portfolios....
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- MLP
i'm currently compiling all my work to jump out and do interviews this spring to find a job for the summer, then january when i graduate.
my book has gone through several incarnations - normal clear sleeve pages, board pages w/ acetate pockets...
i wanted to see what suggestions you guys had for putting a book together. my work includes, posters, book covers, magazine layout, newspaper layout, etc all of varying sizes up to 24"x36" ...
- MLP0
bump
- Peter0
drops the:
it's the inside that countswhy not organize your work in a big enough binder, doesn't matter which, just as long as you can pick out the exact type of work that the employer want to know a little more about? I bet the folks want to hear more about what you did on the piece they are looking at, not the sleeve of the portfolio.
clear sounds nice, but if the work is varying like you said you might see through the other page.
- MLP0
i've just heard from a lot of people that how you present your work in your book is a crucial part of the interview... i disagree in part that having to create a homogeneous presentation for stuff that's 3D, large, small, etc while still portable is kind of impossible...
but i guess you have to please your perspective employer..right now i have photos/scans/shots of everything laid out within the realm of my identity with all the pieces there to show whoever. i've got nothing but negative feedback on that presentation though...
- SlashPeckham0
- i just use pdf on a powerbook to describe it
- webstuff in a browser
- hand over printed stuff to play with
and when i'm done i'd also give them the laptop to get a closer look at that pdfthe conversion rate has been fairly good with this method, pretty boring huh?
- Chimp0
When I see students come in with work, its always good to see clear uncluttered work with tear sheets and examples of printed media seperate.
- MLP0
thanks for the suggestions.. any more?
- tkmeister0
i like nice leather photo portfolio bindings or aluminium. whatever you do, i think the overall look and feel needs to fit your design sense.
also, you should really narrow it down to your best work, don't just put all work you've done. for student coming out from school, this may be hard, but quality is where it's at. not quantity.
- MLP0
yeah, i only have 10-12 pieces in it
- johndiggity0
i keep a 13x19 leather book with poly sleeves and black matts and a 17x24 aluminum case. the case fits the book and i can keep any 3-d type stuff in the briefcase without it getting crushed. i'd like to get crazy with my book and do custom stuff.
a guy i used to work with got a metal fabricator to custom cnc plates for his book. he had this cool latice work anodized front and back cover with his logo. it cost about $400 though.
- lara0
here some tips:
1. demonstrate your capabilities through a selective set of works
2. lay them out within a consistent format, that states: project title, date, brief description (in case it's a drop-off)
3. don't stick stuff onto a black /white sheet and stuff it in a sleeve.
4. if you want to show actual printed samples (offset) pull them out at the end of the presentation, so you can show that you are able to
a. oversee mechanical artists (if this is not you)
b. direct printing
c. choose paperstocks
etc.
d. for you being a recent graduate: knowledge of cutting, glueing and assambling.
5. don't save money on the portfolio you buy (it represents you and should last for a long time)
6. call people up and send them a replicate PDF portfolio from the printed sample.I frequently hire people and if they carry in projects and pull them from different sources they look unprofessional.
good luck
- b_magallanes0
The less clumsy the better... for the potential employer. This way is not 'flashy', but it works: Mount each piece on 15 x 20 letramax black board and put it in a leather/vinyl case with a handle. If needed, build a pocket for collateral pieces. Use only 10-15 pieces for interview. Also do a leave behind piece...
- lara0
no boards..
only students show boards.
the corners get messed up.
it's clunky.
i don't have space for that on my desk. nor do i have time to make space available.a leave-behind is great though. also a follow-up email.
- MLP0
lara..
thanks for the responses..i have mine set up a page per project with all the actual printed samples there to show (i.e. the stuff that is all different sizes) so nothing's lost in translation. this also let's me lay out an 8.5x11 version that i can leave behind.
i just wanted to get opinions on that because i've heard praises on this format, but had it trashed by my professor with no suggestion of what's better. i don't want to go the route of boards and have to rebuild them ever couple interveiws as they fall apart if possible.
- liquid0
tear sheets......can you create your own .....or do you get them from the magazines? cause I only got like 2 or 3 and they never get back to me when I ask them for copies. I buy a few of the magazines.... and then they get all messy....... there are a lot of people that expect you to leave the tears without any possibility of getting them back or they lose them.....evne if left in a binder....
so what to do? could I just print on very high quality paper...??
- _salisae_0
what is:
1. tear sheet
2. custom cnc plates
3. lara - do you mean to actually have the layouts printed at a printing press? say 5 copies of each layout - isn't that horribly expensive?
thanks for lost-luggage link - really beautiful stuff!
- MLP0
when you guys say tear sheets are you just taking copies of your actual printed piece or what? whenever i have stuff in production, i'll try to get 10+ copies of it (especially any editorial layouts...)
we have an HP 5500 and a smaller HP that prints up to 18x24 that i run evertything on.... compared to going to kinkos or other inkjet farms, its fucking cheap - 5500 prints are only $10 for up to 105" and the mini plotter is like $4/sheet which is well worth the quality.
- MLP0
BUMP
- MLP0
bhump
- robotron3k0
lara,
i'm wrestling with redoing my portfolio because i have 3 areas i need to show. print & web & flash animations... any reccomendations?