On Friday Chris Jackson from Elmwood came in and did portfolio surgeries with us, I managed to book a time slot with him and have a chat with him about my work and portfolio.
We started off the surgery by looking through my whole portfolio and I explained each of the projects and told him a little about each one and what was involved within it. After speaking about the whole portfolio, we back through it from the start and Chris commented on things he thinks I could change to improve it and make it a better portfolio.
I asked him if he could comment on how the portfolio works as a whole, if it showcases me as a designer with a particular style and also about the make up of the portfolio - layout, projects included, decriptions etc.
Feedback -
Order of projects -
Look at the order of the projects within the portfolio to make it flow better. Group similar projects together either on products created or colour - in some fashion so similar ones are together and they aren't all dotted around within the portfolio.
Fedrigoni - YCN -
Don't include both YCN briefs, they are both very similar and even though it shows good work for a commercial outcome, it looks too much having two projects based around the same company / idea.
Project Types -
The projects include are very design led and not so much of a commercial outcome. Maybe include a variation of projects to show more of a commercial viability within the project. Or show different shots / mock up of the work within context of a commercial setting.
Elements within Projects -
Instead of all just being shots of the final products and physical things that have been produced, show some of the design elements within the projects. Pull out logos and brand marks, iconography etc to show how the project has been built up in terms of the design. This will also create a more interesting portfolio as it won't all be image led.
Order of showing work within projects -
Look at the images selected within the projects and be more selective with these. Some pages have images which are of the same shot, just at different angles, this isn't necessary within the same project overview. Less images isn't always a bad thing.
Photography of work -
Ensure the photography of work throughout the portfolio is consistent, some project have really bright, sharp images and other are photographed on dark backgrounds creating duller images. Re-photograph work or take it out of the portfolio. Look at the photography within each project and make sure consistent images are being used.
Condense Projects -
Not all projects need to be as long as they have been within the portfolio. Condense the smaller projects down to one or two pages and maybe increase some for the larger projects. This will also create a better flow through the portfolio and it won't all be the same, with the same amount of pages for each project.
Samples -
Take samples whenever showing anyone the portfolio. A lot of wok is physical print, so having them there to show is much better than showing a photograph of it. Project that you choose to take samples of, condense down the project within the portfolio.
NB Manifesto -
Great idea and works well as something to hand out to clients - employers. Maybe don't include within the portfolio as it is a personal project and something that you are using as a tool to advertise yourself, putting it within the portfolio is showing them it before they actually have it, meaning them getting it has no impact. Take it out of portfolio and give them the product instead.
The surgery with Chris was great, he gave me some good feedback, which I can work on and make changed according to within my portfolio to make it stronger and reflect me better as a designer.
Showing posts with label Portfolio surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portfolio surgery. Show all posts
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Friday, 9 May 2014
OUGD602 // Portfolio Surgery // Andy Lodge
Today I had my first portfolio surgery with Andy. I was interested in the feedback that I was going to get from this and was looking to forward to a verdict about my portfolio. I have already used it for a previous internship interview, which well went and I got good feedback on my work, so it will be good to get another point of view.
For this surgery I was more interested in getting feedback about the actual layout, photography and the make up of the portfolio than the actual work within it. I think getting feedback on this is the most essential, as I am confident with the work within the portfolio, it was more the layout that was a concern.
The Surgery
Initially we talked through my portfolio and I explained some of the projects and spoke about the processes involved within them. Speaking through the work and being asked questions about the work itself was a good exercise to practice how to speak about my work and getting the idea / concept across to someone else. It was good tog et brief feedback within this about the projects and how Andy thought I could improve / expand some of the projects.
Feedback
After speaking about the projects, we went back through the portfolio and Andy gave me feedback more on the portfolio make up and layout of the whole product.
- Consistent Photography
The photography within the portfolio is great, it is evident that work from this year has been taking more care of within the photography stages and thats because I am more aware of what is needed. But projects included from 2nd year, don't fit within the rest of the projects. These images are much darker and against a grey background.
- Photography shots within projects
Watch out for white balance / colour tints within photographs within the same projects. Also look at the cropping of images within the containers. Either shoot the photos close up for detailed shots or pan out and be a full spread shot.
- Description Detail
Project description is a good inclusion within the portfolio. The length of the description is a good length and gives a good brief description about each project. Pay more attention to the container around the description. Maybe lower the opacity and scale down the container size, so that the borders are consistent around the type - make it so the more information added the container grows in size. Point size of type should be smaller and the project design areas don't really add anything to the projects itself - could include a more itemised list of products within the project.
- Layout Variation / Length of project
Within the portfolio, each project is very similar within the layout, so it needs to be mixed up a little and have a variation within the length of each project. Some of the projects didn't need that many pages and could be shorter. Also look at the amount of images within a page.
- Borders on Pages
Borders on within the portfolio need to be consistent throughout the portfolio. Front images of the project should be full bleed and the pages should be trimmed down to get rid of the border as it makes it look like it hasn't been thought through properly.
- Order of work
Look at the order of the projects and look at how they fit together through the use of colours and the project design area. Think about how the title page sits at the top or bottom of the portfolio.
- Carry Branding through
Use type from my own branding within the portfolio. This should be all typefaces, not just the body copy. Use heading type for the headings of each project. Look at the opening page of the portfolio which holds my own details. Should this link more to the manifesto brief? Maybe introduce a block colour into the page as printed onto white should an unconsidered approach. Also think about where the branding brief - manifesto should be placed within the portfolio. At the beginning to show who I am or at the end to say this is who I am and this would lead onto handing out business cards.
- Samples
Take samples with portfolio to show for the projects that are necessary for / can be seen better in physical form. Publications, print are best examples of this to take along and demonstrate the process taking to achieve the products. With projects that have samples, cut down the images within the portfolio as you can show the physical product instead.
I found the portfolio surgery very helpful and it was really good to get more feedback based on the creation / make up of the portfolio instead of just on the work. I think taking this away will be good to use when looking back at my portfolio and putting this feedback into practice.
For this surgery I was more interested in getting feedback about the actual layout, photography and the make up of the portfolio than the actual work within it. I think getting feedback on this is the most essential, as I am confident with the work within the portfolio, it was more the layout that was a concern.
The Surgery
Initially we talked through my portfolio and I explained some of the projects and spoke about the processes involved within them. Speaking through the work and being asked questions about the work itself was a good exercise to practice how to speak about my work and getting the idea / concept across to someone else. It was good tog et brief feedback within this about the projects and how Andy thought I could improve / expand some of the projects.
Feedback
After speaking about the projects, we went back through the portfolio and Andy gave me feedback more on the portfolio make up and layout of the whole product.
- Consistent Photography
The photography within the portfolio is great, it is evident that work from this year has been taking more care of within the photography stages and thats because I am more aware of what is needed. But projects included from 2nd year, don't fit within the rest of the projects. These images are much darker and against a grey background.
- Photography shots within projects
Watch out for white balance / colour tints within photographs within the same projects. Also look at the cropping of images within the containers. Either shoot the photos close up for detailed shots or pan out and be a full spread shot.
- Description Detail
Project description is a good inclusion within the portfolio. The length of the description is a good length and gives a good brief description about each project. Pay more attention to the container around the description. Maybe lower the opacity and scale down the container size, so that the borders are consistent around the type - make it so the more information added the container grows in size. Point size of type should be smaller and the project design areas don't really add anything to the projects itself - could include a more itemised list of products within the project.
- Layout Variation / Length of project
Within the portfolio, each project is very similar within the layout, so it needs to be mixed up a little and have a variation within the length of each project. Some of the projects didn't need that many pages and could be shorter. Also look at the amount of images within a page.
- Borders on Pages
Borders on within the portfolio need to be consistent throughout the portfolio. Front images of the project should be full bleed and the pages should be trimmed down to get rid of the border as it makes it look like it hasn't been thought through properly.
- Order of work
Look at the order of the projects and look at how they fit together through the use of colours and the project design area. Think about how the title page sits at the top or bottom of the portfolio.
- Carry Branding through
Use type from my own branding within the portfolio. This should be all typefaces, not just the body copy. Use heading type for the headings of each project. Look at the opening page of the portfolio which holds my own details. Should this link more to the manifesto brief? Maybe introduce a block colour into the page as printed onto white should an unconsidered approach. Also think about where the branding brief - manifesto should be placed within the portfolio. At the beginning to show who I am or at the end to say this is who I am and this would lead onto handing out business cards.
- Samples
Take samples with portfolio to show for the projects that are necessary for / can be seen better in physical form. Publications, print are best examples of this to take along and demonstrate the process taking to achieve the products. With projects that have samples, cut down the images within the portfolio as you can show the physical product instead.
I found the portfolio surgery very helpful and it was really good to get more feedback based on the creation / make up of the portfolio instead of just on the work. I think taking this away will be good to use when looking back at my portfolio and putting this feedback into practice.
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