In need of INSPIRATION

[Kre8tive]

Im in need of some inspiration.. I have an assignment at college to turn an idea in a 3-D form. It's such an open topic and have thought of doing a wine label.. something like that, but I would love to do something amazing I can put in my portfolio... but the question is what do design companys want to see in your portfolio?

[PrintDriver]

98% of design companies won't even look at the 3D piece in your portfolio. But the other 2% might be POP/exhibit designers, in which case it has to be really good.

Re-read your brief. Is the objective to take a 2D item and make it 3D or is it to visualize an 'idea' like World Peace and make a 3D conceptualization of it?

[Buda]

I don't consider a wine label to be a good example of 3D design. What about something a bit more complex with some interesting folding techniques and paper mechanics?

It's nice that you're thinking about your assignments in terms of portfolio pieces. But to be fair, employers don't want to see any school work in your portfolio. If you have to include some, best to make them look plausible or incredibly well executed if it's a spoof/art piece.

[Dr.McNinja]

When you're first looking for work you'll probably have mostly student work which is fine. But you want to move away from any student asap. Good (student) is still good work. Bad commercial work is still bad. Commercial work demonstrates you have worked in the industry, student work shows you were recently a student. May or may not be a deal breaker.

Portfolio design is a project in itself. Don't worry too much about making something 'commerical' looking if the task is to render an idea in 3d form. Be creative, go nuts.

[Bob]

How about.... NOT going nuts?

How about a piece using basic 3D primitives (geometrics, text, simple shapes) to deliver a relatively abstract message in more 'real' terms?

If you look at stock illustration work, for example -- there are tons of these -- especially in the area of business topics. It doesn't have to be a complicated model to be good design. Sticking to simple, primitive elements tastefully DESIGNED in a layout, puts the focus (and time to do so!) back on concept, layout, and message delivery -- not just 3D razzle dazzle. Same principles apply as in 2D design. Restraint and judicious selection of elements.

[PrintDriver]

3D design class was fun. But so many of the students had trouble grasping the intent of the project. I and a couple other returning students had so much fun in those classes. But other students hated us for it. One project we had to describe an animal using just strands of wire. Another we had to take an object under two inches in size and sculpt it in cardboard larger than we were tall. Another was the old "motel of the mysteries" game. Find an object and interpret it with an entirely different meaning, with branding and advertising collateral. And the oldy moldy, a chair project in the style of your favorite artist.

Your project sounds like you are supposed to be taking something a little less concrete and making it more, well, concrete. Lots of potential there for some subtle game-playing.

<Only one person noticed the big cardboard machine screw I made and hung at the top of the circular stairwell actually wordlessly said Screw You from one certain viewing angle. >