Get Organized: Preparing for Portfolio Class

Considering the big task ahead using to-do lists should become an essential part of each week. There is a great to do list you can access at teuxdeux. I am passionate about the Entourage calendar that sends me automatic reminders prior to meetings and due dates. These two items could be just what you need to make things happen and get more organized than ever before.

http://teuxdeux.com/

I wanted also at the end of the semester to send this Pre-Portfolio checklist to remind you of the worthy goals we have accomplished this semester and nudge you about what you could still be polishing prior to January 24th.

__Review your projects to determine what is worthy to go into your portfolio
__Chart all your existing work to determine gaps and what new pieces you should be creating
__Create a personal mood board to help you get to your portfolio theme with images and key words
__Determine a portfolio theme
__Determine the size of your portfolio pages. Page size and Spread size.
__Golden section your page or spread size to develop a grid
__Using the golden section create spread layouts for the following spreads

Teaser/Intro
Process page
Pay-off page
Branding page
Introduction to portfolio book
Credits page
Possible contents of each spread:
Teaser: indices, folios, image [mood board, pattern, collage, teaser image], descriptive copy for project
Process: mind maps, mood boards, type specimens, color swatches, texture swatches, process drawings, diagrams, competitive analysis, design briefs, mock-ups, how to
Pay-off: glorious large pay off photo and caption
Branding: branding photos and captions

__Write copy for your portfolio
Types of copy:
Introduction to portfolio
Descriptive copy

__Design a logo for your personal theme that could be on the cover or introduction of your portfolio
__Create a personal identity
__Develop a personal stationery package including business card, letterhead and envelope

WINTER BREAK AND SPRING

__Prepare your workspace, get a calendar and to do list system in place. Organize your work folders.
__Design and develop a personal resume, cover letter, tear sheets and promotional packet in Spring
__Create a personal blog and/or website to promote your work in Spring
__Create the portfolio in Spring
__Develop a table display for the AIGA Portfolio Review

* Note: I'm hoping some of you will consider taking Art G 151: Travel by Design crn 08677 with me this Spring. If you want to learn how to get organized and are ready to really define your goals, objectives and get a clear vision for your future this is the class for you. In addition we will be making a very special poster [double-sided] with maps and information. This could be such an important piece for your portfolio and showcase your skills. I think it is a GREAT class to take with portfolio and I hope you will join me for the first 8 weeks.

Whatever you did not get done in portfolio prep please push yourself to have a clear field of vision on January 24th.

Remember...take it one step at a time. YOU CAN DO IT! Get more organized than ever before and build in time to relax [swim, walk, jog, yoga], get good nutrition and focus on your career and life goals. What a privilege it is for me to work with all of you.

Resources

One of the students in our portfolio prep class with Sean was Cassie Forrington and she did a gorgeous logo and stationery package. She posted her logo at typophile and this shows the feedback she got. You can't just post anything there-you've got to really work on it first but you can see how helpful it was. If you find a font in a magazine you love and can't identify it you might post it at typophile and the experts will let you know what it is. I think you might enjoy this.

Cassies Logo Crit: http://typophile.com/node/38711

Identity and Standards Manuals: This link will help you see examples of great identity manuals. (Best Buy, Yale, New School)

http://www.identityworks.com/tools/guidelines_and_standards_manuals.htm

Books/Websites

1000 Graphic Elements

1000 More Graphic Elements

[These 2 books have been called the secret weapon for portfolio students. They are full of amazing ideas, bells and whistles to really make your book shine].

After visiting Inscriptu you know what is possible. You can make your pieces sing so get these books and get ideas. Perhaps you could split them with other students.

More books:

The Art of Pop Up

Free Font Index

whatthefont.com

typophile.com

Vendors: T-shirt Mart-embroidery-iron-on's etc.

Ready Stamp (ask for stamp and plate)

Blend (digital printing of your portfolio)

SK Digital (digital printing of your portfolio)

It is important to call your digital printer for the portfolio in advance to find out how to set up pages for accurate printing.

Magazines for ideas/inspiration:

These magazines can help you get ideas for your portfolio layout and fonts! Take a look at the fonts they mix...

Metropolis

Monacle

Wallpaper

GQ

Good

Uppercase

ID

Dwell

Seed

SPD (Society of Publication Design) yearly publication of the best of the best in magazine publication. These books are just full of great layouts!

Conceptual brainstorming techniques

Catherine in our portfolio prep class emailed me and asked that I post this short video I made on brainstorming techniques. The surrealists were masters at putting the familiar in an unfamiliar setting. This is a simple method I've used for decades to come up with fresh concepts to solve graphic problems. In this short video I created to explain one technique imagine you've been given the assignment to create a visual for an article on Growing the Green Economy.

Start by writing out the name of the article and select the key words.

Underneath each key word make a word list-free associate and write quickly any idea that comes to mind to represent that key word. Your list should be really long to find the best solution.

Force connections between the two key words. Put the familiar in an unfamiliar setting.
What about a piggy bank shaped like the U.S. Treasury building or a bank? What about a dollar bill that looks like astro turf and sprouting wildflowers?

Make small thumbnail sketches of how you would force connections between column one and two and simply go down the list trying out each idea. In this example I have a drawing of a figure watering a small plant that is a dollar sign.

Note: click play and let this short video completely upload, take a short break and come back and you can watch it all the way through.

Marc Machado-ELO Designs: City alum featured on dieline

Congratulations to recent alumni Marc Machado for creating a packaging design selected to be featured on dieline.com-perhaps the most well known packaging website. Way to go!


Colorful work from ELO Designs:
"The idea was to create a brand identity beyond the already existing names in the market today. The target audience is young businessmen 20-45. Using original Italian names, I created colorful, sophisticated labels that best represent the brand and reach the target audience. A clean simple font was added to unify the brand. Colorful bubbles and caps bring the right amount of color balance to the product."

Amazing clips from France-Flambo

Check out these uniquely beautiful clips from France. Imagine this in a promo packet-they would command attention.

Terrific Promotional Idea...check out this site

Check this out for some great ideas:

Dear Students,
Here are some great ways to make brochures or promotional cards. Thanks to Dorothy for letting me know about this and check shine box print out!

http://www.shineboxprint.com/

Mexico City Olympic Graphics revisited

Hi out there,
I found this link inspiring and wanted you to see the pictographs applied to clothing as it might give you some new ideas from old ones.

Worth your time to see:
http://olympic-museum.de/design/lancewyman/wyman.htm

Mark Weaver links

Dorothy shared some links to one of her favorite designers that might really inspire you.

This is his Make Something Cool Everyday project:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markweaver/sets/72157612257465491/

His website on Cargo Collective:
">http://mrkwvr.com

I also found his wallpaper on Kitsune Noir:
http://kitsunenoir.com/2009/09/30/the-desktop-wallpaper-project-featuring-mark-weaver/

Making your own books

Here are 3 great resources where you can make some very professional looking small printed and bound books at low cost. This could be great for your portfolio!

Blurb.com:
http://www.blurb.com

Shutterfly.com:
http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books/custom-path

Snapfish.com: https://www2.snapfish.com/photobookcategory/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

Lulu.com:
http://www.lulu.com/publish/photo_books/?cid=nav_phbk

Overcoming Creative Blocks

Came across this great article on getting over creative blocks thanks to Garrett.
It’s great because he asks some of the best designers out there how they get over their creative blocks so it’s really a plethora of answers from different great designers.


http://blog.iso50.com/2010/02/10/overcoming-creative-block/

Custom Made products link

This may be a cheap easy way to get some custom made products
for our portfolio brands.

http://www.cafepress.com/

Type Play

Graphic Design Student Sophie Lepinoy studies at the London College of Communication and plays surrealist games. This is fun and just goes to show you that if you create what you are passionate about it will speak with a clear voice.

Check it out:
http://www.dezeen.com/2010/01/04/alfashion-by-sophie-lepinoy/#more-58512

Check out this new book on modern art movements and logo design

Please check out this article that examines modern art movements that inspired designers to create some great logos. The article from Smashing Magazine may surprise you as you will discover how historical forms, fonts, and colors can translate into contemporary design. The point of our design history class is to UNDERSTAND STYLE not memorize obscure dates and facts. When you begin to recognize style you will have a powerful palette of resources to apply to your own graphic work. This is jet fuel so please take a moment to get inspired. I look forward to getting this book.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/07/12-modern-art-movements-to-inspire-your-logo-design/