applying to school, looking for guidance [Archive]

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illmaster

01-10-2008, 06:43 PM

Hi everyone... just looking for critiques on this peice; its for my application portfolio for school; its a full page broadsheet ad ive done for my previous employer; is it portfolio worthy? thanks!

http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh124/mightyhealthy718/th_png-scavenger-hunt-ad.jpg (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh124/mightyhealthy718/png-scavenger-hunt-ad.jpg?t=1199990205)

http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh124/mightyhealthy718/th_xmasinvite2006B.jpg (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh124/mightyhealthy718/xmasinvite2006B.jpg?t=1199991869)

01-10-2008, 06:54 PM

I would have to see your other work to compare.

undergrad or grad?

illmaster

01-10-2008, 07:05 PM

Hi tZ

i added 1 other sample up there, i have some others on the way...

freshman/undergrad for advertising design

01-10-2008, 07:22 PM

I'd have to say your second is stronger then your first typography, layout and interest wise. The majority of a highschool portfolio should consist of traditional art work. Colleges are most interested in your fundamental design and medium capabilities then they are with your computer based ones. Two or three computer generated pieces should suffice and the rest should be traditionally driven(paint, pencil, pen, ect.)

illmaster

01-10-2008, 07:30 PM

great, thanks..

as far as traditional concepts on layout, are you referring to grid systems/ golden ratios? i have a grasp on what that is all about, are there any other concepts you have in mind and if so, any idea where i can find more info?

01-10-2008, 07:52 PM

razuel

01-10-2008, 09:42 PM

I'm more talking about the medium. What you create can be entirely up to you but you should showcase some skill with traditional mediums not just the computer. These can consist of perspective drawings, life portraits, still lives and even proportional studies. You also can create more graphic design oriented pieces but try to use traditional mediums rather then the computer. A few computer pieces is fine but the majority should be driven by other media.
But he's already been accepted to the school, so I'm assuming this portfolio is for his professional career in advertising design-- why include fine art pieces?

Quick critique--

You've used 6 different font colors, as a general rule you should aim to stick to 2 colors max. This doesn't flow as well with these different elements not interacting together properly. It reads in unorganized blocks this way.

Don't inluce the http:// in your URLs, just put www. There's no reason to use the asterik with the bottom type, it's clearly visible as is, too much if anything. I really like the overall background design of it, though, good job. I just think the typography could use a lot of work, then it'd be a great piece.

The second piece has a great flow to it and overall layout, but again-- the typography isn't doing it justice.

01-10-2008, 09:58 PM

illmaster wrote:

ts for my application portfolio for school

It was my understanding that this is an application portfolio into an undergrad program or am I incorrect?

razuel

01-10-2008, 10:01 PM

illmaster wrote:

It was my understanding that this is an application portfolio into an undergrad program or am I incorrect?
Oh you're right.. I have a problem comprehending the entirity of a thread lately :confused:

Yeah listen to tZ about the life drawings and other traditional pieces, super-important.

illmaster

01-10-2008, 10:13 PM

razuel

01-10-2008, 10:40 PM

@razuel:
i actually havent been accepted yet, this is for my application-

i do appreciate your advice though; on the 1st piece, i wasnt aware to make it a point to limit font colors; ill make some overall revisions to the type, thanks!

and as for the second piece.... some info is missing; it is meant to be a card invite (with the left side being the cover) so only one side will be visible at a time; also im assuming the left side is where youre pointing out the typography issue (correct me if im wrong)... what in particular is making your eye itch?

Yeah, tZ pointed that out to me, looked over it somehow.

About the second piece,
Like I said, it's a great layout technically and the design has a lot of depth, I can imagine it'd look great in color, but the problem I have with the type is mostly placement relatively to the other elements and font choice. Some of these next comments may be nullified once in color, I don't know what it'd look like, but as it is..

First, as far as I can see you have 4 different fonts. Like color, unless done with very close attention and strong purpose, you'll want to stick to 2, maybe 3 if you have to. The main element in cursive is a great font and the subtext looks fine with it, but once you change the 2006 and the bottom piece to a different font it really clutters it. If I were designing this, I would have used the cursive font for the 2006 and the subtext font on the bottom piece as well, but in larger, bolder letters.

Second, the placement creates a lot of awkward tensions that don't do it any favor. You have to pay close attention to your elements in relation to your borders. If you're going to have pieces go out of that border, then it has to be enough to clearly show that you did it on purpose. When you put a very small piece of something out of a border it creates a weird flow when read. At the same time, when you keep things within the border and don't leave enough space between the edge and the elements, it creates a clustered, contained feel.

There's also an unnecessary tension between the 'party' and '2006' text. The space between the terminal on the '2' and the 'y' in party is too little, it needs some room to breathe. The flow between the 3 type pieces at the top isn't quite right either-- mostly because of the spacing between the subtext and main title and size difference with the 2006 and subtext. I'd play with the sizes and position until it reads fluently to you, unless it already does.

And lastly, the bottom piece has the tension problem too. The edges of it are practically tangent with the border. Same with the type in it, it needs to be larger or the star burst needs to be smaller. I'd make the star burst smaller. The angle of the karaoke madness! doesn't match the angle of the top title, which makes it look a little odd.

Well that's the most in-depth critique I've given in awhile. That was a lot, so I'll stop there. But you did a great job with the overall placement of things, it's just the minor pieces that throw it off. I really like the snowflakes, good job with that, but be careful with their relation to the border again.

PrintDriver

01-11-2008, 01:21 AM

Is there a portfolio guideline given out by the college? Some colleges want to see that you have artistic skills, not computer skills, as tZ pointed out. Some actually look to see if there are things they can teach you, weird as that sounds. But it means they look at talent, not execution, mostly. It would be extremely helpful to know if there are portfolio requirements and you better follow em. Part of the interview may be to see how well you follow instructions. :D

I gotta say I am sick to death of Japanese sunbursts. Starburst, on the other hand, can cause blindness and should just not be used. :p. Man, I wish Keyare was still around...

illmaster

01-11-2008, 04:27 PM

@razuel:

spoken like a pro! i must thank you for providing such comprehensive rationale; it is a great deal of help in understanding more about typographic concepts

and @PrintDriver:
yes yes, there are guidelines given by FIT and of course I will be following them; i do have charcoals and colored pencils of still lifes going in the portfolio, but my main concern was critiquing of the two peices in my original post-

I do see your point about showing "potential" over "perfection" and since this is not a professional portfolio, but rather a college interview portfolio, I am contemplating deliberately leaving in some of the imperfections shown in the artwork of my original post... now the question is will it hurt my chances? perhaps not, as i AM going there to LEARN... but what do i know...

nonetheless im thankful to receive any criticism regarding what i had posted; the comments were very insightful!

budafist

01-13-2008, 10:02 AM

I do see your point about showing "potential" over "perfection" and since this is not a professional portfolio, but rather a college interview portfolio, I am contemplating deliberately leaving in some of the imperfections shown in the artwork of my original post... now the question is will it hurt my chances? perhaps not, as i AM going there to LEARN... but what do i know...

Showing potential doesn't mean you should deliberately show your imperfections, it just means you can show process work. Do get your work to the best you can get it, but don't just do final commercial pieces. Art based pieces show your potential to think outside a commercial space. GD school doesn't really want to see someone with only commercial work in their portfolio. They actually want to teach you something. They want to see that you have passion in art in general and can shape this interest into something workable.

Crimson

01-14-2008, 10:38 PM

I have a feeling you will get into the program...

I sense the force is strong in this one. Beware the darkside and stay aways from comic sans.

budafist

01-14-2008, 10:43 PM

Is a lensflare a step towards the light or is it a step towards the darkside? :o

illmaster

01-15-2008, 08:36 PM

@Crimson:

lol... thanks i really hope so; and about comic sans.... i spent the last 3 years working at a newspaper, and can you believe some of the ad designers there used that font in some of thier ads?

I wasnt even a designer there but I knew enough to avoid comic sans :confused:

illmaster

01-19-2008, 02:14 AM

Hey everyone.... I've modified the two files in my original post if anyone cares

below are thumbs & links to hi res versions

as always, comments and criticisms more than welcome; in fact they are desperately wanted....

http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh124/mightyhealthy718/th_png-scavenger-hunt-adCcopy.jpg (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh124/mightyhealthy718/png-scavenger-hunt-adCcopy.jpg?t=1200708393)
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh124/mightyhealthy718/th_xmasinvite2006C.jpg (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh124/mightyhealthy718/xmasinvite2006C.jpg?t=1200708436)

razuel

01-19-2008, 02:22 AM

I think the first one still needs typographic work, but the overall look and feel is spot on. The colors work far better than before, but I'd try that green on the text that's currently red. It's also hard to fully grasp what it looks like with lorem ipsum.

The second is great! It shows true skill when you can take criticism well and improve from it. I still think that subtext piece feels a little off, but the rest looks awesome. It's balanced very well and that 2006 fits 100x better in this font.

illmaster

01-19-2008, 10:36 AM

hey thanks razuel for the follow up i sincerely appreciate it; ill be messing around with the first peice a little more; im thinking about adding a little bit of 70's flair to it, replacing aksidenz grotesque with cooper black and avenir 65 for the left and right type elements respectively... w/ brown and green for the colors. thoughts?