7 Reasons Why You Need to Start Thinking About Your Portfolio NOW
March 1, 2011
•IADT Sacramento
• 0 Comments
Araceli Gomez, portfolio class instructor at IADT Sacramento, asked her current students to share what advice they’d give to other students knowing what they know now:
“Ask your instructors for advice on improving your work.”
– Once you’ve completed an assignment, don’t just accept it and store it. Take that opportunity to improve on it - ask your instructor how you can make it better. It may not improve your grade, but it will improve your understanding of the project, and it can become a project you are proud enough to show in your portfolio.
“Think of an audience rather than just what you want.”
- Many times you create projects that are appealing to you as a designer, but you have no target audience in mind. Instead, try to think of who you might be creating it for. Allow yourself to think outside the box!
“Keep all your projects!”
–Don’t throw anything away or wait for it to become damaged at home by your pets, kids or just from it sitting in the closet. Get projects scanned, photographed, and digitized as soon as you get them back. I can’t tell you how many students I see having to redo so many things in their portfolios. The more you have to work with when editing and putting your portfolio together ,the better off you’ll be.
“Apply your work to real world applications
.” – Showcase your work in a way that is easier for your audience to understand how your work can be applied to their needs. For example, apply your 2-D business card to an actual image of a business card rather than a 2-D flat image by itself, or place your garment on a dress form - or better yet, an actual person - rather than just photographing it flat or on a hanger.
“If you can avoid poster boards, do so.” – Most students find that they are hard to scan and photograph for later placement in their portfolio. This is not to say that you should stop using boards, especially when that’s the instructors’ requirement. Rather, try to scan the images and objects individually before you place them on the board. This way, you can recreate your board digitally and have it ready for your portfolio!
“Include a description about your project.”
– As several students were going through their previous projects, that they could not remember what the project was about. Make a note to yourself explaining the project, what the requirements were, and how you created it.
“Order your portfolio as soon as possible.”
- Most of you will be making the investment of getting a professional portfolio. Even though the focus is on your work inside, how you present your portfolio is just as important, and it can set the tone for what kind of response and feedback you get.