lack of portfolio
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- jaylarson
Dear NT,
i don't have jack for a portfolio. i am working as a production artist and have accumulated a small amount of work. i am currently redesigning a new web site and I would like to know how I should go about displaying what I am capable of. My design skills aren't where I would like them to be.
Are fake pieces okay? I just got Ellen Lupton's DIY and seek to make stuff per se. I don't want to put months of effort into creating pieces and have it weigh against me.
Anyway, thanks in advance,
Jay
- epigraph0
I am 2 years out of school and have been doing pre-press at a small printing place. It's a production job i guess, not real creative.
I had no work from that place that I wanted to show the world, so I redid all of my school projects, and did a few things for family and friends, and I was able to land a job with that...
You could also go on craigslist and find a person who is willing to pay a little(they are few and far between) and get a few projects that way.
- tparsons0
epigraph had some good points... grab projects anywhere you can. Make self promo pieces. Over extend yourself in your production job. Starting in a production environment is a good thing. Use it to your advantage.
Don't waste to much time on NT. Spend more time creating whatever it may be that you want to create.
Then build a portfolio site to promote your work.
Best,
- jox0
I don't see anything wrong about "fake" work as long as it's good and original. If I was to hire you I could care less what brands you've worked with as long as you're good. If anything, it shows you have the drive to really tell me you rock.
- jaylarson0
thanks you two. good advice.
self promo pieces sound like a good idea.
thanks.
- jaylarson0
thanks jox.
- oldelpaso0
whats fake work?
ive done loads of ideas in my room for a laugh that never see the light of day .. college briefs or even just messing about.
if its A) got a clever idea or/and B) is beautifuly crafted... stick it in... real or fake it still demonstrates your capabilities.
i think the key to these things is having the initiative to do something.. wether someone is paying for it or not doesnt matter.
- Dancer0
if its A) got a clever idea or/and B) is beautifuly crafted... stick it in... real or fake it still demonstrates your capabilities.
....
oldelpaso
(Jul 4 07, 14:47)or C) both
I used to flick through the yellow pages and randomly pick a client and then produce a POS/new brand/DM/Brochure for that company. Ah those were the days when I had fun... and got really creative....
- jaylarson0
sweet everybody.
now i have been slowing putting together a creative company to use instead of my name. i know no logos for personal, but i have one for this company-to-be. follow the same above-advice and create work that I would like to be doing? example, make a promo piece for the company instead of a self promo showing the work i can do and want to do (webs, and prints)
i'll be putting up the logo for crit later tonight.
again. thanks all.
- jamble0
you could also bid on work at getafreelancer.com which would give you an opportunity to get projects and as you'd be doing it for your portfolio you could actually afford to undercut the cheap bids while still making a few bucks.
- Rand0
I'd much rather hire someone with great fake work than mediocre real work
- jaylarson0
thanks again everybody. i couldn't get stuff up last night as fontexplorer was freaking out. so hopefully tonight images of a brand will surface.
thanks for the link to getafreelancer. looks pretty legit.
peace,
j
- neue75_bold0
I just have a website...
- Rand0
bwahahaha
- nosaj0
Be sure to communicate how working in production has helped you evolve.
- gramme0
Jay,
Self-promo pieces are great. Especially if you write/illustrate/photograph them. It shows that you are curious and able in fields related to design. For example, my writing ability showcased in the promo book that I sent out everywhere got a lot of positive comments, and ultimately helped me land the current gig, which has been a great experience. Many designers today lack the ability to speak and write coherently and with eloquence, which makes them undesirable at best and a liability to employers at worst.
The book's on my site if you wanna see a PDF. Also I still have some copies left if you want one.
- jaylarson0
yeah gramme! that would be great. the pdf has some really nice work in there. check yr email. i sent you my address.
i will be buying a printer by month's end which i drastically need. i live in minnesota, and we are a huge publishing state, but i am not to familiar with printers here that are in my price range.
thanks for the tips jason. even though this is a production artist position, i know that i have learned mucho. and besides, i get paid to do what i love. currently i am working on a catalog for northern tool + equipment through a decent staffing company. so at least is has some recognition.
peace all!
- Rand0
don't forget to photograph yourself holding them up
- k0na_an0k0
put up what you can.
you can always explain in text form what you do, and especially for each project you can say what you did for each.
a decent portfolio of your work, with a good cover letter and resume is better than putting up some fake work ya know.
good luck brudda!
- jaylarson0
wut was that page with the designer holding up a spread with the pics of him holding other spreads up, cut out? that was good.
that technique has the merits of showing the size, but with live surface, the same can be accomplished and not look too DIY.
i also read somewhere that if you don't have experience, list skills.
furthermore, my goal is to have a working brand, Nurban Creative, up and going by the Denver Aiga conference. I don't know how much networking potential will be there, but I just hope to be ready.
anyway, thanks gang.
- gramme0
If by "Nurban Creative" you mean Nu Urban, I would say think again. Also, and this is just my opinion, the use of "Creative" as a noun is really barmy and brand-y.
And I'm pretty sure Rand was joking...but hey, I've been wrong before...