Best way to showcase your work

[Ketchup]

Heres my two requirements.

Showcase my work online.

Showcase my work in a folder.

What tips and advice can you all give to make sure it has the most impact. For example, colours, layouts, styles etc.

Also have one final thing, my work is pretty much jack of all trades. Got website work, 3D work, animation/video work, illustrator and print work. Whats the best way to put all this in a portfolio, especially when a lot of companies now want multi talented people.

[Asura]

especially when a lot of companies now want multi talented people.

Personally, I'd produce seperate portfolios for each element, and present them seperately for different jobs.

[Ketchup]

Personally, I'd produce seperate portfolios for each element, and present them seperately for different jobs.

How many images would you have in a folder and how are they presented? Are the pages just the actual images or do you put them in some kind of style?

[FargalEX]

a lot of companies now want multi talented people.

Actually in every guest lecture we've had from people in the industry they've asked for people to specialise in one given area.

[scribble]

Actually in every guest lecture we've had from people in the industry they've asked for people to specialise in one given area.

Exactly.. Jack of all trades, master of none.

[divine visitor]

Actually in every guest lecture we've had from people in the industry they've asked for people to specialise in one given area.

This is absolutely true, especially at all the bigger studios.

[Ketchup]

Actually in every guest lecture we've had from people in the industry they've asked for people to specialise in one given area.

Exactly.. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Whilst that may be true, every company i've worked for or job i've seen online has always wanted someone that can do more than just one program. Normally wanting Photoshop/Flash and minor web skills.

[FargalEX]

I'm guessing those were smaller companies?

[utopastac]

Overall, I think most people will get much more enjoyment (and, eventually, cash) from the professional creative industries by specialising. Like Fargal says, the bigger places aren't interested in limited skills spread across disciplines. If you want to work somewhere small and get involved in every step of the project then maybe it's a good idea. I just can't think of many worse things than having to do everything myself.

[scribble]

Whilst that may be true, every company i've worked for or job i've seen online has always wanted someone that can do more than just one program. Normally wanting Photoshop/Flash and minor web skills.

Maybe, but photoshop/flash and minor web are all covered in the creative suite- animation work and print work are very different, for example. If you're not planning on specialising, you should make different portfolios for these very different skills?

[Ketchup]

I'm guessing those were smaller companies?

Games companies and businesses with a Graphic Design department, some small, some large. Guess you could argue their core business is not 100% specialised. Either way i've got a load of work across different media and i need to show it off in the best way possible.

[cubemart]

When, I was handing in some missing work at uni a while ago, I knocked this up (The work is shit, btw):

http://www.aothepod.com/sketchbook/livehandin/

It's pretty lame (and 'last minute'), but click around a bit and it might give you some inspiration.

This kind of thing can be done very quickly (I just scanned the pages I needed straight out of my sketchbook). This took me 5 hours, and I am rubbish!

It can be done alot better, and I think the interactive element makes the poor work bearable.

[dizogg]

When, I was handing in some missing work at uni a while ago, I knocked this up (The work is shit, btw):

http://www.aothepod.com/sketchbook/livehandin/

It's pretty lame (and 'last minute'), but click around a bit and it might give you some inspiration.

This kind of thing can be done very quickly (I just scanned the pages I needed straight out of my sketchbook). This took me 5 hours, and I am rubbish!

It can be done alot better, and I think the interactive element makes the poor work bearable.

I like your commas.

[Das]

I like your commas.

Innit. GOOD JOB YOU DIDN'T DO ENGLISH AT UNI LOL

[Ketchup]

Well 1 day after posting this thread i actually lose my job. So now really need to know how to layout my portfolio and how to put stuff in it in the best possible way.

[idiwa]

Well 1 day after posting this thread i actually lose my job. So now really need to know how to layout my portfolio and how to put stuff in it in the best possible way.

Yeah read that yesterday, sorry to hear that mate. When it comes to laying out for your physical portfolio you have to treat it as a design job in itself, don't just throw it together. Think about size and relationship of images. Design a grid and a master page in InDesign and just start to play around... when I did mine last week I probably spend a good 4 days just moving shit about until I was happy. Also its quality of work not quantity... don't just stick work in there for the hell of it. My folio still has a lot of college stuff (which I'm not happy about) but speaking with some of my mates its the same for them... the work we've done in our first year has been pretty naff and not exactly exciting to show. The Art school stuff that is in my folio was used to D&AD, ISTD and Computer Arts graduate showcase so its not just any old toss.

After I did my physical last week I then changed my CV to reflect the same design and then took that across to my website...just so that everything looks like its part of the same approach rather than being all over the place. Physical portfolio PDF sample is HERE if you want a look. I'd have a look at CR and some of the other design mags just to see how they layout stuff on a page too.. just give it time though, don't sling it together in a night. Design it, then take a look at it a few days later and see if you're still happy. I had a gun to my head when I did mine... I was told I could use the companies shit hot printers for my work after I got laid off, but I wanted to get it done as soon as and not have to go back to them ten days later cap in hand asking if it was still OK to print.

[Ketchup]

Cheers for the link. I'm not sure if my work is suitable for that type of layout as it's either varied (3D models, illustrator, flash, websites, photoshop etc) and is generally made for the company i worked for which meant compromises had to be made. I'll check out some of the design magazines and websites though. Just really go no clue how to present what is generally a photoshop file of an advert or a website or a 3D model that's been used where i've worked.

[11 Herbs 'n' Spices]

Oooof, sorry to hear that man. Hopefully something will come up for you soon.

Lots of great advice from idiwa there. As for how to present a advert or website, you'll notice how idiwa has framed his stuff. You could do something similar, with the main (larger) image being the final piece and smaller images for the various elements that went into piece. Also, breaking down and categorizing your work will make it easier for you to talk interviewers through it.

I'm also currently updating both my physical folio and site. I used to have an A3 sized spread for each leaf but that tends to be quite boring.

[c-cat114]

In terms of physical portfolio - and this may or may not be the best way of doing it, just something I'm into at the moment - I wonder if a printed book from Blurb would be a good angle? A low page glue bound book isn't too expensive and the results that I've had are pretty good and to my mind a more interesting proposition than receiving a larger folio...

Similarly I found this website for a simple gallery webpage template which is pretty pleasant. Obviously these are simple throw together solutions rather than the coolness of a well organised portfolio or anything, but for a week or so's messing around with Blurb I was pleased with the result when it was delivered.

And also good luck getting another job...

[idiwa]

Cheers for the link. I'm not sure if my work is suitable for that type of layout as it's either varied (3D models, illustrator, flash, websites, photoshop etc)

Have a look at the new PDF showcase for Girl/ Chocolate skates. This is showing a set grid, yet lots of different things are being showcased. Just to show you an example of how lots of random shit can look good together/ look part of the same campaign.

http://www.wallridecatalog.com/

I'm just a whore for this kinda of stuff and I tend to collect things like Addict, Carhartt, Burton promo catalouges.

Having a wee book would be worth doing, anything you can send to a studio to get noticed and it does not have to be something expensive, just to catch the eye. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a printer in the next few days I miss my 12 grands worth of Xerox.