teach you in design school, but should

It takes more than just a design school education and a killer portfolio to succeed in a creative career. Burn Your Portfolio teaches the real-world practices, professional do's and don'ts, and unwritten rules of business that most designers, photographers, web designers, copy writers, programmers, and architects only learn after putting in years of experience on the job.

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The Graphic Designer’s Guide to Portfolio Design

This book is developed to provide students with everything they need to know to make the transition from design student to design professional. It provides step-by-step instruction for creating professional portfolios, both traditional and digital. Interviewing tips, sample resumes and cover letters, and action verb lists help students prepare for their job search. The second edition includes …

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Additional Portfolio Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Portfolio, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Stand Out: Design a Personal Brand, Build a Killer Portfolio, Find a Great Design Job

The design marketplace has never been more competitive, or demanded more from emerging talent. To succeed, you must navigate the transition from learner to professional with purpose and precision. In Stand Out: Building Your Design Portfolio, Denise Anderson offers a hands-on, three-step, full-color action plan for establishing your unique brand, crafting a killer portfolio, tailoring and deli…

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That Portfolio Book

The Portfolio Book introduces a method to help early childhood teachers improve the responsiveness of their teaching. The ten-step process lets teachers begin to work with the portfolio assessment process at a comfortable pace. This book breaks the portfolio assessment process into small, easy-to-manage steps that can be integrated painlessly into everyday teaching.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Building Design Portfolios: Innovative Concepts for Presenting Your Work

Presenting one's portfolio is where every designer begins his or her career. Therefore, crafting a portfolio, whether online or for presentation in person, is an essential skill for survival. Because a portfolio can make or break a career, it is vital that designers go out armed with all the right moves and materials.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

Augment your Portfolio books

There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor. What used to be impossible to find is now just two clicks away! All mentors are vetted & hands-on!

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Hello everyone, I've been a design practitioner and experience strategist for 25 years and have led and mentored designers at many agencies and firms including Fjord, Ogilvy and AKQA. I've hired and developed the careers of more than 100 people and coached and mentored over 50 to senior design and …

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As a seasoned design leader with over 20 years of experience, I understand the challenges and obstacles that designers face in their careers. That's why I'm passionate about empowering and educating the next generation of designers. With a background in design education and a wide range of professional experience, I …

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Hello, I'm Chris Ellinas and I love solving business problems, through design thinking! 😊 I believe in good people. Good work is secondary. I had the opportunity to work with engaging clients and brands around the world. My main client right now are Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime, designing logos …

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I’m Sina, a Senior UX Designer at Oracle with a deep passion for creating designs that make a real impact. My expertise lies in transforming complex user challenges into smooth, intuitive experiences that truly resonate with people. I’m committed to mentoring designers who are eager to elevate their skills and …

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As a passionate mentor, I've worked with aspiring UX designers through tailored learning plans and real-world projects, fostering a process driven approach including research, data analytics, collaboration, design thinking, and incorporating best practice when required. I have employed many UX designers over the years, and always enjoy working with designers …

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Salam 👋🏽 I'm Shimaa, a principal product designer at Square. I have 16 years of experience in digital product design with a focus on design systems. I'm here to help you advance in your career in design.

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  • "Naz is an amazing person and a wonderful mentor. She is supportive and knowledgeable with extensive practical experience. Having been a manager at Netflix, she also knows a ton about working with teams at scale. Highly recommended."

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