As for Extra-Fancy Portfolios...

Make sure the work your portfolio is showcasing is as strong or stronger than your presentation. That's the advice of designer Chanpory Rith. His advice is geared more towards advertising design, but it's worth considering. Check out his portfolio post here. And then read his "7 Deadly Sins of Resume Design" and the comments section too for a great discussion on what to do and not to do. He also gives great tips on how to pretty-up a Word doc resume here.

And while we're on the topic ... we're in the midst of planning our fall portfolio event, so if you have any questions or suggestions for us, we'd love to hear 'em!

  • I just went through the process of revamping my portfolio. The bad news is that it doesn't get much easier as a professional than it is as a student. The good news is that there are some guidelines that will help:

    * WHEN IN DOUBT, LEAVE IT OUT. If there's something that bugs you about that piece you did for your Junior year Typography class, don't include it. Even if no one notices, you won't be completely confident if it's in there, which could come across in an interview.

    * LESS IS MORE. Show about 10-20 pieces of only your BEST work. Be honest with yourself: you may have an emotional connection to a piece you pulled an all-nighter for, but it may be bringing down your over-all impression.

    * KEEP THE BIG PICTURE IN SIGHT. Another word for portfolio is book, and books have a beginning, middle, and end. Each piece should flow to the next. Your first and last pieces should be strong so you make a good first impression, and leave off with a bang.

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