Agency Dictionary
Portfolio
nounPronunciation: /pɔːrtˈfoʊ.li.oʊ/
In Portuguese: Portfólio
Design
Creativity & LearningWhat does “Portfolio” mean?
A curated collection of creative work, technical projects, or artistic samples assembled to showcase a designer's competence.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian portafoglio, a compound of portare (to carry, from Latin portāre) and foglio (sheet, leaf, from Latin folium). The compound named a flat case for carrying loose sheets. The financial sense, a set of investments held by one owner, dates from the 20th century.
Usage note
In finance, a portfolio is a collection of investments. In design and the arts, it is a curated selection of work samples.
Synonyms
- collection
- body of work
- dossier
Usage examples
If you can, get involved in projects as an assistant, even if it's unpaid, just to build your portfolio.
Concept
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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