Starting anew-ish

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  • colin_s

    So I don't work in design, or at least haven't recently, much. I've been freelancing with a few start ups over the past 5 years, mostly doing work that was paying the bills / my habits of drinking and painting.

    Anyway, it's been some time since I tried to get a 'real' design job; though I have a couple degrees and experience at senior / AD levels, it's all from 4 or 5 years ago.

    The portfolio I've amassed in the meantime is mostly art, photography, writing, and the design work has all been in books and magazines I've published on my own and with various collectives.

    Basically everything but corporate / published client work.

    So I imagine I should just re-initiate / self-motivate a new "senior portfolio" as it were, just to try and garner interest. I've designed a couple apps that I thought up, but what else are people looking for these days? I mean if it's visual I can do it, the work isn't the problem, I just need to know what potential employers look for to convince them I know what the shit I'm doing.

    I figure there's enough professionals on here, it seems the whole like "I know how to do branding" thing si played out, but I'm not just some idiot UX designer, I just think that's part of the rest of it ... so much is specific to niche markets and I'm a more jack-of-all-trades type, just gotta get back on my feet.

    Thanks all.

  • lowimpakt0

    do it

  • capn_ron0

    go for it. do something with your work to present it and see what happens.

  • monospaced0

    You probably won't have any issues; you articulate and understand your capabilities very well, and potential companies will recognize that.

  • freedom0

    What kind of work have you been doing for the start ups?

    Can you put together a portfolio of work and make it seem like you've been freelancing for the past 5 years?

    You've had time to think about what kind of job you want so you can and will find a job that's a good fit for you.

    But also if haven't been working on a lot of design recently, the agencies and firms might be out of reach for you, certainly at a senior level.

    Education is one thing, experience and blood and sweat is another.

  • colin_s0

    Hah thanks to those that responded but I suppose I didn't articulate the question well enough - basically, "What should I aim for in terms of designing a portfolio"

    I figure an app or two from UX to visual design (of which I have a few of already), but would anything layout wise in print / web be meaningful in the age of responsive design? Or is it more conveying that I understand responsive frameworks?

    Basically I'm trying to put together a portfolio but I don't want to spend time doing one type of project when another would be more appropriate for the marketplace (as it were).

    • One word... research. See what portfolio's look like for the role you want from peers, what types of work they show.matski
    • Behance would be a good start.matski
  • Hayoth0

    Strategy...show you are capable of aligning business to creative.

  • freedom1

    You don't have to do apps, maybe you're more suited to a publishing company or designing for a museum? Figure out how to do what you like and earn money from it.