Featured Photo by tabitha turner on Unsplash (perfect photo for the project, so thanks!)
Project Introduction
Let’s be honest. Six weeks ago, you turned in a project that you kinda hoped I’d forget about. Maybe it was rushed. Maybe you didn’t totally understand the tools yet. Or maybe it just didn’t turn out the way you imagined. This week, you get a chance to go back — not to erase the past, but to redeem it.
At the same time, you’ll be preparing for a retake (if applicable) of your Adobe Certification exam by revisiting the content that gave you trouble. But unlike that retest, this project is not about your score. This is about growth.
You’ll reflect on your portfolio, pick the weakest piece, and redo it from scratch using everything you’ve learned since. You’ll write about what went wrong, what you’ve learned, and how you approached the redesign. You’ll show both versions side-by-side in your portfolio — and let the world see that yes, you’re better now.
🔥 Hot Take from GD (featuring an emoji… so you know it’s serious)
Let’s be real — some of you made a project six weeks ago that you’re probably not proud of now. And you know what? That’s okay. I’ve been there. I’ve made work I thought was great… until I looked at it later and realized it wasn’t even close. That feeling? That little sting of “ugh, I can do better”? That’s growth.
Here’s the thing — this is a classroom, not a job. You’re not getting fired. You’re not losing a client. You’re in a space where it’s safe to mess up, safe to learn, and safe to try again. That’s why this week matters. You get to revisit your old work, tear it apart (nicely), and rebuild it with the skills you’ve developed since then.
One day, you will have a real job. You will get hired as a designer. And when that day comes, moments like this — where you practiced self-awareness, discipline, and had the guts to revise your own work — that’s what’s going to make you valuable. Employers want designers who grow, who reflect, and who aren’t afraid to fix something that’s broken.
So take this seriously. Not because it’s for a grade, but because this is one of those rare times where failure becomes your best teacher — and you actually get credit for getting better.
Technical & Creative Focus
This assignment builds something you can’t download: creative maturity. It’s not just about tools or tricks (although, you are mostly likely better with the tools?) — it’s about being able to look at your own work with a critical eye, admit where you fell short, and actually fix it. That’s the mindset of a working designer. You’re going to take a broken idea and rebuild it stronger — which, frankly, is what professionals do every day. Use your growth as a designer to fix what you broke, and just do better. That’s like, 85% of the job (the other 15% is coffee, quite frankly).
Project Requirements
To complete this assignment:
Review your current WordPress portfolio, choose one project you’re least proud of (your “flop,” your “eh,” your “yikes”) and write a 150–200 word reflection that explains:
- Why you chose this project
- What you now see as flawed
- What your plan was to improve it
Rebuild or redesign that project using your current skills and publish a new post (and update your OLD post that links to the update, but don’t you dare delete it yet!) on your portfolio that includes:
- A side-by-side comparison of old vs. new
- A clear, thoughtful title and updated description
- Tags like
portfolio redesign,creative growth, etc. - The full reflection and final presentation
Old version must still be visible for comparison, otherwise how are you growing? Just be sure to update the old portfolio project with links that confirm this was reflected on, and fixed.
Project Grading Rubric
| Criteria | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection & Self-Awareness | Student clearly identifies weaknesses in past work and outlines a plan for improvement | 20 pts |
| Technical Improvement | Redesign shows clear growth in tools, layout, color, typography, or editing | 20 pts |
| Visual Comparison | Old vs. new work is clearly displayed and easy to compare | 20 pts |
| Portfolio Presentation | Post is embedded, titled, tagged, and includes thoughtful write-up | 20 pts |
| Effort & Execution | Evidence of genuine effort, not just a surface refresh | 20 pts |
| Total | 100 pts |
OCP & Standard Alignment
04.13 – Demonstrate knowledge of presentation vocabulary and terms. (The written reflection encourages students to describe design flaws and improvements using accurate creative terminology, reinforcing vocabulary such as contrast, hierarchy, alignment, spacing, and composition.)
08.02 – Apply job readiness, career planning, and job seeking skills to meet personal and professional goals. (This project simulates a real-world design revision process — developing critical thinking, presentation, and self-awareness skills that are vital to long-term employability in the design field.)
04.10 – Use storyboarding or sketches to plan a design. (Although informal, the process of reworking an old project involves planning changes in structure, layout, or visual hierarchy — effectively acting as a creative storyboard for a redesign.)
08.03 – Participate in work-based learning experiences in a digital media/multimedia environment. (By revising and improving their past work based on critique and personal growth, students are simulating a real client workflow, which mirrors tasks expected in studio or freelance environments.)
04.11 – Demonstrate understanding of multimedia file formats and appropriate saving techniques. (Students are required to revisit, reopen, edit, and export older files using correct file types and optimized settings for web-based portfolio presentation.)
Digital Media & Multimedia Design 