Project 8 - Your Portfolio
Due
- Group work research (see instructions below)
- Your completed portfolio case with at least fifteen samples mounted in it
Group Work Instructions (In Class)
In class, get into your collaborative groups and complete the following:
- Create a list of the top ten things a graphic designer's portfolio should have
- Create a list of the top ten things a graphic designer's portfolio shouldn't have
- How many samples should you have?
- What kind of samples?
- Cite your sources
- Type your information and email it to the instructor at: kuncec@westerntc.edu
Choose 15 pieces of Your Best Work - Suggested Samples
As you begin to gather samples for your portfolio, use the list of projects below to guide you. We can meet during class time to discuss the direction of your portfolio and your samples—just ask.
As you see below, I suggest using comprehensive design samples for many of your portfolio samples. A comprehensive design sample is a real, industry-quality project (or class project that resembles a industry-quality project) that uses multiple software programs and combines art, photos, type, color, layout, etc.
- Comprehensive Design Sample - Project from outside of class
- Comprehensive Design Sample - Marketing Presentation booklet
- Comprehensive Design Sample - Corporate or brand identity
- Comprehensive Design Sample - Brochure - InDesign
- Comprehensive Design Sample - Poster
- Comprehensive Design Sample - Booklet/brochure - InDesign
- Comprehensive Design Sample - Foldable Direct Mail Piece
- Comprehensive Design Sample - Packaging
- Adobe Photoshop - Comprehensive project/final
- Adobe Illustrator - Comprehensive project/final
- Printing & Prepress - Brochure, booklet, card, note pad, etc.
- Color or B/W Illustration - Pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic…
- Web site/Animation - 3–4 Web pages, or 6–8 storyboard scenes
- Your Choice - Design projects from outside of class
- Your Choice - Design projects from outside of class
Keep in mind…
You should weight your portfolio based on the job you are applying for. For example: if you are applying for a web designer job, put several web sites and animation designs in your portfolio and take out some print design samples.
If you don’t want to include samples because you feel they are not portfolio-quality, fix them! Make them portfolio quality. That is what this class is for.
If you do not want to include areas that you may not want to work in, like prepress, Web design, or illustration, that is okay. But I encourage you to have at least one sample of each to demonstrate your depth of knowledge and experience. You don’t have to accept a job in a field that you don’t want to work, but not having a variety of samples may limit the number of job offers you get. Employers want to see a variety of skills in applicants.
Creating and Designing your Portfolio
Your portfolio is the most important marketing tool you will have to demonstrate your skills and abilities to a potential employer during an interview. The samples you choose need to show that you have a range of talents and broad experience in many areas of graphic design.
I have digital photos of a sample student portfolio below. Check out how other student samples have been presented in a portfolio.
Which Portfolio should I buy?
I have chosen a professional graphic designer's portfolio and placed it for sale in the Western Campus Bookstore for approx. $70. Ask for the portfolio for Graphic Design. It is a $140 leather-bound portfolio case that will last you a life-time with proper care. We buy in large quantities, so you save $70.
If you choose to buy your own, be sure that it looks professional and is 11" x 14". Also, be sure that the clear plastic pages inside are crystal clear and don't have wrinkles. $70 may seem like a lot now, but the quality of the portfolio I have chosen is worth it. I would suggest you don't buy a lesser-quality portfolio just to save $20–$30. It is too important to the job search process to skimp.
Your Portfolio Samples
Use real-life, printed samples of your work as often as possible. It makes your work look more professional. If you don’t have printed samples, use color copies/printouts/mock-ups. Also show examples of pre-press and printing projects. This shows potential employers that you know what happens to your design files when they leave the computer. Store mock-ups and printed samples between the pages or in the back flap of your portfolio. Take the time during an interview to talk about your knowledge of what happens when you finish a design or illustration (the process of pre-press, printing, and finishing, etc.)
Helpful Guidelines
- The first sample should always be your best sample. Make sure it is a comprehensive design sample. WOW! Them with your first piece.
- The last sample should be your second best. Open and close with a WOW!
- Middle samples should still be your best work.
- You may alternate your samples to add variety and interest. This will continuously demonstrate your versatility and wide range of skills and talents. Example: design, illustration, Web page, printed sample, drawing
- Or, if you prefer, you may group your designs together. Example: all design samples, then all Web samples, Photo samples, etc. Personally, I prefer the alternating samples approach.
- Center each sample on the black paper that comes with your portfolio.
- Simply roll two pieces of clear tape and place them on the back of your sample—on two opposing corners (Scotch Magic tape works well)
Refer to the portfolio pages below for layout ideas when putting samples on pages
I suggest you show thumbnails and concept ideas in your portfolio, especially if you are applying for a more creative job which will require conceptualization, visual problem solving, and designing. Art directors and creative directors like to see how you arrived at your final ideas, and which ideas you chose not to use. If your thumbs and roughs are scribbled on a piece of notebook paper or scrap of paper, clean them up a little and just scan them in—as-is. The creative process can be messy, and I feel it is okay to show this process. A two-page spread works well for this type of sample. Put your finished piece on the left side (so they see the best piece first), and place your thumbs and ideas sketches on the right..
Your portfolio must be flawless, impactful, and show that you can do the job you are applying for.
Perfection is the goal.
Sample Portfolio Pages
Here is a great example of how a portfolio could look. These are actual photos of student portfolio pages. I have combined different student work to show variety and unique presentation styles. As you can see here, the portfolio has a simple design—each sample is placed on a plain black background. You want your art/design sample to take center stage and get noticed. Follow these examples and you will have an inspiring, professional-looking portfolio--that will help you land a job.
For all booklets, cards, brochures and multi-page projects, just show the cover under the plastic sheet. I recommend making an additional mockup of the sample and have it stored between the pages, or in the back pocket. When you get to that sample during an interview, you can hand your mockup sample to the employer to look at. This does two things: 1. They can see how well you constructed the sample and how well you design for folds, trim, margins, etc. 2. The mockup makes your work seem more realistic and professional.
