Work Samples & KeepsakeWhen submitting your resume for a job application, you may not want to send a whole portfolio, depending on the situation. You may want to entice the employer though, by sending a work sample of your work. Work samples consist of a few sample images from one or a few projects. You may print these on note cards, with one project per card (double-sided), and slip these in the envelope along with your resume and cover letter. You can explore different sizes with the work sample pages, depending on how you are mailing/sending your application. You may also send online work samples, which are basically condensed versions of your portfolio. Then if you get the call-back, you bring your real portfolio to the interview. ContentAlways keep in mind that your portfolio is one among many. What you put into your portfolio should distinguish you from the crowd and be the best representation of yourself, your interests, and your abilities. Use attention grabbing images that make the viewer stop and slow down. Place your best work at critical places throughout the book, at the front and at the end of the portfolio and several times in between. If organizing your book into “sections” or “signatures,” use an interesting graphic as the opening and closing pages. Every image and graphic element that you use, however, should have a purpose. An internship portfolio typically includes theoretical design projects, and coursework such as photographs or artwork. Professional portfolios can include finished images and built work: the former stresses process and ability to think/design; the latter reveals your ability to produce presentation quality graphics. Gauge how much work to show from each category based on where you are applying. As you gain professional experience, include one or two examples of work in your portfolio. StructureDecide early how you want to present your work. Making use of a simple grid saves time when formatting pages and also establishes a recognizable pattern to the way that you present information in your portfolio. With a flexible document grid, layouts can be adjusted per project, providing consistency and flexibility at the same time. Consider whether your portfolio will be viewed on a computer screen (single-page layout) versus print (two-page “spread”). Locate repetitive elements, such as titles, text, page numbers, and diagrams consistently on each page and from section to section. Establish hierarchy by using a single, large image supported by 1-3 smaller images or diagrams. Don’t overcrowd the page and don’t be afraid of white space. We recommend starting out by using a template grid that can be adjusted according to your specific guidelines. Here we are using the Brockman System to set up our structure. You can download InDesign templates from thegridsystem.org under the ‘Templates’ section. Refer to grid templates and sample pages below. Once you have downloaded a template you can then adjust the Baseline and Document Grids. You might prefer a larger or a smaller grid than what is given, in order to create the graphic layout you are seeking. The document units are set in points, so that images and text can align in the grid. To adjust the Document Grid (turquoise lines): Layout > Create Guides The document grid should be set up on a master page so it can be applied as an underlay to the document as necessary. You can set up rows and columns of guides and it can be fit to the page or the margins (you will have to decide what is best for your printing and binding structure. You can also adjust the gutter To adjust Baseline Grid (grey lines): Edit > Preferences > Grids and Guides You can adjust the spacing and color of your baseline grid. Working in units of points, the baseline grid can be adjusted to work with the document grid as well as type. Work with increments that work with the Document Grid. To adjust type: Create a text box and then right-click > Text Frame Options Under ‘Baseline Options’ change the offset to Leading, and change your font spacing to an increment that works with the Baseline Grid. Now your type and type boxes will adjust according to the document grid you have set up. As you change the size of fonts they should adjust automatically to your grid. Methodology/OrganizationDocumentation:
Organization:
Other helpful tips:
Format/SizeThe size of your portfolio is a personal preference, but is something you should decide on at the beginning of the process, to make things easier on yourself. There is some difference between a professional portfolio and an academic portfolio that you should also be aware of. These days it seems that 8 ½” x 11” portrait or landscape is preferred among professionals. It is no-fuss, does not require trimming, and is a standard size that is easy to handle. Headings/Texts/FontsIt is useful to set up a master format when starting your portfolio, so you can place material according to the system you have set up, so the projects flow from one to each other. Even if the projects are very different, having a clear graphic style will tie the projects together. CoverCovers are an important part of your portfolio, it’s the first impression reviewers have, and it will either intrigue them to look further or not. You want to entice the viewer with your cover and give a layout or image that reveals something about you, your work or your style. If you are binding your portfolio by hand, the cover should be made of a sturdy, high-quality material, thicker than the rest of your pages. There are guidelines to follow when laying out your cover, but it depends on the method you are using. If you are spiral-binding, the cover should be slightly larger than the rest of your pages, 1/8” to 1/4”. But if you are perfect-binding, the cover might be flush with the rest of the book. Covers and signatures are not only a beautiful addition to any book, but they are also a useful tool for keeping the book together. The cover will be glued to the spine of the book, keeping all the parts together. Printing & PublishingIt is economical yet tedious to print and bind your portfolios yourself. If you want to have them printed professionally, there are many local printing companies as well as online publishers. Here is a list of a few to start. Bookbinding TechniquesThis section is devoted to different binding techniques, that you can do a home or professionally. Something to remember when deciding how to bind your book: make sure you make it durable. Your portfolio might go through many peoples’ hands, so you want it to last and look professional. Perfect Binding  Before writing the steps it would be better to have a material checklist. You should have some signatures a cover (thicker than the papers) bookbinding glue (White or Gorilla glue, Hot glue, PVA glue etc.) scissors brush for spreading the glue Instructions
Spiral Binding Instructions Things you'll need:
spiral bound book. -Put your printed book pages together and line up the edges so that everything is even. -Insert the book (left side in) into the spiral binding machine. Be sure that it is all the way in and then pull the lever down to create perforations. If it is a very thick book, you will have to take a few pages at a time and then line everything back up again. -Insert the spiral binding comb into the top of the spiral binding machine (with the side that opens up facing upwards) and then pull the lever back to open the comb. -Insert your opaque back cover into the combs first. Then the printed book pages, and finally the top clear cover. -Pull the lever back up and close the combs to create your completed spiral bound book. http://ezinearticles.com/?Bookbinding-Tutorial---Perfect-Binding-Your-Book-Easily&id=895824 Japanese BindingYou don't have to buy new copies. It's easy to repair paperback books using Japanese bookbinding techniques. Just punch four holes through the book near the spine and lash it together with needle and thread. You can make sketch books, scrapbooks or blank books this way, too. To make smaller books, fold several sheets of paper carefully into halves or quarters, clamp the stack together and punch and bind it, then slit the pages apart with a sharp knife afterwards, being careful not to cut the binding threads. For a scrapbook or blank book cut covers from card stock or a file folder. Here's what you do:    1. Using a ruler, draw a line from top to bottom of the front cover, about 1/4"from the spine. Make two marks on this line, one 1/4' down from the top of the book, the other 1/4" up from the bottom. Now divide the distance between these marks into thirds and mark the two middle points. 2. Even up the pages and clamp the book together with binder clips, or weight down the front edge to keep the pages from moving. Protect your work surface with a piece of scrap wood or an old phone book as you punch a hole at each of the marked points using the awl or wire brads. Making these holes should not damage the text in the book. Most paperback books have an inner margin of 1/2" to 3/4", leaving plenty 3. Thread the needle and tie the ends together with an overhand knot. Open the book a few pages and, next to the lower middle hole, push the needle through about twenty pages. Pull the thread through until the knot is snug against the pages. Go back out to the front cover by pushing the needle up through the awl hole. This step anchors the thread. 4. Now sew the rest of the book as shown in the accompanying illustrations. Pull the thread tight each time you go through a hole.     Keep the thread tight.     http://www.sff.net/people/brook.west/bind/bindit.html Saddle StitchingSaddle stitched binding is one of the easiest and most common ways to bind a booklet. Many smaller magazines or "zines" use this technique. Typically, saddle stitching works best for booklets that don't have a lot of pages. The number of pages you can have will depend on the strength of the stapler and staples you use. Most booklets will have a limit of 56 to 64 folded pages that can be bound using the saddle stitch method. Instructions Things you'll need:
-If you aren't using blank pages, make sure to put your pages in proper order. Keep in mind that when you fold the pages, the left side will be at the front of the book and the right side will be at the back. -Stack your pages so that your cover is at the bottom with the front facing downward. The center of your booklet should be facing up. -Fold the booklet in half so that your cover is now on top. Check through the page numbers to be sure they are in the proper order. -Press the crease of the booklet as flat as possible, and then open the booklet to the middle. -Measure 1/2-inch from the top of your crease in the center of the page. Slide your long-arm stapler to that point, and press down. Make sure the center of the book is still facing up when you do this so that the rough edges of the staple are on the inside of your booklet. -Measure 1/2-inch from the bottom of the crease, and use your long-arm stapler to bind your booklet at that point, as well. Close your finished booklet. Read more: How to Saddle Stitch a Booklet | eHow.com Additional Web References: http://tobycraig.livejournal.com/29223.html http://www.finecraftguild.com/bookbinding-tutorial-perfect-binding-your-book-easily/ Creating a WebpageSince firms receive thousands of applications every year, creating a personal webpage can be an additional way to get your work viewed. It is an opportunity to get your work viewed more than once, if you send a website to view, and follow up with a physical copy. It could also see it as a way to same time and money by focusing your physical portfolio to firms that are interested in seeing more of what is included on your webpage. Some firms even request to see work solely digitally. OMA for example has an entirely digital application process.Designing a simple, graphic webpage is just as important as making a beautiful, legible portfolio. Many free website creation sites, such as wix.com, come with a domain name attachment, and often become complicated when new information needs to be added. Please reference these two simple sites for more specific information. The technical aspects of creating a webpage are much better explained from these locations. http://www.makeawebsiteguide.com/ http://yourhowtomakeawebsiteguide.com/ 1. Register a domain name The first step to creating a webpage is registering a domain name. Choosing a simple, but clear domain name is also very crucial. This name is how your website will be remembered and accessed from search engines. -The most popular domain name site is godaddy.com. These sites often also provide hosting services, but it is not always recommended to do both with the same company. 2. Set up a web host account When it comes to host accounts, cheaper is not always better. You need to make sure that your account is adequately secure and that the host website has wordpress plug-in capabilities. This will make things much easier for later. -Listed below are a few popular hosting websites hostgator.com hostmonster.com 3. Point your domain to your web host -Sometimes this step is skipped if you go through the same company for both your domain name and host account. Check the above sources for specifically how to do this. 4. Install Wordpress - This is done through the host site cpanel which is typically found at domainname.com/cpanel 5. Design your webpage Using free wordpress templates, you can begin to customize a layout for your webpage. This is done in the wordpress dashboard which can be found at domainname.com/wp-admin. The dashboard can take a while to get used to, but the most important element is choosing a theme. It is important to know that when using a free template, there are usually certain things that are copyrighted and are to remain on the page. Although the html information can be accessed from the wordpress dashboard, it should not be tampered with because it can cause your site to be flagged and automatic scripts are built in to keep your website from working. Please refer to the above online references. The most important thing when designing your webpage is to keep things clear and simple. The purpose of a webpage is not to dazzle the viewer with complicated web graphics, but to display your portfolio and credentials clearly. Portfolio Workshop Videos |
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