Project 4 - Color Samples Page
Due
- Your own, uniquely designed, color samples page
Designing your Color Samples Page
Design your own color samples page with 5–7 of your best portfolio samples. Print your color samples on white color-copier paper and mail it with your cover letter and resume.
When you apply for a job you will mail this along with your cover letter and resume. It is an excellent way to stand out in the crowd and to show a potential employer your skills and talents. It will also help by keeping your work in front of a potential employer when they are deciding who to hire.
This is often called a leave-behind when illustrators, photographers and designers use it. The purpose is to keep your name and your work in front of each potential employer as much as possible. The color samples sheet is a great representation of your skills, abilities, and talents.
Design your own color samples leave-behind so that it matches your design style and personality. As with the resume, use the leave-behind to differentiate yourself from the other applicants.
Suggested Guidelines
- 8.5” x 11”, single sided, color photocopy on good quality, white paper.
- Use only your best samples
- Chose samples that represent all of your abilities as a graphic artist. Design and layout, software skills, illustration abilities, color and typography knowledge, and technical, prepress, and printing experience.
- Show 5–7 samples on your leave-behind. Too many and they get too small, too few and your range of knowledge and skills is not fully represented.
- Include your name, address, phone, E-mail, and Web address if desired. I suggest your name at the top.
- Do not add extra design elements that distract from your samples or your name. Give the samples “breathing room” and let them speak for themselves.
- All of your sample files should be vector images, or 300ppi raster images.
- Be sure your raster sample images are the same size they will be on the leave-behind.
- Create your color samples leave-behind in InDesign or Illustrator. (NOT Photoshop)
Always mail your color samples page with your cover letter and resume—whether they ask for it or not. It will put you ahead of the competition by showing your work the first time they read your resume and cover letter.
Sample
Here is an example of a color samples page. It is 8.5" x 11", printed on bright white paper.
