I need opinions on portfolio work
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- benvoid
Hi guys. I've been looking for work a looong time and I'm not getting anywhere. I'm looking to get into a more creative role (I've been artworking for 4 years) I don't think my work is bad and I've had 2 interviews this year but I've applied for at least a hundred agencies and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'd consider myself to be a junior to midweight designer and I'm not looking for a lot of money £23,000 - £25,000 which I think is fair for someone with my experience. I've heard so many contrasting opinions I don't what to do.
Does anyone have any ideas of what kind of agencies I could apply for? Check out the websites below and I know my personal website needs more attention so please don't tear strips off it, its more about the work.Thanks
- evanburke0
Well this is a problem:
- Whats wrong with it?benvoid
- Hm that's another problemacrossthesea
- Well the keening for one, the star shape for another...NONEIS
- Now that you mention it I see what you mean. It's an old design but I'll definitely have a look at it.benvoid
- I think it's just a taste issueacrossthesea
- No. Lose it.luckyorphan
- CbrodyR
- bjladams0
first place i normally look is the logo section, and they are not that strong. rest of the work is nice though. do you need to work for an agency? or have you looked elsewhere?
- Well I've freelanced as an artworker for ages which is one of the reasons my portfolio is light on commercial design I'd like to work for agency so I can get some regular design work.benvoid
- evanburke0
agree with bjladams. Logo work is where I went first, and it's definitely week. Though I liked the "Grow your own" logo.
- acrossthesea0
Your photoshoppy stuff is pretty hip. I'd work in some more "real world" projects. These don't have to be actual client work that exists, but more realistic applications. Show that you can handle a brochure, large amounts of text and are comfortable with layout in general. Try your hand at some infographics, full identity systems and interactive sites. Again, this stuff doesn't need to be real, just label it as a concept and run with it.
- bjladams0
reason i asked was i come across lots of jobs that are aimed for designers but that no designers are looking into- local beer bottling co looking for full time designer (would suit your style) and things like that.
- _niko0
I quite like these, maybe include more of this type of work?
-Bike caddy packaging which qbn blocks from posting.
- _niko0
^ sorry missed them
- < Incidentally, your product/studio shots could use some level adjustments.luckyorphan
- At first, I thought this might have been Lego packaging. It has that style.Continuity
- i thought it was Lego or similar as well. the fonts are speaking towards a young demographic.e-pill
- make the fonts more aggressive that speak towards the product that is functional.e-pill
- I would except that this is a real product that went ahead. The only difference is that I put images on the sides. This is a 3d render.benvoid
- monNom0
I don't get a lot of 'concept' from your work. and that's something you're going to have to show if you want to move into more creative roles.
Try showing multiple facets of a single project or campaign to show how your ideas can adapt to different formats and media. Give some written background and description of what you were trying to convey with each piece.
Also note that the world economy still isn't firing on all cylinders, so you're competing with a lot of other talented and experienced people for those jobs. You might need to give it time and/or work your way up from a production role.
- JayCee0
Hey, I'm gonna use this thread to figure out who wants to connect on Tiger Woods... get a game on?
- orrinward0
I would not consider you a middleweight designer.
You look like you're I the same boat as me - Graduate/(if you're lucky) Junior.
Lower your salary expectations for 2 reasons:
Your work isn't shit-hot enough to get the highest paying junior roles. The average Junior in London seems to get between 18-20k. If you're not in London, lower that to 15-18k or so.
I've found that in the current climate, a lot of middleweight (3-4 years experience within an agency or so) designers are out of work or willing to drop to a Junior position. Three interviews I've been to have been for a Junior position. I have 18 months in industry + freelance experience and the other interviewees have been throwing at least twice that around.
This may not be great advice but it's what I've started to do, with some positive response. If a Junior position is advertised and a Middlewieght comes in asking for 25-26k, even if they're more experienced than you, the company may well take a risk on a less experienced, but more moldable-to-the-role person for 8k less per year.
Out of curiosity, are you in London?
- Have to agree with lowering your salary!FallowDeer
- Your numbers are a bit off, even if you are total shit you can expect 30k in the states.NONEIS
- jamble0
Couple of things immediately spring to mind.
1. Ditch the splash page, or expand on it. As it is it's not adding much to the site.
2. Resize your images properly rather than in the HTML - eg http://www.bencoxdesign.com/inde…
- JerseyRaindog0
The main problem for me is that there isn't actually much real work in there. Lots of photoshop work and illustrations but none of it means anything. I always look for real work or something that looks real world. Not much of your portfolio gives me an indication of what basic typesetting skills you have. The Lufthansa mag is clean but a bit dated and I don't actually like the Ernie exhibit but this is the kind of stuff I would want to see more of. The Glenfiddich stuff looks studenty to me - please tell me it was or someone at Glenfiddich needs their head examining...
Your portfolio is better than most of the knuckleheads I get through my door but I wouldn't offer you more than 20k initially based on what I see here.- Yes the glenfiddich is student stuff. I'll definitely get rid of itbenvoid
- Continuity0
I would lose this; well-done as it is, the style is very dated, now:
- Continuity0
The reason it's so critical to put in real-world work (or conceptual work that has been thought around possible, feasible real-world scenarios) is because aesthetic is only part of the equation for employers and clients alike.
The fundamental truth about what we do is it helps others (the clients we work for) reach their goals.
Did an advert you did the layout for help increase sales of a product? Did a logo you designed increase the client's profile in the marketplace, generating favourable PR? Did a website you helped with turn over an unprecedented number of visits compared to its previous iteration?
These are the questions you need to ask yourself when reviewing your own work to go into your folio. And if you don't have enough real-world stuff, then any self-initiated work should be done with this sort of thinking in mind.
- benvoid0
Thanks for the advice I agree there not as many real world projects in there as I would like. Most of the illustration work in my portfolio is recent and done to help improve my chances.
I started artworking years ago because the money was good but the work was shit so I don't want to put any of it in there. I have no problem working as an intern but thats another battle in its self.
Any advice on how to approach an agency in my position?
- Continuity0
It would depend on what you're looking for. Advertising agency? Design agancy? Digital shop? Most advertising and design agencies have DTP people, and that's your starting point. From there, you can always ask an art director or senior designer if you could do some proper design work for whatever project you're working on.
This demonstrates a willing to learn and grow, and shows initiative on your part to do so.
- benvoid0
I'm extremely willing and I'd gladly take a cut in my salary if it meant I actually get to do some design work. I don't know what type of agency I'd like to work for. In the past I've worked for different types of agency I'm a bit of a jack of all. I'd like to work for an agency that works with the music industry. I did some intern work earlier this year with Zip Design and I also worked at Attik and they were a lot of fun and I feel I could learn a lot from them.
- I suppose what I need is someone to see my commitment and my potential. Wishful thinking I know!benvoid
- vespa0
I think your recent illustrative work is strong, have you tried bigactive or anyone like that? The "Rock Star" piece reminds me a little of Mat Maitland, maybe you could ask about internships there?
I'm impressed with your attitude in this thread. You've come across as humble, passionate, and genuinely looking to learn. They are positive qualities, and exactly the things an agency looking for someone to train up would be after.
- e-pill0
you bike caddy looks like an INSECTICON!!!
inspirational work as fuck!! you opened my eyes wider!!
THE TOY INDUSTRY NEEDS PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!
MAKE GIANT ROBOTS!!!!!!!!dont know where you are looking at the moment but you can easily create a toy collection around that product design of the bike caddy.
it totally fits my design style too.. lets collab!!
- oh eh.. i didnt realize you are packaging designer and not product designer.. my mistake..e-pill
- the fonts dont sell the product, for the technical visual of the product i wish it was edgier..e-pill
- the fonts feel to "female" and not aggressive enough for that insane design.e-pill
- i really first thought this was a toy, the package is similar to Lego. has that child-like feel..e-pill
- since the demographic for the product is adult as it fits to a car, make the package strongere-pill
- The idea was to make the packaging simple and explanatory so the consumer would know how easy it is to use. But I see your pointbenvoid
- Ben, it doesn't do that though, it's cluttered and visually confusing.NONEIS
