Before selecting work, it is important to consider the context of the review.

A portfolio may be intended for different purposes, such as an exhibition opportunity, a funding application, an academic programme or a peer discussion. Understanding the context can help shape decisions about what to include and how the work is presented.

When preparing material, it can be valuable to include documentation or online links for work that cannot be physically shown.

Bringing work in progress alongside more resolved pieces often creates opportunities for richer discussion, while process material such as sketches, notes and research can provide insight into how ideas are evolving.

There is no need to arrive with a fixed explanation of the work. Discussion itself can help shape understanding, and allowing ideas to develop through conversation is often an important part of the review process.

What feels unclear during a review may become more meaningful over time. Allowing space for insight and meaning to unfold can be just as valuable as seeking immediate answers.

Preparing for the Review

One of the first considerations is deciding what to bring. Thinking about the context of the review and what you hope to gain from it can help guide those decisions.

Consider the Context

Questions worth reflecting on include:

  • What is the portfolio for, and who is it intended for?
  • Is the work being presented as a resolved body of work or as work in progress?

Having a clear sense of context can influence how work is selected, discussed and understood.

Consider What You Hope to Gain

It can be useful to think about what you would like to explore through the review. This does not need to be a fixed objective, but having some areas of focus can help guide the conversation.

These might include:

  • Developing ideas, materials or approaches to presentation.
  • Working through a specific problem, uncertainty or decision.
  • Understanding how the work is being read or interpreted.
  • Finding language to articulate what the work is expressing.
  • Reflecting on what feels resolved and what remains open.
  • Building a more coherent body of work around a particular theme or concern.

What to Bring

A portfolio review might include:

  • A selection of recent work, whether finished or still in development.
  • Documentation of work that cannot be physically presented, such as PDFs, website links or digital files.
  • Work that feels successful alongside work that feels uncertain.
  • Process material, including sketches, notes, fragments and research.

Unresolved work can often generate some of the most valuable conversations, opening up discussion about future directions and possibilities within a practice.

It can also be helpful to prepare a few questions in advance. These do not need to define the review, but they can provide useful starting points for discussion and reflection.