Overwhelmed by a career track

[wienerdog]

I picked up the latest Artist and Graphic Designer's Market book and am going to make a concerted effort to market myself. I find a lot of submission guidelines for illustrators and designers, and I'm a bit overwhelmed by them.

I like illustration, but I'm not that great an illustrator. My biggest struggle is that I've designed for such a variety of companies, that I don't have a distinct style. And I don't want to pass up work for someone based on my style not matching theirs. Am I being too much a chameleon in my search for work that I'm over-stretching myself? I like to think I can do fun cartoony work as well as dark, moody and urban too.

I also have decided sending samples is very expensive and time consuming for me. Wouldn't I just be better off sending designed postcards with my web address on it for them to review samples?

[steve-o]

Not every designer has a distinct style or desires a distinct style, so I wouldn't worry about this aspect of it.

[wienerdog]

I'm just wondering if I can legitimately list myself as a Designer/Illustrator. I haven't done much illustration (although I have done a lot of t-shirt designs) and what I've done has been mostly digital. All non-digital illustrations I've done are non-commercial. Should I update and add to my illustration portfolio? It seems like a lot are looking for printed samples, and of a specific style. I guess everyone has one, but I don't when it comes to design.

[wienerdog]

I've been considering going to a comics convention here in Philly, but don't know what I'll get out of it. I don't have an illustration portfolio, so I don't know if there are people there to review comics style coloring or design work.

[keith1]

I wouldn't worry about if your illustrations were commercial or not. All my illustrations I've done are mostly personal except a few t-shirt designs and I plan on putting them in an illustration section when i finally get my site up and running. I may even put a photography section and I'm far from a pro but I dabble in it. Show what you got and what you can do.

[defjoe]

there is a market for everyone out there. it's just a matter of being at the right time at the right place.

[steve-o]

TCF member and creative consultant Leslie Burns-Dell'Acqua says:

"Your portfolio should show only your best work. Anythig else will stick out in the reviewer's mind negatively. That being said, it *is* a good idea not to show all your best work in one place. You should have some in your book, some on your promos, some on your website, etc. with only some overlap. But it should all be your very best work."

http://thecreativeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22

I think this is important to discuss if others disagree.

[keith1]

What would you recommend steve-o for the amount of items, like a minimum basically. For example on my website I want to show magazine page layouts, logos, illustrations & maybe another one. I want it to be simple though. I was thinking 7-10 examples of each, i do not want to put 20 things of each up there. 7-10 would you agree with this? or less or more?

[morea]

I have always been told that 10 - 12 total pieces is best.

[steve-o]

I was thinking 7-10 examples of each, i do not want to put 20 things of each up there. 7-10 would you agree with this?
7-10 of each sounds about right. Want to show that you can be consistently good. If you think all your work is equal, then I would err on showcasing a bit more than less, since you're not forcing anyone to look at all of them.

[keith1]

10 sounds good to me. my work is far from being equal. lots of bad stuff to sort out or I like to call it lazy design, just getting it over with, easy projects for the man.

[steve-o]

Keith and all,

here's a good blog entry over at BeADesigGroup that lists ten tips for preparing and presenting a portfolio. It's aimed at students, but some of the comments address tips for professional portfolios:

http://www.beadesigngroup.com/blog/archives/2005/05/preparing_and_p.html