How to Create a Portfolio in PowerPoint

Quick Tips

• It’s easier to create a portfolio using a template.
• All template elements can be changed.
• Use high-quality images to showcase your work effectively.

A portfolio showcases your finest work – whether for a job, self-promotion, or college application. As such, it should be visually appealing, concise, and memorable. And you don’t need fancy image editing software to build such a portfolio. You can find all the tools you need in Microsoft PowerPoint. Here’s how to create a portfolio in PowerPoint.

#1 Choosing an Appropriate Template

Sure, you can build a PowerPoint portfolio from scratch. You just need a little time and some design skills. However, it’s easier to take a shortcut – use a template. If you lack design skills, this will also be the better option. Microsoft offers thousands of beautiful templates to help you out. Here’s how to find them.

Step 1: Visit the Microsoft PowerPoint Templates page.

Step 2: Enter “Portfolio” in the text box. You can also use a more specific term like “Interior Design.”

Step 3: Browse your options and download your favorite. Your chosen template shouldn’t have too many elements. These can distract from you and your work.

If you don’t like any of the options, you can visit other PowerPoint template libraries, like SlidesGo.

Step 4: Open the downloaded PowerPoint file. This will be your starting point.

#2 Customizing the Template

You can make any template fit your vision. You just need to customize it.

Changing the Text

Here’s how to replace the text in the template with yours.

Step 1: Click on the text box.

Step 2: Highlight the text you want to change.

Step 3: Type your text.

Deleting Elements

Chances are the template will have many elements you don’t need. Here’s how to remove them.

Step 1: Hover over the element until a four-headed arrow appears.

Step 2: Click on the element.

Step 3: Hit “Delete” on your keyboard.

Removing Slides

You probably won’t need all the slides from the template. Here’s how to remove the extra ones.

Step 1: Scroll down the “Slides” panel on the right.

Step 2: Click on the slide you don’t need. You can also hold “Control” on your keyboard to select multiple slides.

Step 3: Hit the “Delete” button.

Adding Slides

You can add new slides to a template. However, you shouldn’t use the “New Slide” button for this. If you do, you’ll get a blank slide that doesn’t fit the rest of your portfolio. It’s better to duplicate an existing slide. Here’s how.

Step 1: Right-click on the slide you want to duplicate from the “Slides” side panel.

Step 2: Select “Duplicate Slide.”

Adding Photos

Photos are a huge part of a portfolio. After all, the whole point is to tell your story through visuals. If you were building a portfolio from scratch, you would use the “Insert” button to add your photos. However, since we’re working with a template, you’ll need another button – “Change Picture.” You’ll find it by right-clicking on the image you want to replace.

Make sure to use images of roughly the same size or crop them before inserting them into your portfolio. Otherwise, you’ll lose the visual consistency.

The photos you use for the “Portfolio” section of the presentation are the most important ones. This especially applies if you’re in a creative industry. You should include multiple photos, but don’t go overboard. Five slides worth of quality photos is enough.

You can also insert a photo of yourself. This allows potential clients or employers to connect with you on a more human level. If the template has one – great. Just change it to yours. If not, here’s how to add it – and make it a fun shape.

Step 1: Click on the Insert tab at the top of your presentation.

Step 2: Click on “Shapes” in the “Illustrations” group.

Step 3: Select a shape that fits the background.

Step 4: Right-click on the shape and select “Format Shape.”

Step 5: Under the “Fill” tab, check the box next to “Picture or texture fill.”

Step 6: Click on “File” under “Insert from.”

Step 7: Insert your photo and hit “Close.”

Your portfolio will now feature a picture of you as well.

#3 Telling Your Story

You’ve learned how to make a portfolio in PowerPoint technically. Now, it’s time to tell your story. You should keep this story simple and relevant.