College of Design Portfolio Event

Random shapes on light yellow background "College of Design Portfolio Event"

In-Person: Wednesday, February 26, 2025: 5:30-8:30pm at the Great Hall, Coffman Memorial Union
Virtual: Friday, March 21, 2025: 9-11am through Zoom

This event is for all Apparel Design, Architecture, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Product Design, and User Experience (UX) Design students to begin making connections with alumni and professionals in your field.

Bring your portfolio or work samples, resume, and process iterations (optional) to share with professionals and get feedback.

Sign Up for In-Person Reviews, February 26Sign Up for Virtual Reviews, March 21

How to Prepare

Prepare your online portfolio/website. You may also want to prepare a PDF presentation just for the career fair to make presenting your materials easy compared to a website.

Practice presenting your design work. At first, students are often too slow and indirect when describing their projects and solutions. You should be able to communicate the essence of the design problem and your approach in 2-3 sentences. It is often easier to explain your design process if you have visuals; consider creating a few process slides or a process notebook for key projects in your portfolio.

Research employers that interest you by visiting their websites, social media, and do an online search to learn of any recent news, initiatives or products they have launched.

Collect contact info. At the end of the interaction, get the representative’s name and contact information so you can send a detailed thank you note and possibly follow-up on a potential job, internship or project you may have discussed.

Dress for success. We recommend you to dress in a way that represents your authentic self. The standard at most career events is business casual, but consider if your attire and grooming aligns with your personal brand. We encourage you to choose clothing that makes you feel comfortable, confident and prepared for the weather elements. For ideas on attire, check out our Dress the Part Pinterest page.

Make an appointment. Meet with Brian Green, your senior career consultant for CDes to go over preparing for a career event and ask any questions you may have.

What to Expect

Registered Firms for In-Person Reviews

Sign up for an in-person review. The sign-up deadline is February 21. Check out the 50+ firms in attendance.

Firm NamePortfolios ReviewedStudent Level
Abigail Grewenow (Freelance)Graphic DesignUG
ADCIArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
AlliianceArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
BKV GroupArchitecture, Interior Design, Landscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
Bolton & MenkLandscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
Capsule DesignGraphic DesignUG, Grad
Carlisle Fluid TechnologiesApparel Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Product Design, User Experience (UX) DesignUG, Grad
Collage ArchitectsArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
Cue, Inc.Graphic DesignUG
Damon FarberLandscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
Dana Kingery DesignGraphic DesignUG, Grad
DJR ArchitectureArchitectureUG, Grad
DLR GroupArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
EcolabUser Experience (UX) DesignUG, Grad
Enviro-Tech Construction ServicesApparel Design, Architecture, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Product Design 
Greater ThoughtGraphic Design, Product Design, User Experience (UX) DesignUG
HCM ArchitectsArchitectureUG, Grad
HDR IncArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
HGAArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
HKGiLandscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
ISG IncLandscape ArchitectureUG
JLG ArchitectsArchitectureUG, Grad
Kick Design AgencyGraphic Design, Product DesignUG
Kimley-HornLandscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
Landform Professional ServicesLandscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
LHBArchitecture, Interior Design, Landscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
LSE ArchitectsArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
Magenta CreativeGraphic DesignUG, Grad
Medtronic - DiabetesProduct DesignUG, Grad
Miller DunwiddieArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
Minneapolis Park and Recreation BoardLandscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
Mohagen Hansen Architecture InteriorsArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
MSR DesignArchitectureUG, Grad
O2 DesignLandscape ArchitectureGrad
OPN ArchitectsArchitectureGrad
Optimize Digital MarketingGraphic DesignUG, Grad
Partner's and Hunt Creative ServicesGraphic DesignUG, Grad
RSP ArchitectsArchitectureUG, Grad
Shah Studios (Independent)Graphic DesignUG
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
Soladay Olson | Connections for CreativesGraphic Design, User Experience (UX) DesignUG
StantecArchitecture, Landscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
TargetArchitecture, Graphic Design, Interior DesignUG, Grad
Thomson ReutersGraphic Design, User Experience (UX) DesignUG
Triple Play Studio Architecture + DesignArchitectureGrad
TubiGraphic Design, Product Design, User Experience (UX) Design 
TypothesisGraphic DesignUG, Grad
UMN Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and HealingGraphic DesignUG
U.S. BankGraphic Design, Product Design, User Experience (UX) DesignUG, Grad
VeranexProduct DesignUG, Grad
Weber Architects & PlannersArchitectureUG, Grad
WendelArchitectureUG, Grad
Zeus JonesGraphic DesignUG

Registered Firms for Virtual Reviews

Sign up for a virtual review with one or more of our 15 firms. The sign up deadline is March 9.

Firm NamePortfolios ReviewedStudent Level
AlliianceArchitectureUG, Grad
Bolton & MenkLandscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
Capsule DesignGraphic DesignUG, Grad
Continua InteriorsInterior DesignUG
EUAArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
GKGArchitectureUG
HGAArchitectureUG, Grad
Kick Design AgencyGraphic Design, Product DesignUG
LSE ArchitectsArchitecture, Interior DesignUG, Grad
MillerKnollInterior DesignUG, Grad
Perkins&WillArchitectureUG, Grad
SMAKK StudiosGraphic DesignUG, Grad
SITELAB urban studioArchitecture, Landscape ArchitectureUG, Grad
TypothesisGraphic DesignUG, Grad
United AirlinesGraphic Design, User Experience (UX) DesignUG, Grad