Weeks 1–3 · Type
Choosing and pairing typefaces, and setting text properly.
The programs, in detail
Four programs of 8 to 16 weeks, each built on work you make and submit every week.
Program 01 · Where amateur shows
Type & layout
Nearly every piece of amateur design has the same tells: too many typefaces, inconsistent spacing, and no clear hierarchy. We drill these with small, fast exercises — a poster, a page, a menu — critiqued weekly until good spacing becomes a habit rather than a decision.
Weeks 4–6 · Space
Margins, rhythm and why your work feels cramped.
Weeks 7–9 · Grids
Structure that holds a layout together.
Weeks 10–12 · Hierarchy
Making the eye go where you intend, every time.
Weeks 1–3 · The brief
Research and asking the questions a client hasn't considered.
Weeks 4–6 · Concepts
Quantity first: sketches before software.
Weeks 7–9 · The system
Type, color and usage rules around the mark.
Weeks 10–12 · Presenting
Explaining choices so decisions aren't made on taste alone.
Program 02 · More than a mark
Branding & logos
Good logo work is mostly iteration and reasoning. We work through real briefs: research, twenty sketches before any software, refinement, and then the system — type, color, spacing rules — that turns a mark into a brand. You'll also practice presenting the work, which decides whether it gets approved.
Program 03 · Figma, properly
Interface design
Product design rewards consistency over novelty. We work in Figma with components and auto layout, design real flows rather than pretty single screens, and cover handoff — states, edge cases and specs — because that's what separates a portfolio piece from something shippable.
Weeks 1–4 · Figma
Components, auto layout and working without fighting the tool.
Weeks 5–8 · Flows
Designing a complete task, not a single screen.
Weeks 9–12 · Systems
Reusable patterns, type scales and color tokens.
Weeks 13–16 · Handoff
States, empty cases and specs a developer can use.
Weeks 1–3 · Selection
Three projects worth showing, and what to cut.
Weeks 4–6 · Case studies
Writing up decisions, not just displaying results.
Weeks 7–8 · The site
A portfolio that loads fast and reads in two minutes.
Weeks 9–10 · Outreach
Finding first clients and quoting without panic.
Program 04 · Get replies
Portfolio & clients
Most portfolios show final images and hide the reasoning, which is precisely what hiring managers and clients are looking for. We rebuild three projects as case studies — problem, options considered, decisions, outcome — then work on outreach and pricing. No promises about jobs; this is preparation, not placement.
Want honest notes on your work?
Twenty-five minutes on your portfolio, free, with the one change that would lift everything.