Preparing a Portfolio A portfolio represents the creative and professional skills that you can offer a new employer now. While it is easy to justify that that you can only show work samples from several years ago, or that you can only show work done at your University, employers must see the most recent work that you can show, yet they do not want to see anything that compromises your current employer’s security. This condition is common to our industry. It remains the major challenge in the process of seeking new employment. Note: We advise each Candidate to avoid sending photos of finished properties such as models, prototypes, etc., or anything that might be viewed as confidential, or revealing “sensitive” information about your current employer. While the information you send is secure with us, it is still your responsibility to not disclose any sensitive information about your current employer. In preparing your portfolio samples, be aware that the hiring authorities want to see samples that demonstrate your “design process”, problem solving skills and sketch illustration style. As you are aware, employers are seeking designers who have good “ideas” and fresh solutions. Further to that end, there are two primary occasions in a designer’s career when finished renderings and polished work samples are really important: Graduation, and getting a job offer from another company. There are two types of work samples: 1.) jpg images of your – These images serve as “teasers” or “snap-shots” of the creative skills that you have. These serve as part of the introduction of you as a candidate, and the propose is to entice potential employers to want to see more work, whereby we encourage a meeting. For this phase, we require at least 15 jpgs of your work, no more than about 1MB ea., about 100 dpi. Then, please forward no more than two (2) jpgs each per email, along with your résumé. (see “Preparing a Résumé”) After we receive your information, we will then contact you directly and discuss your strongest samples, and my suggest improvements or adjustments. Please do not create pages with multiple images. This only devalues each image. One good image per page is best. Again, finished renderings or sketches get the most positive responses. Send more that you think you should, and we will edit them down to what we believe are the 10 best. 2.) your presentation portfolio – This is your original portfolio, usually larger format color printouts, (11”x17” is good, or larger) bound or prepared in a presentation that reflects your organizational, professional as well creative qualities. This is the “book” that you will bring to an interview. Generally, this portfolio should further demonstrate your thought process, intellectual content and depth of your design and/or management skills. It should also show you ability to reach creative solutions, not just demonstrate your proposed ideas. If you have properties that have gone into production, by all means present this within your portfolio, but make sure that it is clear what portion of the property is the result of your primary contributions. Organize your pieces by category, or chronologically or otherwise, in such a way that there is a significant impact to the viewer at both the beginning and the end of the portfolio. [ Back to top ]