This is my first attempt at packaging design. Why? you ask. Well, I have advice for those of you out there with only one portfolio. Make a portfolio for the average man!
When you make a professional portfolio there are a thousand rules to follow; only show the employer 10-12 pieces, customize each portfolio to the style of each company, always include life sketches, have a customized cover letter, the resume must always only be one page long... etc. etc. I have learned that when you show your portfolio to normal people from everyday life (not art directors or HR people), very few of those rules apply. Most people are embarrassed by nude figure drawings, so I've completely gotten rid of them. Also, show a wide range of skills. I'm dividing my portfolio into 4 sections: Sculpture, 2d (paintings), graphic design, and photography. I'm also not holding back on the number of pieces. I've noticed people will flip through and seem to want more than 12. So I'm giving each section 12 pieces. Like four portfolios jammed into one! Of course the cover letter is gone, no one wants to read anyway. I'm keeping the resume, and I've cut slits in the inner sleeve to hold three business cards instead of one. Average people seem to be impressed with business cards. Process work is gone too. I've never seen anyone look at my portfolio and comment on how they like seeing my thought process. HR people and art directors like that, but not John Q. Driveway. Another bit of advice is to keep the thing in your car. I've had tons of instances when my artwork comes up and someone says "oh, you should show me sometime" and it's great when you can say "I've got my portfolio in the car"! I'm also going to carry two in the car, one for the average man, and a professional 12 piece one on the off chance I run into someone who could hire me for a job.
So there you go. This is my first piece into graphic design. A whole realm of art I have NO business being in. But the average person won't know. If they flip by it and aren't impressed maybe something in the other 47 pieces will catch them.
nice work! for the record i remember commenting on your process work. and then I abused your talent for my more recent company. did you ever see my pop up character business card? you should steal it and use it. its a guarantee hire with any company you show.
ReplyDeleteNo, I've never seen it! Send me images of your pop up character business card!
ReplyDeletei guess i'll start off with seven! ahhhh. florida memories... beaches, alligators, palms, grumpy grampa's, sweat, weird, plazas, fast food chains, conservatives, it's $34.95 a box? never mind.
ReplyDelete-cecilia
thank you. i agree. jason and i are doing something similar for our new web site. what do you think about doing away with physical porfolios and just having your website portfolio on your business card? for meetings etc. without a connection you could pull them up on your laptop.
ReplyDelete-cecilia
I like having both physical and web based portfolios. I ALWAYS keep a portfolio in my car.
ReplyDelete