traditional portfolio or laptop ?

[design coalition]

For job interviews are have any of you used a laptop as your portfolio or is the traditional black board aproach still the most widely excepted ? Also for a hard copy portfolio do you use photographs for dimensional pieces like cd's, annual reports, packaging or would you mount the actual printed piece ?

[PrintDriver]

Depends on what you do.
Laptop works for web design or interactive, but I'd rather see an actual piece if it was marketing collateral. As for other stuff, what you bring and how you bring it, it all depends on the size. Photos for larger stuff would be better than bringing in that street banner you did. It all boils down to common sense.

[SurfPark]

Unless you're going to a job that's specifically for web design, leave the laptop at home. Always have a hard copy of your work. Although some people have pieces on I wouldn't mount anything. Most people use the black binder type (with plastic sheets inside) because its the easiest way to lug many pieces around.

[design coalition]

Ive made a custom clamshell box/binder that holds black boards that are 11"x11" . The box itself is 12.5" x 14" and fits in a laptop bag but seems a bit large compared to these prefab portfolios with clear sleeves. What size are you using and do you think using white boards would be odd ? I've photographed my work all on a white background so when I mount them on black it looks to heavy around the edges. I know it is all personal preference, but input is helpful. Thanks

[John G]

I would probably do traditional or non-technical no matter what the job. You know how tech is, it never ever ever ever ever ever works right or takes too long when you need it to work and work right then.

lawl sorry I ran out of batteries!

[thealmightytiger]

It depends on the company and job description. For my current job, I presented a simple binder with 8.5x11 reproductions of work I thought would be applicable to what wanted in the position. I also gave them CDs with copies of my resume and digital versions of the portfolio to help make me more memorable in case they wanted to review applicants at a later date.

They called 2 hours after the interview and offered me the job, but my point still stands.

I agree with John G. I wouldn't rely on a laptop or similar device. You know for a fact that the paper won't run out of battery life, crash or otherwise corrupt itself for no reason. If you're presenting web or interative work, I would ask if they have a computer available in the conference room or where ever the interview will take place. Bring your work on CD, USB key, put it on the web, or all of the above. You might still bring your laptop as a backup in case their system takes a dive. It would show them that you're capable, prepared and can think for youself.

Hope this helps!

[budafist]

Use a laptop if you are a motion graphics. Your interviewer doesn't want to spend 5 minutes waiting for you to startup, type your password and set up your slideshow.

My portfolios have always been in book form (a large book). I sit with them at a table to go through it. Never had a presentation "black board" style. I assume "black board" means you stand up in the front of the room and go through your samples.

[PrintDriver]

You might still bring your laptop as a backup in case their system takes a dive.
Not many people will let any Joe Blow run a program on their computer even if it is in the conference room. If the interviewer's system takes a dive while running your program, you can write off the job. Unsolicited disks go in the garbage (including most promotional-type advertising disks).

[captain spanky]

Unless you're going to a job that's specifically for web design, leave the laptop at home. Always have a hard copy of your work. Although some people have pieces on I wouldn't mount anything. Most people use the black binder type (with plastic sheets inside) because its the easiest way to lug many pieces around.

yup. :D

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

Many art directors/creative directors (including myself) want to be able to check out actual printed pieces - getting a good look at the print job a designer has coordinated, having the tactile experience of the paper, investigating the folds you may have specified for the jobs, etc. It's always good to have acccess to the finished product in the process of an interview.

A smaller sized portfolio is often a preference - you don't want to be knocking stuff off the desk of the interviewer - and 10-12 pieces is all you should need to convey your talents and abilities.

It never hurts to leave behind a CD, or printed piece of examples, to back up your portfolio presentation.

- J.

[Rocketpig]

Yep, bring a portfolio. The paper kind. You might want a laptop to show your web work, but definitely keep a paper portfolio for print work.

Print design on a screen doesn't tell a good art director anything because a large part of implementing a print design involves paper choice, correct color calibration, and even shows that you know how to properly output a print file.