William Staffeld/AAP

Vinayak Portonovo, B.Arch. '17, left, and Allie Wills, B.Arch. '16, meet with Hugh Trumbull, B.Arch. '88, M.Arch. '93, during Portfolio Review Day at AAP NYC.

William Staffeld/AAP

Won Ryu, B.Arch. '17, left, and Yen Hua Debra Chan, B.Arch. '16, discuss their portfolios with AAP Advisory Council member Doug Hocking, B.Arch. '89, at AAP NYC.

Eighteen fourth- and fifth-year architecture students studying at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning’s New York City program, AAP NYC, recently had an opportunity to get some one-on-one feedback on their portfolios from practicing architects.

Organized by AAP Connect and hosted by AAP Advisory Council member Doug Hocking, B.Arch. ’89, at his firm Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF), the portfolio development day Oct. 17 combined presentations, networking and individual portfolio reviews to help the students prepare for their upcoming job search.

The day started with a talk on “Portfolio Best Practices” by KPF’s Jerri Smith, M.Arch. ’81, followed by a Q-and-A session, lunch and networking time, and then individual one-on-one critiques with a group of AAP alumni who are practicing architects in New York City.

“This event was unique because usually these professionals would only look at my portfolio in the context of a job application or interview,” said Allie Wills, B.Arch. ’16. “I was able to have a very open discussion about how my portfolio was a good tool – or could become a better one – to showcase my work, demonstrate my passions and spur a conversation in an interview.”

“I was really appreciative of the attention and critical interest that each of the professionals displayed in discussing my portfolio with me one-on-one,” Wills added.

Professionals who participated in the portfolio critique included Kumar Atre, B.Arch. ’12, of Diller Scofidio & Renfro; Mia Kang, M.Arch. ’14, of Snøhetta; Terri Lee, B.Arch. ’04, of KPF; Ana Leshchinsky, B.Arch. ’08, M.Arch. ’09, of KPF; Joe Pikiewicz, of FXFOWLE; Janice Rim, B.Arch. ’14, of Bjarke Ingels Group; and Hugh Trumbull, B.Arch. ’88, M.Arch. ’93, of KPF.

Rebecca Bowes is a writer/editor at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.