Projects

Project One: Portfolio

This is it everyone! All these years of hard work will compile the most important document – your portfolio.

Background
Assemble a portfolio of your works. Select your best pieces: some projects can be used as they are, some will be redesigned, and you will need to design new ones in order to close the gap in some areas you see fit, and to differentiate your book from the others. Have in mind that this project will actually be used for interviews when searching for jobs – so the quality of your work has to be excellent and look very professional!

No excuses for sloppy material.

Attention to details, cleanness and cohesive presentation will reflect on how organized you are as person and eventually as a professional. It can be the difference between getting a job or not.

An effective interview is not only based on the quality of your work, but how you sell it, how you convince your prospects that you are ready for the tasks to come.

Process
1. Determine your areas of interest and your vision (tone, style)
2. Selection of designs (range: identity, poster, packaging, etc.)
3. Refinement of existing design (or development of new projects)
4. Compile portfolio (bound book, case with separate sheets)

Specifications
Size: To be determined, based on portfolio case (you must start shopping for cases asap)
# of pieces: 12 – 16 (8 to 10 projects previously done in class, plus at least 4 new projects including senior capstone graphic design project)
Mounted on mat-board, foam core, or portfolio mounting sheets

Grading Criteria

20 points: Work in class
30 points: Quality of projects included: design elements, typography, concept
50 points: Portfolio presentation/organization – printouts, photos, craftsmanship

Project due – Thursday, March 8

Homework: putting it together
Bring your works for review. We will discuss which designs to include, design that has to be redone and/or new projects.

Create a ‘Google spreadsheet’ for a Portfolio Record Sheet with all information necessary for your pieces. Label and describe them so we know what pieces to expect in your portfolio.

homework due – Thursday, Jan 26

Resources:

Cases

http://paperhaus.com/
http://www.dickblick.com/categories/portfolios/

Project Two: Leave-behind

Background

A leave-behind as the name suggests, is a part or sampling of a portfolio that is left with a potential employer after a meeting or interview. Leave-behinds can be anything from brochures, self-promotional flyers, creative packages with key portfolio elements, or printed images. Some leave-behinds are more elaborate and interactive, depending on time and budget allowances, such as an interactive and custom designed and packaged CD or DVD or a nicely printed color brochure with pockets for accompanying CDs and business card.

Leave-behinds are typically used in advertising, design, photography and fine art, and is most often a single printed piece that depicts either a single piece from the portfolio or a collage of several portfolio pieces.

The goal of a leave-behind is to help the interviewer(s) remember the candidate and his/her work in the days follow the meeting and/or spark more interest from a potential employer. It also works in the same way a business card does, providing contact information to follow-up with.

Brief
Assemble a mini-book of your works. Select projects from your portfolio (not necessarily all of them), and print a small book to give to the persons you will be having interviews with, or mail them out to possible prospective clients/employers.

Attention to details, cleanness and cohesive presentation will reflect on how organized you are as person and eventually as a professional.

Remember, an effective interview is not only based on the quality of your work, but how you present it, how you convince your prospects that you are ready for the tasks to come, and leave-behinds become part of the process.

Process
1. Selection of designs (mostly same projects from portfolio, but not all)
2. Design (take printing restraints into consideration)
3. Compile your leave-behind
4. Presentation

Specifications
Size: To be determined, based on personal preferences
# of pieces: 10 – 15
Mini-book must be prototyped (see examples in class)

Grading Criteria
50 points: Quality of projects included: design elements, typography, concept
50 points: Portfolio presentation/organization – printouts, photos, craftsmanship

Project due – Thursday, March 8

Resources:

Mini-books
http://www.shutterfly.com/

http://www.blurb.com/

Cards
http://us.moo.com/en/

Project Three: ePortfolio (PDF)

Background
Designers who need to submit electronic files of their portfolios via the Internet or saved on a CD often create them as PDFs. This is a good choice because many different files can be captured in PDF format including InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. PDF compresses the documents into files small enough to email, and those viewing the PDF don’t have to worry about having the right software because essentially PDF reader is readily available for downloads. PDFs are extremely easy to make, easy to update, and much less expensive than a website of your work. PDFs have become the digital portfolio format of choice for designers all over the world because they are quick and simple tool for promoting design work.

Brief
Convert your hardcopy portfolio into a digital one. Most prospects will ask and expect your electronic portfolio (PDF). This portfolio can be paired with your website (if you have one) as a downloadable version, or presented separately.

Use PDF interaction capabilities for navigation, and showing images/information. Be mindful and keep the file size small (no bigger than 6MB), as you will be sending your electronic portfolio through emails.

PDF Delivery
Email to: nil.santana@acu.edu
or upload file to the class DropBox,
or have it saved in a FlashDrive to be loaded on the teacher’s station.

Grading Criteria
40 points: Quality of projects included: design elements, typography, concept
50 points: Portfolio presentation/organization: photos, navigation, fonts, colors, etc.
10 points: file size, compatibility

Deadline – Thursday, Mar 29

Project Four: Senior Capstone (Hybrid) Project

Self-promotion Mailer/Capstone

Background
The Senior Capstone (Hybrid) Project will demonstrate your abilities in the following areas:

• problem identification
• visual research
• creativity
• organization

For this project, you can select one or various areas of design that directly relate to your area of interest and practice, then design a promotional mailer. Promotional pieces are in fact limited edition designs, reflecting the kind of work you want to do. They help establish your image, and create new opportunities for you by generating contact with prospective clients.

Brief
Design a self-promotion piece that will help you get the word out. Have in mind that the design should reflect your creativity, design ability, and talent as well, so do not simply limit it to showing same projects from your portfolio. Define your goals and audience, and then develop concepts, visual cues about you, your personality, the kind of work you can do.

Criteria/deliverables
Mailer must be flat (booklet): self-made (from local printers), or Blurb-made.
Or printed as individual cards, self-contained (envelope or custom package).
Or a series of posters: folded, printed front and back, (or rolled in mailing tube).

You must show research, goal (statement),  process work, and final design(s).

Project will be graded on:
Visual Research: personal statement, potential areas of work
Design: creativity, use of type, layout, images, clarity, navigation
Presentation: craftsmanship, cohesiveness with personal statement.

Deadline – Finals (Tuesday, May 8 – 4:00-6:00pm)