Visual Communication
portfolio class

 

 

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"A portfolio is a design problem."

 

 

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ARTICLES
Presenting | AIGA ARTICLE |
Writing your resume
| AIGA ARTICLE |

Top Mistakes | AIGA ARTICLE |


:- Top 10 Coverletter Tips
:- Coverletters made simple
:- 6 ways to bomb an interview
:- 3 steps to a successful interview
:- What motivates you
:- Why do you want to work here
:- Interview Pointers
:- Six Answers
:- Avoid non-verbal mistakes

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back to tips page
Q +A: Jessica McEntire

designer Willoughby Design, Kansas City

How can we promote ourselves besides the portfolio:
jm:
I would definitely send some sort of mailer (not pdf) out. We have a portfolio committee that meets once a month and won't review portfolios until then. So a pre-mailer, would be good way to get your work seen before the portfolio review. I would find out a couple of the art directors names, and send one to each. That's one way to get their attention, besides the portfolio committee.

What should I leave something behind? Samples of my work
jm:
I think it is smart to have a leave behind piece. Sometimes when looking
for a new designer can take weeks and it is good to leave something that
they can refer back to.

Are their any steps that I should take that are not part of KU's curriculum that would give me more opportunities after graduation or would make me more employable
jm: Taking some business classes.

I think having a great process book that shows not only your design process, but the marketing/strategy steps we take before we start the project is good to show. (finding your audience, competition, positioning,strategy exercises)

What do you expect from your designers at your firm?
jm:
One thing that was hard for me to adjust to was time management. Time is actually money. This job is paying X amount of dollars and so you only have X amount of time to complete the project. We do go over on time, but filling out time sheets, allow us to properly bid the next similar project appropriately. This makes you work faster and more efficiently, but can also be stressful.

How do I showcase my work and talent in the most efficient way?
jm:
When the portfolio committee meets they can usually tell within a couple of
quick flips, if you are a good fit or not.

In an interview, I would start out with your second strongest piece and end with your strongest. (you control the pace). Where if you leave your portfolio behind (they control the pace) I might rearrange things to have the strongest pieces up front, because you have to grab their attention, to make them want to keep looking, or slow down.

 

 

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