Why does creating a portfolio feel overwhelming?
In a world overflowing with architectural talent, the path to success often comes down to a single, defining document: your portfolio.
Whether you're competing for a prestigious job, applying to the university of your dreams, or simply trying to present yourself to the world, an outstanding portfolio is crucial.
But creating one? That's a challenge filled with confusion, indecision, and doubt.
Whether you're competing for a prestigious job, applying to the university of your dreams, or simply trying to present yourself to the world, an outstanding portfolio is crucial.
But creating one? That's a challenge filled with confusion, indecision, and doubt.
Building an architectural portfolio is rarely about a lack of projects.
Most of the time, the problem is knowing what to show, how to show it, and how to turn work into a clear story.
The problems that hold most portfolios back.
Your work lacks a clear narrative.
Projects exist, but they don’t connect. Pages feel isolated, decisions are unclear, and the portfolio doesn’t explain who you are or what matters in your work.
A portfolio is not just a collection of image...
It’s a sequence of ideas.
Working in isolation.
Building a portfolio alone makes it hard to judge quality. Without outside eyes, it’s difficult to know what to cut, what to push, and what is actually working.
Trying to do too much at once.
With an overwhelming amount of tools, techniques, and trends in architectural representation, finding the right path can feel like navigating a maze.
No meaningful feedback.
Generic tutorials and resources might teach you how to use a tool, but they often miss the mark in teaching you how to create something that resonates with your unique style and audience.
So what does one focused week actually give you?
Clear structure to guide your decisions
Instead of jumping between references and tutorials, you work with a clear framework for organizing projects, pages, and priorities.
Direct feedback on real work
Live clinics focus on your portfolio or projects, with specific comments on layout, sequence, and visual choices.
A shared moment of focus
Everyone works within the same week, which creates momentum, accountability, and better discussions during the clinics.
Tools you can reuse later
The recordings, frameworks, and feedback stay with you while you continue building your portfolio after the week ends.
The Portfolio Workshop is structured around three core parts that work together.
The Masterclass
Focused lessons on the core principles behind strong portfolios. We cover structure, visual cohesion, narrative, and decision-making to give you a clear framework you can rely on while building your portfolio.
Portfolio Clinic
Think of it as a health check for your portfolio. Live sessions dedicated to real portfolio reviews. We analyze projects, sketch over layouts, discuss alternatives, and answer questions in real time, helping you see your work more clearly.
Portfolio in Action
Recorded sessions where we share our own portfolio process. You see how decisions are made, how content is selected, and how projects are shaped into a clear sequence of pages.
One focused week. A clear structure to work with.
During the workshop, you’ll combine recorded masterclasses with live portfolio clinics. The week is focused and demanding, designed to help you build clarity around your portfolio and make better decisions as you continue working afterward.
Getting prepared before things begin.
Before the live clinics start, you’ll receive access to the workshop space and the first masterclass. This phase is about getting organized, understanding how the week will run, and preparing your portfolio or projects so you can make the most of the live sessions.
What to expect:
Access to the workshop group space and all practical information
The first masterclass to set the foundation
Time to review your work, organize files, and define initial questions
Focused work and live discussion.
During the week, you’ll combine recorded lessons with four live portfolio clinics. This is the most intense part of the workshop, where feedback, discussion, and analysis happen in real time.
What you’ll experience:
Four live portfolio clinics
Direct feedback and open discussion
Recorded lessons to support the clinic topics
Continuing with clearer direction.
The workshop doesn’t end when the week is over. You keep access to all recordings, feedback, and reference material, so you can revisit lessons and continue building your portfolio with a clearer foundation.
What you’ll learn:
Access to all recordings for one year
Time to apply what you learned at your own pace
A stronger framework to guide future decisions
The Portfolio Workshop is for you if you're...
An Architect
Interior, Urban, or Landscape designer
A student
Whether you're chasing that dream job, aiming for a top university, or just eager to showcase your work in the most dazzling way possible, The Portfolio Workshop is your toolkit.
We're not just about making things look good (though we're pretty good at that too), we give you the guidance, resources, and insights to craft a portfolio as unique as your architectural vision.
We're not just about making things look good (though we're pretty good at that too), we give you the guidance, resources, and insights to craft a portfolio as unique as your architectural vision.
Meet your instructors!
Two architects with a shared focus on architectural portfolios, representation, and visual communication. Through teaching, practice, and years of reviewing real work, we’ve helped architects and students understand how to communicate ideas more clearly and intentionally.
Learn more about Steven
Steven Rubio is not just an architect but a visionary educator who established Show it Better in 2015. Guided by his passion for architectural representation, he's created an educational platform that now reaches a community of more than 600,000 architects and architecture students worldwide.
An alumnus of the Class of 2015, Steven doesn't just sit behind a desk. He's also a practicing architect and an artist who enjoys exploring the transformations in Latin American cities through image manipulation.
As the director of Show it Better, he's not only sharing his knowledge but also inspiring future architects to represent and communicate their ideas better. Join him in the Portfolio Workshop to unravel the secrets behind captivating portfolios and build a portfolio that truly stands out.
An alumnus of the Class of 2015, Steven doesn't just sit behind a desk. He's also a practicing architect and an artist who enjoys exploring the transformations in Latin American cities through image manipulation.
As the director of Show it Better, he's not only sharing his knowledge but also inspiring future architects to represent and communicate their ideas better. Join him in the Portfolio Workshop to unravel the secrets behind captivating portfolios and build a portfolio that truly stands out.
Learn more about Oliver
Meet Oliver Uszkurat, the brain and heart behind Upstairs. His journey from working as a junior architect in different firms to winning and participating in major national architecture competitions in Brazil has shaped his vision for architectural visualization.
Deciding to pursue his passion for visual communication for architects, Oliver now dedicates his time to the Upstairs community, crafting videos, courses, and packs that enhance your visualization and representation skills.
Oliver's commitment to teaching and sharing his in-depth knowledge is your gateway to refining your portfolio to perfection. With the Portfolio Workshop, you're in expert hands, ready to unleash your creative potential and stand out in the architectural world.
Deciding to pursue his passion for visual communication for architects, Oliver now dedicates his time to the Upstairs community, crafting videos, courses, and packs that enhance your visualization and representation skills.
Oliver's commitment to teaching and sharing his in-depth knowledge is your gateway to refining your portfolio to perfection. With the Portfolio Workshop, you're in expert hands, ready to unleash your creative potential and stand out in the architectural world.
Time commitment and expectations
This workshop is short, focused, and demanding by design. To get real value from it, you’ll need to set aside time during the week and come prepared to engage.
What to plan for:
Four live clinic sessions, around 90 minutes each
Time before sessions to review material and your own work
Light note-taking and reflection after each clinic
This is not a passive experience. The more prepared and present you are during the week, the more useful the feedback and discussions will be.
The Essentials to Get You Started
Bonus Content
The workshop focuses on structure, narrative, and decision-making, not software basics. To make sure tools don’t get in the way, you’ll also get access to a small set of supporting resources to help you work more efficiently during and after the week.
InDesign for Architects
A premium course from Upstairs designed to equip you with the essential skills for portfolio creation, covering everything from InDesign techniques to core design principles.
Learn more
Portfolio Starter Pack
A curated selection of four resource packs from Show It Better. Assets designed to support architectural representation and help you move faster.
Learn moreThe Schedule
The second edition of The Portfolio Workshop runs from July 28 to September 4, with live sessions, clinics, and hands-on lessons. Once you join, you'll receive the full calendar with dates and times.
This is a live program, so it’s best to set aside time to work on your portfolio each week. If you miss anything, all sessions are recorded and can be watched later at your own pace.
Week 1
Topic:
Starting With a Reality Check
Monday
Tuesday
July 29
Clinic 1
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Wednesday
July 30
Portfolio in Action 1
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Thursday
July 31
Masterclass 1
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Friday
Week 2
Topic:
Build a Strong Visual System
Monday
Tuesday
August 5
Masterclass 2
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Wednesday
Portfolio in Action 2
90 minutes
Time: TBD
August 6
Thursday
August 7
Masterclass 3
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Friday
Week 3
Topic:
Deep Focus, Time to Work!
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
August 13
Clinic 2
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Thursday
Friday
Week 4
Topic:
Deep Focus, Time to Work!
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
August 20
Clinic 3
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Thursday
Friday
Week 5
Topic:
Deep Focus, Time to Work!
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
August 27
Clinic 4
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Thursday
Friday
Week 6
Topic:
The Grand Portfolio Review
Monday
Tuesday
September 2
The Grand Review
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Wednesday
Thursday
September 4
The Grand Review
90 minutes
Time: TBD
Friday
A Portfolio That Speaks for Itself
This is the kind of work that emerge when portfolio decisions are made with clarity and intention. The spreads below are from a participant who continued developing and refining their portfolio using the principles discussed during the workshop.
Table of Contents
Aliaga Museum, pages 26 - 27
Beatriz Alonso
Spain
M.Arch Student
After feeling overwhelmed by the idea of reworking my portfolio, I decided to join this workshop to finally take action. It was the best decision I could have taken. Steven and Oliver teach you the basics to create a cohesive structure that works for you, breaking the theory into different design aspects to focus on each week. All this while keeping the process an open conversation for the group to interact, and learn from one another. Overall, the best course to join if you want your portfolio to stand out!!
Selected spreads from Beatriz’s final portfolio, developed and refined throughout the workshop.
Atrium, pages 20 - 21
Bevagna School, pages 8 - 9
Beatriz Alonso
Spain
M.Arch Student
After feeling overwhelmed by the idea of reworking my portfolio, I decided to join this workshop to finally take action. It was the best decision I could have taken. Steven and Oliver teach you the basics to create a cohesive structure that works for you, breaking the theory into different design aspects to focus on each week. All this while keeping the process an open conversation for the group to interact, and learn from one another. Overall, the best course to join if you want your portfolio to stand out!!
Selected spreads from Beatriz’s final portfolio, developed and refined throughout the workshop.
More Stories From the Workshop
Hear from others who joined the workshop and used it to push their portfolios forward. These are honest reflections from people who came in with ideas and left with something ready to share.
Leah Hoepelman
Dominican Republic
Professional
The Portfolio Workshop was such an immersive experience! Oliver and Steven had a remarkable ability to demonstrate and explain very technical and rigorous concepts related to portfolio, layout, and editorial design. They also showed how all of these could be effectively applied to showcase our craft and work.
What I truly gained from this course was the confidence to create a well-thought-out and unique portfolio that speaks directly to who I am and what I'm passionate about, rather than following the crowd and comparing myself to others. At last, they were also incredibly attentive and focused on each participant’s individual needs, which made the entire experience feel personal and deeply fulfilling.
What I truly gained from this course was the confidence to create a well-thought-out and unique portfolio that speaks directly to who I am and what I'm passionate about, rather than following the crowd and comparing myself to others. At last, they were also incredibly attentive and focused on each participant’s individual needs, which made the entire experience feel personal and deeply fulfilling.
Loaai Atef
Egypt
Professional
The workshop was a great experience! It gave me fresh insights into how to improve my portfolio and think more strategically about my presentation. I appreciated the clear guidance and felt more confident in my design direction after attending.
Jorge Perez
Guatemala
Professional
This workshop was honestly amazing! What I loved the most were the portfolio clinics. They felt super personal and helpful. Oliver and Steven really know how to guide you and push your work to the next level. Their feedback made a big difference in how I see and present my portfolio. Super grateful for the whole experience!
Sorilina Sánchez
Venezuela
Professional
This workshop took me from 0 to 10. I was struggling so much with putting together my new portfolio because my previous ones were merely academic, and I wanted this one to look very professional. The masterclasses, clinics, and "Portfolio in Action" sessions were invaluable sources of learning and inspiration. All the information was presented in a clear and organized way. I started from scratch, and now I have a portfolio that I am proud of and confident to show.
Willa Wischansky
Brazil
4th year Student
I'd like to say that I loved the workshop and learned so much! I value a lot everything I learned and I'm already planning to buy all the other courses!
Thank you guys for the amazing workshop and incredible work that you do! You two inspire me a lot and I hope someday to be as good!! Gratidão e um abraço! - Willa
Thank you guys for the amazing workshop and incredible work that you do! You two inspire me a lot and I hope someday to be as good!! Gratidão e um abraço! - Willa
Kami Huynh
United States
3rd year Student
This portfolio workshop was a great experience. The lessons were super well-organized, and it was clear that Steven and Oliver put a lot of thought into everything. Their tips were really practical, and watching how they approach their own work was one of the most valuable parts for me.
Even though I'm an interior design student, I still learned a ton from this architecture-focused course, especially about how to present work clearly and effectively.
It was also really cool to meet people from all over the world and see their different styles. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking to seriously improve their portfolio whether it is to apply to a master's program, a job, or to update your portfolio overall!
Even though I'm an interior design student, I still learned a ton from this architecture-focused course, especially about how to present work clearly and effectively.
It was also really cool to meet people from all over the world and see their different styles. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking to seriously improve their portfolio whether it is to apply to a master's program, a job, or to update your portfolio overall!
Micaela Butron
Canada
Professional
The Portfolio Workshop was exactly what I needed to elevate my portfolio. The direct feedback during the portfolio clinics was incredibly valuable, helping me understand what to improve and how to move forward with clarity. I appreciated the collaborative environment and the opportunity to learn from both Steven and Oliver, as well as the other students. My portfolio has improved tremendously since starting the workshop. This kind of support is rare in the architecture and urban design field, and I’m grateful for the experience. I would absolutely continue if the opportunity arises.
The workshop builds on years of portfolio reviews
For years, we’ve reviewed architectural portfolios publicly on YouTube, looking at real projects and real challenges from students and professionals around the world. Those sessions shaped how we think about structure, clarity, and feedback.
It's a complete journey born from these foundational reviews but expanding so much further into the depths of portfolio creation and refinement.