This course is a continuation of the «Aesthetic Intelligence: Fundamentals» program. While the first course taught how to see and interpret the visual, participants here will master the skills necessary to structure and present projects in a format accessible to any audience—from an admissions committee to a hiring manager.

«Portfolio Lab» is a practice-oriented course focused on creating a design portfolio. Project work is at the core of the program: participants move through the entire lifecycle, from initial concept and sketching to digital realization, Photoshop processing, and final presentation in Figma. The aesthetic intelligence skills acquired—such as analyzing references, formulating ideas, and justifying design decisions—are transformed into working tools rather than remaining purely theoretical. The program builds upon the foundation established in «Aesthetic Intelligence» but is also suitable for those who have completed other introductory design courses or possess basic visual literacy.

Throughout the course, students learn the entire design process, from problem definition to final solution. They apply the fundamentals of composition and typography, edit imagery, build a structured portfolio in Figma, and develop the confidence to present their work effectively.

— For beginner designers and creative practitioners who want to learn how to properly document and present their projects; — For participants of «Aesthetic Intelligence» who want to translate their skills in vision and analysis into practical application.

Course Prerequisites.Familiarity with any graphic editor at a basic level is required (Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, Procreate).Preferred:
— Completion of the course «Fundamentals of Aesthetic Intelligence» or a similar introductory design program (visual literacy, basic understanding of composition and color);
— Having one or two projects of any level to work on during the course.

— Analyze professional designers' portfolios to determine the most effective presentation strategies for a project; — Define the design brief and core project concept by identifying the target audience, objective, and intended emotional impact; — Perform color correction in Photoshop, confidently utilizing layers and masks for image editing. — Assemble the portfolio presentation in Figma, establishing structure, selecting appropriate font pairings, and defining the hierarchy of text and imagery. — Craft textual descriptions that articulate the project’s objectives, concept, chosen visual techniques, and final outcome. — Present work and respond to questions with clear argumentation.

— Develop the visual foundation of the project: creating mood boards and reference collections based on the assigned theme.

— Develop a series of sketches and preliminary compositional solutions to find the optimal concept.

— Refine the work to final quality in Photoshop: processing images and bringing layouts to a presentation-ready state.

— Develop projects in Figma across various stages: from rough drafts to complete portfolio pages.

— Accompany each project with a concise text description that elaborates on the concept and key decisions.

Block Topics:
Week 1. What is a portfolio and why do you need one.Topics:
Designers, visual literacy, and references
How the project development process works in design.Workshop: Discussion of final project themes; review of current work (if applicable)Homework: Formulate 2–3 project ideas (theme, audience, core concept/emotion).
Gather initial references (mood board).

Week 2. Poster: From Idea to SketchesTopic:
How an idea is born: from prompt to concept.
Fundamentals of composition and form in poster design.Workshop: Sketch Session—quick drafts, compositional variations. Discussion of last week’s homework.Homework: 3–5 poster concepts.
Select one concept for further development.

Week 3. Poster: Digital Realization and Processing in Photoshop

Topic: Basic principles of working in Photoshop for designers: layers, masks, color/contrast correction, and resolution management.

Workshop: Variable Typography Styling

Homework: Finalize the poster and process it in Photoshop. Prepare 3–5 frames/variants for presentation.

Week 4. Presentation Fundamentals + Figma BasicsTopics:
Portfolio project types: graphic design, packaging, branding, interface.
Figma basics for your portfolio: frames, grids, text, export.Workshop: developing project structure in Figma: problem → research → concept → solution.Homework: Draft presentation in Figma.

Week 5. Portfolio Packaging: Structure, Typography, Storytelling of ProjectsTopics:
Fundamentals of Typography in Presentations: Font pairings, hierarchy, legibility.
How to write about your projects: Text structure (problem, idea, solution, result).
Common presentation errorsWorkshop: Reviewing portfolio drafts in Figma.Homework: Bring the portfolio to near-final status. Draft the project descriptions (5–7 sentences each).

Week 6. Final: Project DefenseWorkshop: Mini Project Defense—each student presents 1–2 works.