I have an important job interview coming next week, and I need to create a portfolio of my graphic design work. I have a large quantity of finished projects that range from simple design, photo retouch, illustration, brochures, web sites, etc... to large scale design such as trade show booths, large wall murals and interior decor / displays. I have compiled a lot of photographs of the large displays, but I mostly only have the print files for the smaller scale work.

I have work that can be divided into specific categories:

Photo-realistic illustration

Product branding / logos

Graphic Design

Photo manipulation

Page layout

Web design

Small to large format 3-D display (not 3-D rendering)

I would like to get my fellow "forum-ites" opinions on what kind of portfolio I should create for this upcoming interview.

I have InDesign, Flash, HTML experience (can create portfolio in JAlbum)

TIA,

CW2V

Create three or four, maybe even five, separate mini-portfolios that highlight your talents, with each emphasizing one or two areas suited for the type of presentation media being used. There should minimum overlap/redundancy (unless you do five), and [at least] one should be multimedia with background music, and either professional sounding voice over, or explanatory graphics (or possibly both). A couple of print/photo based (hands on, touchy-feely) projects/hand outs as ice breakers to start with would be nice, leading to the computer based stuff, depending on the flow of the interview. Possibly have the multimedia stuff uploaded privately to YouTube, or other mainstream web host, as well available on CD/DVD/Flash drive to provide after it's presented. Strut your stuff; be confident; you want them buying whatever you're selling.

But first, do a fair bit of research into the company, and if possible, the executives you'll be interviewing with, so you'll be knowledgeable and conversant about them as well. Ask questions about them and the company, about they have solved problems in the past, or brainstormed for ideas... IOW, let them strut their stuff, too, with a bit of prompting from you. Keep the flow going, and keep the interest level high on both sides of the desk.

Good luck.


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Sometimes it is what it is...
and then there's times when it's really better.



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I would suggest a two-fold approach --

1) a self-running movie showing your best work as a slide show, consider laying those over audio of you discussing your work philosophy and a soft music track.

2) a separate folder with each item that can be viewed individually.

Put everything on a DVD that has a professional looking cover design. Then upload the same to a website.

Doing that puts your material in their hands in various formats that everyone can access at anytime regardless of internet, operating system, or specific programs.

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Thanks for the replies.

InDesign to HTML?

Flash?

After Effects?

I don't see myself being able to construct a video in time. Photoshop and other 2D creation applications are my strong suits. I have limited experience with Flash and After Effects.

Anyone with experience in InDesign to HTML? Is it worth it? I've never used this proceedure before.

CW2V

CW2V-

My advice would be to show only work related to the job you are applying for. Only show your best work. What you exclude is equally important to what you choose to show.

If they are looking for a web designer, then tailor your portfolio to show only work related to web design. Same for print, video, etc.

If you have time, do a piece realated to the work you will be doing for the company and put that in your portfolio.

More importantly, dress nice and be on time for the interview.

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[quote="My advice would be to show only work related to the job you are applying for. Only show your best work. What you exclude is equally important to what you choose to show. If they are looking for a web designer, then tailor your portfolio to show only work related to web design. Same for print, video, etc. If you have time, do a piece realated to the work you will be doing for the company and put that in your portfolio. More importantly, dress nice and be on time for the interview."
[/quote]

The job listing was rather vague in what their expectations are, and the experience requirements were many. I match up well with most of their experience requirements. My best finished work is not one of their requirements, but it shows off my design talents and it was done for the parent company or competing companies, so it is all related. It all ties in with branding and with my work experience with the company, and many of their departments.

Thanks again,

CW2V

if you have an ipad, i recommend one of the portfolio apps. it's compact, really makes the images look nice and brandable for your own identity.

sounds like you've done a very good job at keeping samples of your work. that said, pare your work down to the specific range of the position you are looking to get. throw in some outside tangents, but ones that still relate to show additional skills and flexibility.

if you have the time, possibly an online wordpress portfolio theme site is a great way to go. there are some beautiful and flexible solutions to use.

good luck!

It will be hard to pare down what I have since a large bulk of it was done for this company, through my present job (I work for a vendor that services this company).

I literally have dozens of finished project examples that, although they may seem redundant, will help emphasize my existing connection with a wide range of internal departments.

I could pick the best looking or best received, and list the rest.

Everything will be time-permitting.

CW2V

My recommendation is to be yourself. Pick some projects that represent who you are - or at least who your want to emphasize with a new gig.

I would think a small project that you loved and showed independence is MUCH more important than some larger project where you played a simple component role.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

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sekker
My recommendation is to be yourself. Pick some projects that represent who you are - or at least who your want to emphasize with a new gig.

I would think a small project that you loved and showed independence is MUCH more important than some larger project where you played a simple component role.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

This is probably closest to what i'd recommend. I've spent years updating my portfolio. I too, have tons of projects from around 7 or 8 different companies plus all my freelance. But my portfolio is a basic leather 3 ring binder with a zipper. I have around 5-7 clear plastic sleeves with 2 images in each. Plus 3 booklets in the back that just don't fit in the sleeves. Those are my prized projects. Yep. Only 3. I used to have a CD with a slideshow but i gave up on it. All too often it gets tossed. Especially now with the way companies disallow foreign CD media in their employee's computers. So I've only got a dozen/dozen and a half projects in my portfolio at one time. But I also have listed on my resume, job application, business card, anywhere I can think of, to head to my website to see more of my work. And every interview I've had said they did.

in my experience, most of the time anyway, the potential employer was more focused on how well I'd fit in with the group and gave my portfolio a pretty cursory once over. Of course, they also looked at my site pre-interview and figured out my skillset BEFORE I even got there.

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bazookaman

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sekker
My recommendation is to be yourself. Pick some projects that represent who you are - or at least who your want to emphasize with a new gig.

I would think a small project that you loved and showed independence is MUCH more important than some larger project where you played a simple component role.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

This is probably closest to what i'd recommend. I've spent years updating my portfolio. I too, have tons of projects from around 7 or 8 different companies plus all my freelance. But my portfolio is a basic leather 3 ring binder with a zipper. I have around 5-7 clear plastic sleeves with 2 images in each. Plus 3 booklets in the back that just don't fit in the sleeves. Those are my prized projects. Yep. Only 3. I used to have a CD with a slideshow but i gave up on it. All too often it gets tossed. Especially now with the way companies disallow foreign CD media in their employee's computers. So I've only got a dozen/dozen and a half projects in my portfolio at one time. But I also have listed on my resume, job application, business card, anywhere I can think of, to head to my website to see more of my work. And every interview I've had said they did.

in my experience, most of the time anyway, the potential employer was more focused on how well I'd fit in with the group and gave my portfolio a pretty cursory once over. Of course, they also looked at my site pre-interview and figured out my skillset BEFORE I even got there.

The thing is that around 95% the projects I have done have been all me, start to finish (except I did not print nor fabricate/finish, but I did oversee these steps). I have my "favorites", but the feedback I have from others who work at this new company is more favorable to other designs. I am fine with these other designs, they are just not what I consider my best work.

And since I have been working at this present job, day after day for many years, I've never found the time to do my own portfolio. I started a site last year, but I neglected to finish it. I let the domain expire. In the past year or so, I have been so immersed in these large projects that I could not even fathom working on my own personal projects. This new job would open this possibility back up for me.

I have the skillset, but I do worry about "fitting in." Could be a problem with this company. Definitely more professional. I am currently a big fish in a little pond, and I would be going to be a little fish in a big pond. But the pay and benefits and job security and the return to sanity would be worth it.

CW2V

BTW, thanks for all the replies.

Cheers.

CW2V

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CW2V
The thing is that around 95% the projects I have done have been all me, start to finish (except I did not print nor fabricate/finish, but I did oversee these steps). I have my "favorites", but the feedback I have from others who work at this new company is more favorable to other designs. I am fine with these other designs, they are just not what I consider my best work.

So there are people at the new company who have seen your work already? Are they designers? If so then i could see taking their advice and hedging your bets a little. They work there, they know what the company wants. But you can also insert some of your own stuff that may differ a little (or wildly) from their "norm" and just be prepared to defend why. Who knows. The company may want a breath of fresh air. Sure you might get hired b/c you can already do what they want. But you might get hired b/c you can do something that much different and push things ahead or in a new direction.

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However you choose to present your work, I do agree that having a smaller representative sampling, with access to a larger sampling if you so desire, is a good idea. I've sat through enough job interviews on the other side to know that regardless of quality, having to flip through a ton of work really fast isn't all that enlightening. You need to respect the value of the interviewers' time. Plus trust me, when they are reflecting upon all those interviewed "they had the longest presentation" or "they had the most samples" won't come up.

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bazookaman

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CW2V
The thing is that around 95% the projects I have done have been all me, start to finish (except I did not print nor fabricate/finish, but I did oversee these steps). I have my "favorites", but the feedback I have from others who work at this new company is more favorable to other designs. I am fine with these other designs, they are just not what I consider my best work.

So there are people at the new company who have seen your work already? Are they designers? If so then i could see taking their advice and hedging your bets a little. They work there, they know what the company wants. But you can also insert some of your own stuff that may differ a little (or wildly) from their "norm" and just be prepared to defend why. Who knows. The company may want a breath of fresh air. Sure you might get hired b/c you can already do what they want. But you might get hired b/c you can do something that much different and push things ahead or in a new direction.

Hard to explain. Very large company. Lots of left hands and right hands that do not know what the other is doing. The work I do is for clients in their own departments. No designers on thier side that I know, personally, just the clients. The work I do is large format, and it has a lot to do with the branding. The job I am interviewing for is for smaller scale things, along with some web and video help and general production designer duties (this is speculation as their job description was vague). I am assuming it will involve me filling in the gaps between depatments and marketing to help promote this company, and keep the branding and the design production running smoothly. Possibly gopher work. Stuff I can do, and probably less actual concept/design work, and more production design work.

As stated, it will probably be for more money than I make now, for less expected talent and stress. I am currently making about $20k to $40k less per year that what the national average is for what I do.

CW2V

I hope you are successful with your interview -- regardless of how you end up presenting your work I hope it goes well for you. Good luck!

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