I asked the same thing when I built my first portfolio. I didn’t have many paid jobs yet. I had class work, and a few favors for friends. You know what? I used the class work. It got me my first real clients.
Here’s the thing: yes, include class projects. But shape them a bit. Be clear they’re student briefs. Show how you think, not just how it looks. If you’re wondering how to present the behind-the-scenes steps clearly, this breakdown of showing process in your portfolio spells it out.
Let me explain with real examples from my own book. If you’d like to see how seasoned designers turn student briefs into portfolio gold, browse the inspiration section over at Moon & Back Graphics and notice how they spotlight process as much as outcomes. While you’re gathering inspiration, skim these curated graphic design portfolio examples to see how other newcomers and pros alike frame their best work.
Quick answer, no fluff
- Yes, add class projects.
- Label them as “student work” or “class brief.”
- Show process, not only the final shot.
- Keep it clean and short. Recruiters skim. A lot.
Example 1: Hearth Bakery — Brand Kit From A Class Sprint
This was a three-week brand project in my junior year. We had a fake client: a cozy sourdough bakery called Hearth. I treated it like a real gig.
What I made:
- Logo set (primary, stamp mark)
- Color palette with warm, toasted browns
- Type stack (a friendly serif with a neat sans)
- Paper bag and coffee cup mockups in Photoshop
- A one-page menu in InDesign
- Three Instagram posts for launch
How I made it feel real:
- I printed the menu at a local copy shop. Then I shot it on my kitchen table with flour dust and a wooden spoon. Simple, but it sold the vibe.
- I wrote the brief on the first slide: “Goal: warm, handmade feel; low-cost print; easy to read.”
- I showed two logo tries I rejected, and wrote why: one felt too stiff; one had poor letter spacing.
What happened:
- A small cafe saw it on my site. They asked for a takeout menu. Paid gig. Not huge, but hey, rent. The cafe said my mockup photos made it feel “real.”
What I learned:
- Visual hierarchy matters. Big prices, clear dish names, less fluff. People scan, not stare.
Crafting a consistent hierarchy is really just an exercise in unity—the same principle I break down in my hands-on guide to unity in graphic design.
Example 2: City Bus App — UX Project In Figma
This was a class team brief, but I built my own case study page, so I could speak to every part.
What I made:
- Two user flows: check route, buy ticket
- Wireframes, then a simple UI kit
- High-contrast screens for better access
- Tap targets that fit big thumbs (mine included)
Tiny testing, real talk:
- I ran five quick tests with classmates and my aunt. Super scrappy. I watched them find a route. Three got stuck on the map. So I moved the “Plan Trip” button up top. Big and blue.
What a recruiter said:
- “You showed the problem, then the fix. That’s what I need.” That note got me a second interview at an agency. Not fancy. Just clear.
What I learned:
- Don’t hide the call to action. And label icons with words. Words help.
Example 3: Jazz Poster Series — Print With Grit
Poster class. I made a set for a fake Friday jazz night. I used Procreate for texture and Photoshop for color layers.
What I made:
- Three posters with bold type and a brass color pop
- A simple grid so the set matched
- A mockup in a street frame (yes, the classic)
A small ripple:
- My school hung them in the hall. A local coffee shop owner saw a photo and asked me to make a flyer for open mic night. That job paid for a month of Adobe. Worth it.
What I learned:
- Consistent spacing and kerning make a set feel pro. Texture adds mood, but watch the ink load. I kept darks in check, so it wouldn’t print muddy.
How I Make Class Work Feel Like Client Work
- Start with a one-line brief. “Goal: faster checkout; target: busy riders; time: 2 weeks; tools: Figma, Illustrator.”
- Show the problem, not just the pretty. One screen with notes is plenty.
- Add one real-world limit. Print cost, color limit, or short timeline.
- Include 2–3 process shots. Wireframe, rejected logo, color test. Not ten. Two or three.
- Use real photos when you can. A menu on a table. A poster on a wall. Even an iPhone pic is fine if it’s clean.
- Write captions like you talk. “Users missed the button. I moved it up. Now it’s obvious.”
What To Keep vs. What To Skip
Keep:
- Projects with a clear goal and a clean finish
- Work that shows type, layout, and color choices
- A story you can tell fast: problem, role, result
Skip (or fix first):
- Group work you can’t explain on your own
- Trend-only pieces that don’t solve a need
- Messy files or fuzzy mockups
- Projects with weak type. Fix the spacing. Then share.
Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t)
- I crammed too many shots on one page. People bounced.
- I didn’t label “student work.” Not cool. Now I do.
- I showed only desktop. No mobile. Now I add at least one phone view.
- I forgot to name my layers. Later, a lead asked for my file. Oof.
If you’re wrestling with how much breathing room to leave, check out my candid review of using dead space on real projects—it covers what landed and what flopped when I pushed white space to the edge.
What I’d Do Today (And What I Do Now)
- Pick 4 to 6 strong projects total. That’s it.
- For each project, show:
- 1 hero image
- 2–3 process pieces
- 3 short notes: goal, my role, result
- 1 lesson learned
I post clean shots on Dribbble and a full page on my site. Behance works too. Keep the text short. Keep the file sizes light. Folks scroll fast in 2025. Like, really fast.
A Tiny Template You Can Steal
- Title: Hearth Bakery — Student Brand Sprint (3 weeks)
- Role: Concept, logo, layout, mockups
- Goal: Warm, handmade feel on a small print budget
- Process: Two logo drafts; color test; menu layout; mockup shoot
- Result: Cafe inquiry; paid menu job
- Lesson: Simple type stack beats fancy tricks
Copy that shape for each project. Swap the details. Keep it human.
So… Should You Include Class Projects?
Putting student work out in public can feel almost as exposing as someone boldly declaring, “I’m showing everything, take it or leave it.” If you want an eye-opening (and definitely NSFW) reminder of what full-tilt vulnerability looks like, check out Je montre mon minou. Seeing that level of unapologetic self-display drives home how confidence and candor—whatever the context—grab attention and silence doubts, which makes hitting “publish” on your student case study seem a whole lot less scary.
Another place where radical candor is the norm can be found in social circles that revolve around alternative nightlife; for example, the inclusive Tempe swingers community offers first-timers a clear rundown of local venues, etiquette tips, and consent-focused guidelines so you can step into that world with confidence rather than guesswork.
Yes. Just be honest. Label them. Show your thinking. Keep the flow tight. And add one small, real detail that shows you care—like testing with a friend, or a photo of a printed piece on a table. That small thing? It makes you look like someone who ships work, not just someone who makes pictures.
If your class work is all you have, that’s still enough. I started there. Many of us did. And it worked. For an expanded walkthrough with extra visuals, hop over to my full write-up on whether class projects belong in a graphic design portfolio.