Graduate school application
Plinth Portfolio Template
Serif headings on cool concrete grey. Calm and academic. Built for: graduate school application portfolios. Every page sits on a 12 x 12 grid, so text, captions and data are in the same place on every page and a reviewer can find them without searching.
- Pages14
- FormatsA3 landscape, A4 portrait
- Opens inInDesign, Affinity Publisher
- FontsIBM Plex Sans, IBM Plex Serif
Every page
Both formats have the same pages in the same order, so you can decide late or make both.
Landscape A3 420 x 297 mm
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01 Cover
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02 Statement
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03 Project opener - P1
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04 Concept & diagrams - P1
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05 Drawings - P1
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06 Visuals - P1
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07 Project opener - P2
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08 Process - P2
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09 Models - P2
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10 Project opener - P3
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11 Site analysis - P3
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12 Sketches - P3
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13 Curriculum vitae
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14 Back cover
Portrait A4 210 x 297 mm
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01 Cover
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02 Statement
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03 Project opener - P1
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04 Concept & diagrams - P1
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05 Drawings - P1
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06 Visuals - P1
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07 Project opener - P2
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08 Process - P2
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09 Models - P2
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10 Project opener - P3
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11 Site analysis - P3
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12 Sketches - P3
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13 Curriculum vitae
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14 Back cover
Page by page
What goes on each page, and what a reviewer looks for there.
| Page | What goes here | What a reviewer looks for |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Cover | Centred image and name | Graphic identity; calm, symmetrical first page |
| 02 Statement | A short design statement, portrait and contents | Concept and narrative across the whole portfolio |
| 03 Project opener - P1 | Large image with a data column beside it | Team-role clarity and a readable data block |
| 04 Concept & diagrams - P1 | The idea in one sentence and four diagrams | Concept and narrative; diagramming and analysis |
| 05 Drawings - P1 | Plan and section at the same scale | Technical drawing quality: scale, line weights, north arrow |
| 06 Visuals - P1 | Main render or model photo with two supporting images | Rendering and visualisation |
| 07 Project opener - P2 | Large image with a data column beside it | Team-role clarity and a readable data block |
| 08 Process - P2 | Six iterations with one-line captions | Process and iteration: decisions, not volume |
| 09 Models - P2 | Four model photos in a grid | Process and iteration through physical models |
| 10 Project opener - P3 | Large image with a data column beside it | Team-role clarity and a readable data block |
| 11 Site analysis - P3 | Site plan with three analysis diagrams | Diagramming and analysis; context |
| 12 Sketches - P3 | Sketchbook pages as a 3 x 3 grid | Process and iteration; how you think by hand |
| 13 Curriculum vitae | CV with portrait and contact in a side column | Submission fit; easy to scan |
| 14 Back cover | Centred name, contact and QR code | Easy to reach you |
Type and colour
Paragraph styles
- Display
- IBM Plex Serif RegularYour name on the cover
- Number
- IBM Plex Serif LightProject numbers on opener pages
- Title
- IBM Plex Serif RegularProject and section titles
- Lead
- IBM Plex Serif LightThe one-sentence idea of a project, statements
- Heading
- IBM Plex Serif MediumSub-headings, contents entries
- Body
- IBM Plex Sans RegularRunning text
- Label
- IBM Plex Sans Medium capsSmall section labels
- Data
- IBM Plex Sans RegularProject data, CV entries
- Caption
- IBM Plex Sans RegularImage captions
- Folio
- IBM Plex Sans Regular capsRunning header and page numbers
Colours
- Paper
#EDEDEB - Ink
#1C1C1C - Grey
#75756F - Accent
#2F5D8A
Recolour the whole document by editing one swatch. All fonts are free under the SIL Open Font License and come in the download.
What is in the download
- Editable InDesign IDML for both formats: master pages, paragraph styles, swatches and labelled frames. Opens in InDesign CC 2019 or later and in Affinity Publisher.
- Preview PDF and page images of both formats, to see the layout before you open anything.
- The fonts, free under the SIL Open Font License.
- A user guide: the grid, styles, filling it in and exporting the PDF.
