A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO OF YOUR DESIGN WORK

Your "portfolio" is your advertisement and calling card, which will illustrate to everyone who needs the design services which you are able to provide, why they should hire you for the job, instead of someone else.  It is also required sometimes for admission or placement in graduate school or admission to upper levels of education at some institutions.

It is extremely important that your portfolio be neatly and professionally prepared, maintained and enlarged throughout your career.

The end product of this final project will be a personal portfolio that you will use in the future and expand on as you produce more high-quality design work.  You should think of this project not as just another "hoop" to jump through, but as the beginning of a life-long process.  It should also be looked at as an exercise in creativity, and a true design problem.

The portfolio is due on the scheduled day for the final exam and will take the place of a written exam.  It is a "concordance" of all your work during the semester.

Requirements are as follows:

COVER SHEET designed and drawn by you, including your name and address, and a "logo" for yourself that would personalize your total work.  You could create a photo-collage of your favorite visual image, building, interior, painting, photograph, movie, song, etc. for the cover sheet.

ONE PAGE WRITTEN INTRODUCTION TO YOU -  kind of like a resume, but even better, in that it should be artistically composed and not just a compilation of a lot of statistics.  SELL YOURSELF!  Type this on word processor and print out neatly on the best quality of bond paper on the letter?quality printer or with a good typewriter.

• Tell your own story
• Blow your own horn, but with style.
• Develop an image for yourself:
• Talk about your cultural background
• Present yourself as a unique individual
• Reveal your future aspirations, dreams and hopes
• Give examples of your travels to other places
• Say that you are creative
• Show that you make thoughtful, rational and unique designs
• Say that you have style and taste
• Talk about how you are intellectual
• Note that you are well-read
• Most of all emphasize that you are PROFESSIONAL
• Show how you are self-sufficient
• Describe your educational background
• Describe your moral and ethical values
• List your professional and community service experiences
• Describe your favorite hobbies and sports
• Write about your special interests - music, art, computers, teaching, reading, storytelling, movies, video, theater, opera, etc.

Research the cost of photographing your work with several possible companies and sources, including both taking the pictures as well as developing and printing them.  Use 8x10 glossy color or black and white photographs (with borders) as the standard for displaying your work.

Select a book and binder type that you will use.  Research the cost of the various options, listing the pros and cons of each.  Remember that "portfolio" comes from the root word "port" which means to carry.  Whatever you do must be "portable."  Most professionals consider the 11 1/2" x 14" page size the best since it will accommodate both horizontal and vertical format 8x10 photographs, however, the 8 1/2" x 11" page size is acceptable and may be more economical. The following are acceptable types:

Portfolio multi-ring (not three-ring) loose-leaf binder with replaceable pages. Most professionals consider this the best and most flexible format.

 

 
 
 
 
 

White plastic portfolio with clear acetate sleeves purchased from OfficeMax - 24 pages, maximum, although a beginner's portfolio need only be 12 pages

 

Large envelope

 

2 sheets of illustration board bound artistically with ribbons or string

 

Box or case containing individual pages

 

Select the MEDIA for your portfolio - be consistent in use throughout

• Colors to be used
• Materials to be used
• Colored pencil drawings
• Ink drawings
• Colored paper
• Mylar
• Press-on letters
• Sheet protectors
• Video
• CD-Rom
• Web site

• Photographs
• Original drawings
• Sketches
• Computer drawings
• Scanned drawings
• Slides
• Cut-out photographs on colored paper background
• Collage
• Written descriptions and text style

Note that descriptions should be on the left page, opposite the drawing or photograph, or they could be under the drawing.  Avoid placing descriptions above the drawing or photograph.  Text styles need to be carefully chosen to integrate seamlessly into the overall work.

Create the portfolio and submit to your Instructor for your final project grade on the final exam day and time.  You will receive a grade from your instructor and he or she will then return your portfolio to you.  Do not leave without it.  Be sure to carry it in a plastic bag, envelope or box to keep it dry.  Always keep your portfolio in a dry and dust-proof case. You will have it for a long time.  Do not let it out of your sight!
 

Dos and Don'ts for Portfolios

1. Do only include your best work

2. Do keep it extremely simple

3. Do use Arial or sans serif type styles

4. Do put images only on right page

5. Do only use multi-ring binders or have Kinko's bind with coiled or multi-ring bindings

6. Do make pages only white or black

7. Do put a white sheet filling up the entire page behind any tracing paper sketches

8. Do put labels (if any) under the images only (not above or to the side)

9. Do orient images to read from the bottom of the page or from the right side

10. Do make portfolio 8 1/2" x 11" maximum size

11. Do use a single lens reflex camera with only 200 ASA or 100 ASA 35mm color print film to photograph models and have Kinko's enlarge to 8 x 10 or 8 1/2" x 11" size - have them print on glossy paper

12. Do use a pair of really, really bright halogen or incandescent (blue) lights to illuminate models

13. Do use a black sheet backdrop for photographing models

14. Do turn off any fluorescent lights nearby while taking photographs

15. Do make sure the picture is in really, really sharp focus

16. Do not photograph flat drawings - take to Kinkos to scan and print or put originals in

17. Do not use any lettering color other than black

18. Do not use any page color other than white

19. Do not use any page texture other than smooth and matte

20. Do not use borders around photographs

21. Do keep your portfolio in a dry and dust-proof case

22. Put your best work first in the portfolio - also, put best work last (*but not the same best work)

23. Keep everything in proportion - nothing too large and nothing too small

24. Do keep all images aligned with the edge of the page - do not rotate images

25. Keep CADD drawings and CADD renderings to a minimum - most schools don't want to see them (they look too technical), but if you are applying for a job where they are looking for CADD skills, include a variety of CADD drawings - 2d, 3d and renderings

Dos and Don'ts on Resumes

1.  Do make it one page long
2.  Do compose it so it can easily be sent via email
3.  Do use at least 12 point type, Aerial font
4.  Do use both upper and lower case letters
5.  Don't use fancy formatting - no italics, boldface, underlining, or color
6.  Don't use exclamation points to try to show how excited you will be
7.  Do include this resume in your portfolio and keep extra copies to give to your prospective employer
8.  Do list your references and their addresses and telephone numbers
9.  Do post it on a free web site which you should make for yourself - list the web site address on your resume
10.  Do register your resume with job web sites
11.  Do include the following items:

        Objectives
        Qualifications
        Experience with dates - last first in list
        Education
        References

Top 10 Personal Characteristics Employers Want in a Job Candidate:

1. Communication Skills

2. Work Experience

3. Motivation - Initiative

4. Teamwork Skills

5. Leadership Abilities

6. GPA - Academic Credentials

7. Technical Skills

8. Interpersonal Skills

9. Analytical Skills

10. Ethics

Remember – you are creating a work of art in your portfolio.  Treat is as such.