Building Your Interior Design Portfolio
Building your portfolio early will give you a big advantage when applying to interior design programs like Drexel University, Moore College of Art & Design, and Thomas Jefferson University.
Most interior design programs want 8-15 strong pieces that show creativity, thinking process, and potential -- not just finished pretty artwork.
Your portfolio should showcase creativity, spatial awareness, and problem solving.
Interior Design Portfolio Checklist
1. Observational Drawings (2-4 pieces)
Show you can see and draw space accurately.
- A room interior drawn from life
- A still life (furniture, objects, plants)
- A hallway, stairwell, or corner of a room
- Perspective drawing (1-point or 2-point)
Use pencil, ink, charcoal, or mixed media. Show shading and depth. Draw from real life when possible.
2. Space or Room Design Projects (2-4 pieces)
Show interior design thinking.
- A redesigned bedroom, cafe, office, or studio space
- A mood board (colors, materials, textures)
- A simple floor plan (hand-drawn is fine!)
- Before-and-after concept sketches
Include labels (materials, lighting ideas, furniture choices) and a short description of your concept.
3. Color & Material Studies (1-3 pieces)
Interior design is about materials and atmosphere.
- Color theory exercises
- Texture studies (fabric, wood, metal, stone)
- Lighting effect drawings
- Collages or digital material boards
Show that you understand harmony, contrast, and mood.
4. Creative Process Work (Very Important)
Colleges love seeing your thinking.
- Sketchbook pages
- Brainstorming sheets
- Idea development stages
- Rough drafts leading to final design
Don't only show perfect finished work. Show the evolution of ideas.
5. 3D or Model Work (Optional)
Not required but impressive.
- Cardboard room models or furniture models
- SketchUp or digital 3D work
- Photos of physical models (multiple angles, good lighting)
6. Optional Digital Work
Helpful but not required. Schools still value hand drawing.
- SketchUp models, AutoCAD drafting
- Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop layouts
- Digital renderings
What NOT to Include
- Only fan art or anime (unless it shows strong technical skill)
- Copied Pinterest designs
- All digital work with no hand drawing
- Too many similar pieces
- Messy photos of artwork
How to Organize
- Start strong with one of your best pieces first
- Show variety: drawing, design, color, process
- End strong with another impressive project
- Keep it clean with a white or simple background layout
- Label each piece with title, medium, size, and short description
What Colleges Really Look For
They do NOT expect professional-level interior design work from high school students.
If You're Just Starting
Here are 3 portfolio projects you can start this month:
- 1Redesign your bedroom with a hand-drawn floor plan
- 2Create a mood board for a cafe concept
- 3Draw a corner of your home in perspective