Next Cohort: Sep 22, 2026
Career & Portfolio
4 Modules
All Levels
Portfolio That Sells
Build a portfolio that tells a compelling story, present your work with confidence, and prepare for senior roles, freelance clients, or studio placement. Taught by Mara Ellison.
$250
Course overview
Most portfolios show work. Few tell a story. Portfolio That Sells is built for designers who are technically strong but struggle to package that strength into something a hiring manager, client, or studio lead immediately understands. You'll learn how to select and sequence projects, write case studies that show your thinking (not just your output), and present your work live with the confidence to defend every decision in the room.
Skills you’ll learn
Selecting & sequencing portfolio projects
Choose projects that best represent your skills and arrange them to tell a coherent story.
Writing case studies that show process
Craft detailed narratives that illustrate your design thinking, methodology, and outcomes.
Presenting work with confidence
Communicate your projects effectively, showcasing your role and impact in a compelling manner.
Framing weaker projects strategically
Highlight lessons learned and contextualize challenges within the larger portfolio narrative.
Tailoring a portfolio to a specific role or client
Customize your work samples to align with the values and needs of the target audience.
Handling questions & critique live
Develop skills to engage in constructive discussions about your work during presentations.
Topics
Portfolio Strategy
Case Studies
Presentation Career
Freelance & Studio Prep
User Experience Research
Who this course is for
Designers Job-Hunting
Turn a folder of projects into a portfolio that gets you past the first screen.
Freelancers Pitching Clients
Present your work in a way that builds trust before the first call even starts.
Career Changers
Frame transferable work convincingly for a design role you haven't held yet.
Designers Prepping for Senior Roles
Show the thinking behind the work, not just the polish — the thing senior reviews actually look for.
Course Module
11 lessons
Certificate of completion
Earn a certificate of course completion
Included with every plan
Meet Your Tutors
Mara Ellison
Design director for fifteen years
Works across products and brands at every stage, from early concept to scale. Known for seeing the system behind any single decision — how it plays out across brand, product, and business.
Course Information
Format
Cohort-Based
Next Cohort
Sep 22, 2026
Seats
25
Lessons
11 lessons
Level
All Levels
Modules
4
Price
$250
Student Stories
The greatest benefit of completing a course is gaining the confidence to lead, create, and shape your career according to your own vision.
“The biggest shift wasn’t in my portfolio—it was in how I think. I learned to present ideas with confidence, lead conversations with clients, and make creative decisions that have real impact.”
Emily Carter, Senior Brand Designer at Studio North
Join the Cohort
Cohort
Portfolio That Sells
A cohort-based course with live weekly reviews. No subscription, no tiers — one price, everything included.
Full access to all modules + lessons
Weekly reviews with your curators — live feedback
Downloadable templates & frameworks
Direct access to your curators throughout the cohort
Certificate of completion
Lifetime access to course materials
$250
one-time
Spots are limited to keep reviews personal.
Enroll in the cohort
One payment. No recurring charges — ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you enroll.
Your Next Creative Chapter Starts Here.
Whether you’re building your first portfolio or leading international teams, the right guidance changes how you think—and what you’re capable of creating.
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