Porfolio: suggestions for combining school and professional work?

[olcvisual]

As I mentioned in previous posts I have an informal and nonlinear design education: I completed computer, typography and web design courses without taking basic design and illustration classes. I recently enrolled in the latter and I may want to add class projects to my portfolio. But what is the best way to combine school and professional projects? Should I even bother? Is it better to keep them separate? Should I even mention that I returned to school to take basic design and illustration classes despite working as a pro for 7+ years? Thanks.

[Holliday]

I wouldn't pick 'school' and 'professional work' as the two categories to seperate your work into. Why not do 'graphic design' and 'illustration' and build it that way? Withing those two categories you can mix it up all you want, but I'd only pick the best work to go in your book.

[olcvisual]

Holliday said...
I'd only pick the best work to go in your book.That's what I'm worried about. I expect some of my class projects to surpass my professional work. If or when I reach that point do I need to make distinctions between school and pro work at interviews, especially if the distinctions are obvious (designs createdfor fictional company, etc.)?

[dakels]

IMO its not a big deal. A portfolio is a portfolio. It shows what you can and cannot do. Let your resume show what your on job skills sets are about. let your portfolio speak of your creative abilities. If they ask questions about school ones, just say it was done for a friend. I personally saw alot of designers based purely on school work, then hired them based on the interview. IMO 90% of getting a job is winning the interview. Your portfolio and resume get you the meeting, the interview seals the deal.

The bottom line as I see it:
- 7+ years expereinces with bla bla bla
- whatever production skills on resume
- portfolio
- meeting
- 'when can you start' or 'we'll get back to you...'

[defjoe]

You will find as you do more pro work that your school stuff will become outdated very quickly.

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'