How should I curate and present an entry-level illustration portfolio?

[BrandonPS]

I'm a recent illustration graduate preparing my art portfolio for applications to in-house design studios and animation pre-production roles. I have a wide range of personal work but I'm unsure how to curate it to tell a coherent story and demonstrate specific professional skills. For art directors or hiring managers, what do you look for in an entry-level portfolio beyond technical skill? How many pieces is ideal, and how do you prefer to see them presented—as a PDF, a dedicated website, or something else? I'm also struggling with whether to include detailed process work or if final polished images are sufficient.

[AddisonR]

Ideal starter guidance: aim for 8–12 final pieces that show a cohesive throughline across your range (character design, environment design, prop design, and perhaps some quick environment/storyboard work). For entry-level roles, a portfolio that proves you can follow a brief, iterate, and deliver production-ready concepts is key. Include 2–3 concise process artifacts for each project (thumbnails, mood boards, turnarounds or final color keys) so Editors can see your thinking, not just your finish. Present everything with clean captions that explain constraints, decisions, and outcomes.