The Perfect Portfolio: Documenting Your DECODE Journey

You have 15 pages. That’s it. 15 pages to summarize 6 months of blood, sweat, code, and tears. Welcome to the hardest design challenge in FTC: The Engineering Portfolio.

The Golden Ratio of Pages

While every team is different, here is a battle-tested page breakdown for a balanced team:

• Page 1: Team Info / Summary / Table of Contents (The “Who We Are”).
• Page 2: Team Plan / Sustainability / Budget (The “Business”).
• Page 3-4: Outreach / Motivate (The “Community”).
• Page 5-6: Connect / Industry (The “Professionals”).
• Pages 7-12: Engineering (The “Meat”).
  • pg 7: Strategy & Game Analysis.
  • pg 8: Drivetrain.
  • pg 9: Intake/Indexer.
  • pg 10: Shooter/Outtake.
  • pg 11: Software/Control (Sensors).
  • pg 12: Software/Control (Algorithms).
• Page 13: Innovation / Special Feature.
• Page 14: Math / Physics / Data.
• Page 15: Lessons Learned / Future Plans.

Typography and Density

Judges are older. They are tired. They are reading in a dark room.

• Font Size: Minimum 10pt. 11pt is better.
• Headers: make them HUGE and BOLD.
• Bullets > Paragraphs: Never write a wall of text. Use bullet points.
• Captions: Every single picture needs a caption explaining what it is and why it matters.

The “Journey” Narrative

For the DECODE season, judges are specifically briefed to look for the “Journey.”

• Don’t just show the final CAD. Show the V1 sketch. Show the V2 failure. Show the V3 fix.
• Timestamps: Put dates on your pictures! “Oct 12: Prototype failed.” “Oct 15: Redesign successful.” This proves the timeline.

Aesthetics Matter

Your portfolio is a reflection of your team’s quality standards.

• White Space: Don’t fear it. It makes the page readable.
• Consistency: Use the same accent color, the same font, and the same corner radius on images throughout the entire document.

[!TIP] Instant Audit: Before you print, upload your PDF draft to FTC Coach. It can give you an “Aesthetic Score” and point out if your text is too dense or your flow is confusing.

Review Process

Print it out. Read it. Hand it to your grandma. If your grandma can’t understand what your robot does after reading Page 1, rewrite Page 1.

Conclusion

The Portfolio is your team’s resume. You wouldn’t apply for a job with a napkin sketch. Don’t apply for Worlds with a messy portfolio. Treat it with the same respect you treat your robot.