vcc.ca
DCOM 2205: Professional Portfolio Development
Effective date
May 2026
Department
Visual Comm Design Diploma
School
Trades, Technology and Design
Description
This course empowers students to critically assess their existing body of work and craft a professional portfolio that bridges their academic experience with current industry standards in visual communication design. Under faculty mentorship, students will identify opportunities to revise or enhance selected projects, ensuring their portfolio showcases commercially viable and industry-aligned work. The curriculum emphasizes strategic career positioning, personal branding, and professional presentation skills. Through reflective exercises, peer discussions, and market analysis, students will map their unique skills to industry demands and develop a career plan. By the end of the course, students will present a curated portfolio that effectively communicates their value to potential employers or clients.
Credits
5.0
Year of study
2nd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
DCOM 2105, DCOM 2110, DCOM 2120.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Evaluate existing work through the lens of current industry standards and practices.
- Transform academic projects into professional portfolio pieces that demonstrate commercial viability.
- Develop a strategic career positioning plan based on analysis of personal strengths and market opportunities.
- Articulate complex design decisions and defend creative choices using professional terminology.
- Create a cohesive narrative that effectively communicates their transition from academic to professional practice.
- Practice and deliver professional presentation skills to showcase portfolio work effectively to potential employers and clients.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 35
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 49
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 24
Total Hours: 108
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 49
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 24
Total Hours: 108
Instructional Strategies
A combination of lecture, demonstration, production simulations, problem solving, practical labs and reflective discussion will be used throughout this course.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Participation |
10 |
|
|
Project |
30 |
Personal brand and positioning strategy |
|
Portfolio |
30 |
Final professional portfolio |
|
Assignments |
30 |
|
Course topics
- Portfolio curation and development
- Strategic career positioning and personal branding
- Market analysis and networking strategies
- Digital and physical portfolio formats
- Client targeting and professional case study development
- Industry engagement and communication skills
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.