Graphic Design Portfolio

http://jordantbell.com/
http://www.coreybhale.com/
http://samanthahawthorne.com/
http://cargocollective.com/willowgraphics
http://jamesutley.com/
http://cargocollective.com/shawnamcdanel
http://hannahabarnes.com/
http://cargocollective.com/brittanys_portfolio/My-Portfolio
http://keithjernigan.com/

So I know we haven’t talked about this much in class, but we all have to do them, and I have been struggling with finding the balance between a very professional ‘business world’ type resume and cover letter, and the design world. So I came across these two articles and I think they are extremely helpful. I hope yall find them useful!

AIGA common mistakes of resumes and cover letters 

Smashing Magazine: What makes a great cover letter?

I came across this link when browsing for self promo ideas. They have some really great examples that will help us all out. Here is the link: CLICK HERE

Information Design made beautifully… simple and informative.

Making an e-Portfolio is easier than you think. In a few words, this is what you need to do:

Design everything in InDesign.
1. Start a new document, letter size, landscape orientation.
2. Create master pages for style, grid, type, and “navigation-bar” if needed.
3. Import images. Make sure you’ve sized them correctly, no need for oversized images nor “higher than you need” resolution.
4. Export document as PDF. Uncheck “spreads.” Try a few options under “compression” from PDF export menu. If you keep the Image Quality to its maximum, it will result in larger file, so try a medium or low image quality, but do NOT compromise quality.

Add “minimal” interaction (hotspots) in Adobe Acrobat:
1. Open PDF document. Display thumbnails.
2. Go to Tools>Advanced Editing>Link Tool. Click and drag over area you wish to make a “hotspot.” Select “Invisible Rectangle” for Link Type, and “Go to a page view” for Link Action. If you’re using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Pro, simply select the text (or image) you would like to make a hotspot, right-click, and choose “Create Link”

3. Link to the page by clicking (highlighting it) on thumbnail column and then “Set Link.” Repeat same steps for each hotspot on every page.
4. Save file and test it, make sure the links are working as you planned.

I just read on Khoi Vinh’s twitter a link to a DesignStaff post on hiring a designer and how to review portfolios. I think what DesignStaff has to say about how professionals review portfolios could be very insightful and helpful for us in portfolio class. Khoi Vinh is an amazing designer (used to be Creative Director at NY Times) and now a daily read for me over at his subtraction.com . Check out and follow @khoi and @DesignStaff though!

Hope this is insightful!
Jordan 

CRU Dinnerware is looking for interns. Well, they call them “Ambassadors.”

As an Ambassador at CRU, you are given a tremendous amount of responsibility, so we take your application very seriously. We look for CRU Ambassadors who are passionate about offering our luxurious items and have proven success in college. Participants in this program will organize and execute projects in the following departments:

•Event Planning

•Online Marketing

•Retail Marketing

•Social Media

•Networking

http://cru-intl.com/index.php

He’s so good!

One of my best friends from highschool, Emmanuel Carrillo (click to see his portfolio website), recently sent me a message about this Portfolio Handbook he and a few classmates put together.  They made it to sell and raise money for their senior show.  Eman is an Industrial Design major at the University of Cincinnati but is currently working in Boston at some place that does some cool stuff. I love Industrial Design and I’m really glad that he got to pursue that, he has a huge fascination with shoes and wants to design the heck out of them.

It’s free to download the PDF of the book and I would recommend checking it out. It offers some great insight from current students, alumni, as well as professors.  My favorite part of the book is the letters of advice from previous students and the letters from professors telling “what they wish they had known.” So go download it and check it out!

Alumnus and friend Jason Booker shared this with me, and let me pass on to you: He compiled a list of prospective employers in graphic design, advertising, and media in the DFW area. Use this to your advantage as you create a list of possible places you want to apply for a job. Click on image to access map.