The Architecture Portfolio Guide
A 12-project pathway designed for Leonidas Butler. Blending drawing, 3D modeling, robotics, and storytelling into a cohesive visual narrative.
Project → Evidence. Skill → Story.
This portfolio pathway guides you through 12 projects that blend drawing, 3D modeling, carpentry, robotics, photography, and visual storytelling into a cohesive architecture portfolio. Each card below holds everything you need: tools, steps, photo notes, and likely challenges.
Building a portfolio that looks and thinks like you do.
Jump to a Project Studio Brief
Each project opens a collapsible studio brief. Use these buttons to move quickly through the curriculum.
Architectural Sketch Series
Start Dec 05–11, 2025 · Finish Dec 25–31, 2025A sequence of observational and imaginative sketches that trains your eyes and hands to think like an architect.
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Introduction
Sketching is architecture’s first language. These pages show that you can observe real spaces, simplify complex forms, and explore ideas quickly. For you, Leonidas, this links the way you already break down robots and spaces in your head with a visible record of that thinking on paper.
Admissions teams study sketchbooks to see curiosity, patience, and growth. This project displays skills in observation, perspective, proportion, and visual communication.
Tools & Materials
- Sketchbook (9×12 or 11×14, unlined)
- Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B) and eraser
- Fine-liner pens (0.1–0.5)
- Ruler or straightedge
- Optional: kneaded eraser, blending stump
Process - Step by Step
- Warm up each session with 5–10 minutes of straight lines, circles, and ellipses.
- Draw 2–3 everyday objects from life (shoes, tools, headphones, robot parts).
- Create one interior view (your room, a hallway, a shop) using two-point perspective.
- Draw an exterior building from life or reference photos, focusing on big shapes first.
- Design 1–2 original small structures (pavilion, cabin, tower) in perspective.
- Label interesting details (materials, light, scale) with small notes around the drawing.
- At the end, mark your best 3–5 pages with sticky tabs for portfolio use.
Photography
Lay the sketchbook flat near a window or outside in open shade. Hold your phone directly above the page so the edges stay straight. Use light editing to boost contrast so lines are crisp while the paper still looks natural.
Challenges & Notes
- Wanting every drawing to be perfect instead of treating pages as practice.
- Perspective lines not converging cleanly, making spaces feel tilted.
- Over-erasing and damaging the paper surface.
Don’t chase perfection, chase clarity and confidence. A portfolio reviewer wants to see your thinking and progress, not just polished final pages.
Blender 3D Pavilion
Start Dec 26, 2025–Jan 01, 2026 · Finish Jan 15–21, 2026A small digital pavilion that moves from thumbnail sketches into a clean 3D model and renders.
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Introduction
This project shows that you can translate an idea into a three-dimensional structure using professional tools. It connects your interest in 3D software and robotics to architecture and proves you can think about space, light, and material inside a digital environment.
Skills on display: spatial reasoning, 3D modeling, composition, material sense, and basic lighting and rendering.
Tools & Materials
- Blender installed on your computer
- Sketchbook for thumbnails
- Reference images of pavilions or small structures
- Basic HDRI environment map (optional but helpful)
Process - Step by Step
- Collect 5–8 reference images that match the vibe you like (minimal, futuristic, wooden, etc.).
- Sketch 3–4 tiny pavilion thumbnails exploring different forms.
- In Blender, block out the chosen concept with simple boxes and planes, no details yet.
- Refine the form: add openings, platforms, stairs, and a clear entrance.
- Assign simple materials (wood, concrete, metal) and avoid over-texturing.
- Set up 2–3 strong camera views and an HDRI or simple sun light.
- Render high-resolution images and save them in a dedicated “Pavilion” folder.
Export
Export renders without any Blender interface. Aim for calm lighting and clean backgrounds so the form is easy to read. Consider one daylight render and one softer, evening-style shot.
Challenges & Notes
- Spending too long on tiny details instead of a clear overall form.
- Messy geometry leading to strange shadows or shading artifacts.
- Dark, noisy renders that hide your design work.
A simple, well-lit pavilion with a strong silhouette will stand out more than a complicated model that’s hard to read.
Carpentry Build Documentation
Start Jan 16–22, 2026 · Finish Feb 05–11, 2026A small, functional build (shelf, rack, or stand) documented from first sketch to finished object.
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Introduction
Architecture lives in real materials. This project shows that you can design, measure, and build something that actually works. For you, Leonidas, it ties your comfort with tools and making into a clear, visual story.
Skills displayed: planning, measurement, joinery basics, material awareness, and process documentation.
Tools & Materials
- Sketchbook or graph paper for plans
- Measuring tape, carpenter’s square, pencil
- Saw (hand or power, used safely), drill, screws and wood glue
- Lumber for a small project (shoe rack, robot storage, bedside shelf, etc.)
- Sandpaper or sander, optional stain or clear coat
- Phone or camera for process photos
Process - Step by Step
- Choose a realistic project you’ll actually use (for example, a rack for running shoes or robot parts).
- Draw a measured plan with top and side views plus final dimensions.
- Create a cut list for each piece of lumber.
- Cut pieces carefully, checking measurements off the list as you go.
- Dry fit everything before gluing or screwing pieces together.
- Assemble, keeping corners square and surfaces aligned.
- Sand edges and finish with paint, stain, or clear coat if desired.
- Take photos during planning, cutting, assembly, and the final setup.
Photography
Shoot in daylight with a simple background. Capture one wide shot in context (how it’s used), plus close-ups of details like joints or handles. Keep angles consistent across photos to feel intentional.
Challenges & Notes
- Measurements being off slightly, throwing the whole build out of alignment.
- Forgetting process photos as you get into the build.
- Rushing finish work and leaving rough edges or visible glue.
Put a sticky note on your toolbox that says “Take Photos.” The story of the build is just as important as the final object.
Robotics Mechanism Breakdown
Start Feb 06–12, 2026 · Finish Feb 26–Mar 04, 2026A detailed diagram of one robotics mechanism that explains how forces and motion move through the system.
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Introduction
Many buildings include moving parts, such as doors, shading systems, bridges, and mechanical cores. This project shows you understand motion, load paths, and how components work together by dissecting a robot mechanism you know well.
Skills displayed: systems thinking, diagramming, labeling, and the ability to simplify complex mechanics.
Tools & Materials
- An existing robot or mechanism (arm, drivetrain, lift, claw, etc.)
- Camera or phone for reference photos
- Sketchbook and fine-liner pens
- Optional: drawing tablet for a clean digital version
Process - Step by Step
- Choose a mechanism with interesting motion (for example, a 4-bar arm, intake, or lift).
- Photograph it from multiple angles, including close-ups of joints and gears.
- Draw a simplified “x-ray” view showing all moving parts with minimal clutter.
- Label motors, pivots, gears, belts, and linkages with arrows and short notes.
- Write a short numbered list explaining how the mechanism moves from start to finish.
- Highlight one design problem you solved (binding, torque, weight) and how you fixed it.
Photography
Use a clean table or floor as your background. Take one overall photo of the robot and a few tight close-ups that match your diagram. Good lighting makes labels easier to understand.
Challenges & Notes
- Trying to capture every tiny detail instead of simplifying to essential parts.
- Labels overlapping or becoming hard to read.
- Using dense technical language that might confuse non-robotics viewers.
Picture explaining this drawing to a younger student. If they’d understand it, an admissions reviewer will too.
Design Problem Challenge
Start Feb 27–Mar 05, 2026 · Finish Mar 19–25, 2026Identify one real frustration in your environment and redesign it through drawings and notes.
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Introduction
Architects solve problems. This project proves you can see an issue clearly, generate options, and design a specific improvement rather than a vague “better room.”
Skills displayed: problem framing, ideation, iteration, and clear communication of a proposed solution.
Tools & Materials
- Sketchbook and pencils or pens
- Ruler
- Camera for “before” photos
- Optional: cardboard or scrap wood for a quick prototype
Process - Step by Step
- Choose one frustration: tangled cables, messy gear, bad shoe storage, awkward workspace, etc.
- Write a one-sentence problem statement explaining why it’s an issue.
- Take 2–3 photos of the current situation without cleaning it up.
- Brainstorm at least 3 different design ideas, sketch each idea quickly.
- Select the strongest idea and draw:
- Plan (top) view
- Side elevation
- Perspective view in context
- Annotate materials, sizes, and how someone uses it step by step.
- Optional: build a rough prototype and photograph it.
Photography
Use the same angle for your “before” and “after” or prototype photos so the improvement is obvious. Keep the background honest, this is about real life, not staged perfection.
Challenges & Notes
- Picking a problem that’s too big (for example, “my whole room”) rather than one clear issue.
- Jumping to one solution too quickly without exploring options.
- Forgetting to show how a person interacts with the design.
Small and sharp beats big and blurry. A focused, well-explained redesign is more impressive than a vague room makeover.
Photography: Light & Structure
Start Mar 20–26, 2026 · Finish Apr 09–15, 2026A curated set of photos that show how you see buildings, light, shadow, and rhythm in the world around you.
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Introduction
Architecture is as much about seeing as it is about drawing. This project demonstrates your eye for composition, light, and structure by turning everyday spaces into intentional images.
Skills displayed: composition, visual rhythm, contrast, and the ability to find design in ordinary places.
Tools & Materials
- Phone or digital camera
- Editing app (Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile, etc.)
Process - Step by Step
- Choose 3–4 locations: bleachers, hallways, stairwells, bridges, barns, athletic facilities.
- Shoot mainly in early morning or late afternoon for softer light.
- Look for leading lines, repetition of elements, and strong shadows and contrast.
- Take 100–150 photos without overthinking, use different heights and angles.
- Later, select your strongest 6 images that feel like a family.
- Edit gently: adjust exposure, contrast, and straightness, avoid heavy filters.
- Plan a grid layout for the six final images on a single portfolio page.
Photography
Turn on your phone’s grid to keep lines straight. When in doubt, step back and include more of the structure, then crop.
Challenges & Notes
- Over-editing and losing natural light quality.
- Too many random subjects instead of a focused set of structures.
- Blurry shots from low light or quick movement.
Imagine these six photos hanging together in a small gallery titled “Leonidas - Light & Structure.” Choose the images that deserve that wall space.
UI / Coding Visualization - Smart Space Dashboard
Start Apr 10–16, 2026 · Finish Apr 30–May 06, 2026A simple interface design for monitoring a “smart” space, showing that you can design both space and data views.
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Introduction
Buildings and interfaces are increasingly connected. This project highlights your coding mindset and visual organization by designing a dashboard for a room, lab, or small facility.
Skills displayed: information hierarchy, interface layout, systems thinking, and aesthetic restraint.
Tools & Materials
- Figma, Adobe XD, or similar UI tool (or a well-structured drawing if software isn’t available)
- Paper and pencil for rough wireframes
Process - Step by Step
- Choose a space: Smart Studio, Robotics Lab, Training Center, or dorm floor.
- List the data you would monitor: temperature, lighting, occupancy, doors, energy, etc.
- Sketch a main dashboard and a detail screen on paper.
- Build clean versions in your UI tool, grouping related information and controls.
- Create a simple flow diagram that shows how a user moves between screens.
- Export final screens and the flow as PNGs for the portfolio.
Export
Export at high resolution with a neutral background. Use a limited color palette, let one or two accent colors carry the hierarchy.
Challenges & Notes
- Trying to put every possible control on a single screen.
- Using many bright colors that compete for attention.
- Forgetting to show how the user actually navigates the system.
Ask: “If someone sees this dashboard for 3 seconds, what do they notice first?” Design around that answer.
Massing or 3D-Printed Model
Start May 01–07, 2026 · Finish May 21–27, 2026A physical or printed model that explores proportion, light, and shadow in simple forms.
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Introduction
Models make ideas feel real. This project shows that you can move from drawing or digital concept to a tangible object you can hold, rotate, and light.
Skills displayed: model-making, precision cutting or printing, spatial intuition, and presentation photography.
Tools & Materials
- Option A: chipboard or foam board, metal ruler, knife, cutting mat, white glue
- Option B: 3D printer, slicing software, filament
- Desk lamp or window light for photography
Process - Step by Step
- Sketch 3 simple massing ideas (stacked volumes, carved blocks, bridging forms).
- Pick one and translate it into measured faces or a 3D file.
- Cut or print pieces carefully, aiming for clean edges and tight joints.
- Assemble the model, correcting minor fit issues as you go.
- Experiment with a lamp to see how light and shadow move across the form.
- Photograph from eye-level, low angles, and one overhead shot.
Photography
Use a white or pale background and side lighting for soft shadows. Avoid clutter in the frame so the model feels like a small building, not a craft project on a messy desk.
Challenges & Notes
- Ragged edges from dull blades or rushed cuts.
- Glue smears on visible surfaces.
- Over-complicated designs that are fragile or hard to build.
One strong, clean gesture in the form is more powerful than a pile of tiny moves that are hard to read.
“Future Campus” Concept Illustration
Start May 22–28, 2026 · Finish Jun 11–17, 2026A large environment drawing of a future campus or training center, focused on architecture and circulation.
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Introduction
This becomes a showpiece image in your portfolio, combining world-building with architectural thinking.
Skills displayed: composition, campus planning, perspective, atmosphere, and storytelling.
Tools & Materials
- Digital drawing software or markers and pens on smooth paper
- Sketchbook for thumbnails
- Reference images of campuses, plazas, or public spaces
Process - Step by Step
- Choose the campus type (architecture school, robotics institute, training complex, etc.).
- Thumbnail 3–4 compositions from a bird’s-eye or 3/4 view.
- Select one and lay in perspective lines and major building masses.
- Add paths, trees, gathering spaces, and a clear center of gravity.
- Choose a limited color palette and a light direction.
- Render carefully, keeping architecture as the star and people as scale markers.
Export
Export as a high-resolution PNG or JPEG (or photograph the drawing in soft, even light). Correct perspective and crop so the image fills the page cleanly.
Challenges & Notes
- Overloading the drawing with buildings and tiny details.
- Perspective drifting and making the space feel skewed.
- Color choices that are too loud or scattered.
Decide what this campus stands for, innovation, community, or sustainability, and make that idea obvious from across the room.
Furniture Concept - Human-Scale Architecture
Start Jun 12–18, 2026 · Finish Jul 02–08, 2026A chair, bench, or desk concept that shows how you think about the human body, comfort, and structure.
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Introduction
Furniture is architecture scaled to a single person. This project highlights your understanding of proportion, ergonomics, and detail at human scale.
Skills displayed: proportion, ergonomics, structural logic, and material thinking.
Tools & Materials
- Sketchbook, ruler, pencils and pens
- Optional: markers for materials
- Optional: 3D modeling software if you want a digital version
Process - Step by Step
- Select furniture that fits your life (study desk, shoe bench, robotics work stool, etc.).
- Look up standard dimensions (seat height, desk height, etc.) for comfort.
- Sketch 3 design variations exploring different frames and surfaces.
- Choose one and draw front, side, and perspective views.
- Add material labels and rough thicknesses for each part.
- Optional: build a small prototype or digital model for extra evidence.
Photography
If you build a prototype, photograph it like the carpentry project: clean background, clear angles, and at least one shot with a person using it to show scale.
Challenges & Notes
- Proportions that feel unstable or uncomfortable.
- Ignoring how the body will actually move and rest on the piece.
- Only drawing the “cool” view and skipping orthographic drawings.
Picture using this furniture after a long run or robotics meet. Would it feel solid and welcoming, or awkward and sharp?
Anime-Inspired Architectural Rendering
Start Jul 03–09, 2026 · Finish Jul 23–29, 2026A background-style illustration where the architecture and environment carry the story, with anime influences.
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Introduction
This project lets your personality show. It merges your love of anime with environment design and architectural detail, proving you can create spaces that feel alive.
Skills displayed: perspective, atmospheric depth, mood, and integration of character and environment.
Tools & Materials
- Digital art program (Procreate, Clip Studio, Photoshop, etc.)
- Drawing tablet or iPad
- Reference screenshots and backgrounds from anime you like
Process - Step by Step
- Pick a setting (rooftop track, robotics workshop, dorm courtyard, city alley, etc.).
- Thumbnail 3–4 compositions where architecture is the main focus.
- Choose one and build the perspective grid and basic forms.
- Block in big light and dark shapes and major color zones.
- Add characters only after the environment is strong, keep them small.
- Refine line work, color, and lighting to create depth and atmosphere.
Export
Export at high resolution (around 3000px on the long side). Keep edges crisp and avoid heavy compression so gradients stay smooth.
Challenges & Notes
- Letting characters steal focus from the architecture.
- Over-saturated colors that flatten the space.
- Perspective slipping as details get added.
Treat the environment as the main character and the people as supporting actors. The buildings should hold the story.
Sustainability System Diagram
Start Jul 24–30, 2026 · Finish Aug 13–19, 2026A clear diagram showing how light, air, or water moves through a building or site you design.
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Introduction
Architecture is part of larger environmental systems. This project shows that you understand how buildings “breathe,” “drink,” or harvest energy, not just how they look.
Skills displayed: systems thinking, clarity in diagramming, and environmental awareness.
Tools & Materials
- Sketchbook or layout paper
- Pens plus 2–3 colored markers
- Optional: vector tool (Figma, Illustrator) for a digital version
Process - Step by Step
- Choose one system: natural ventilation, solar shading, rainwater capture, or greywater reuse.
- Sketch a simple building or room where this system operates.
- Use arrows and color to show how air, water, or light moves through the design.
- Label key components with short, clear phrases.
- Limit yourself to 2–3 colors to keep flows readable.
- Optional: recreate the diagram digitally for extra polish.
Export
If drawn by hand, photograph in soft, even light and adjust contrast. For digital, export a crisp PNG with a transparent or light background.
Challenges & Notes
- Overcrowding the page with arrows and notes.
- Too many colors that confuse the eye.
- Not clearly connecting environmental benefits to design choices.
Think like a science diagram: the goal is for someone to understand how your building “works” at a glance.