print portfolio advice

[razuel]

I'm getting to the point where I need a print portfolio. I already have a web site, but when I go into interviews for internships and things; I'd like to have something physical they can look through.

Let me tell you my plan and maybe I could get some advice.

I'm going to buy this,
http://www.dickblick.com/zz150/07/

And go to kinkos and have high quality prints of my work printed off to put in. I'm going to setup the page in a way where at the top it has the project, under that preliminary sketches, then at the bottom information on the project.

I'm also going to bring a CD. I was also considering creating a nice binded print copy of the portfolio at kinkos for like 30 bucks (I did this before with a project, has a nice clear cover and black back) and giving that to whoever it is to keep. Is that going overboard; or does it sound like a good idea?

any tips? suggestions? how big is too big? I want something fairly large to fit it all on one page, but I did read that too big can become a hinderance on a desk.

[DesignStudio]

did you consider just creating your website as a file and bringing a laptop if you have one? that way the client can navigate your site to see your portfolio pieces whether they have internet or not. then you can leave a CD of your work with them. it will be much cheaper than purchasing a portfolio and printing the files, and certainly cheaper than leaving behind a portfolio at every office.

[razuel]

Yeah, and I did do that once before, but I feel like there's a nicer touch with something they can physically flip through that's presented well. Personally I like it better.. if I only make one copy it wont be more than 70-80 bucks.

Do design firms not really care either way?

[prepress_goddess]

set yourself up this way - anything you do, make a hi rez pdf of it, so that you can output a sample when you need to. Get printed samples of the pieces that you have created - you can include sketches and such, my experience is that it is not needed. most potential employers are only interested in the final piece - you can answer questions if an interviewer asks how you arrived upon the final design.

second - have one master book - i keep a 3 ring binder with protection sleeves for smaller items such as labels, stationery, etc., and i have a larger portfolio for posters and larger items bigger than 8 1/2 by 11. having the master book and a portfolio for larger items makes it much simpler when you are interviewing since you can pull from both depending on the types of materials to be designed.

get youself one nice formal portfolio that you can swap stuff out of.

hope this helps

t

[morea]

lots of discussions about this sort of thing on the board here. Check out our frequently discussed topics thread, here:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7892

also try a forum search, I know that there are some threads I haven't got round to linking yet in the FDT.

[morea]

here are a few of the ones I had in mind:

Portfolio paper choice: http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24357

Portfolio cases:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24179

The Ultimate Portfolio:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22517

[razuel]

Yeah, I did search/research the forum, just wanted to ask some specific questions too.

Thanks though, I didn't see the threads on cases/paper; I'll check it out.

So is there a consensus that sketches aren't necessary? I've heard somewhere employers like to see that you can draw and how you arrived at a final product.