And So it Has Begun...

It’s here, IDD 480: Senior Seminar and Portfolio. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little frightened. Creating a digital portfolio with all the work I’ve done throughout my Quinnipiac career is a scary thought. But I am most definitely excited.

DDP Ch. 1:
Cynthia L. Baron begins chapter 1 of “Designing a Digital Portfolio” with a question that many people have asked me numerous times when I tell them my major; “What is graphic design?” When people ask me what my major is I avoid the Interactive Digital Design (too complex for many to understand) and stick with the less fancy-er version- Graphic Design. I then get a puzzled look and a remark like “Oh so you want to design games and stuff like that…” “No, God NO. That’s not want I want to do..” is my usual reply. I then tell them I’m mainly interested in print and layout design and things are understood from there. But Baron is right that not that many know what graphic design is. She also makes a good point of describing all the different positions there are in graphic design. She lists all of the different design professions and includes all the specifics of each one. Baron is pretty straightforward and blunt with the skills one must have with each career. But what is consistent throughout each profession is that one’s portfolio, “digital or traditional,” needs to include your best work. A portfolio is a mixture of elements that, when organized and unified, should bring out the very best of one’s work. It doesn’t matter if you’re an animator or an architect; a portfolio needs to “emphasize your strengths”. I couldn’t really pinpoint where I was at with Baron’s list of professions. Art, 2D graphics, graphic designer? I’m not sure when I’ll figure that out, but in the mean time I have inspirations that include 2D graphics. Some great poster designs and illustrations that I like to browse through every now and then are by a company called The Heads of State. Their prints are unique, versatile and informative. Their website is basically a digital portfolio as well.

HBG Ch. 1&2:
First, I must say that I love the cover design of this book. I looked up the company that designed it, Bibliotheque, and found their site a little overwhelming. But nonetheless they have created some great things. Anyway, the first chapter of “How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul” is like how Baron opened hers; Adrian Shaughnessy includes the many different definitions there are to graphic design. He then goes into greater detail about the attributes a graphic designer must have in order to survive in this field. He makes a great point by stating that graphic designers can sometimes think that the world around them is only subjected to design, but the best designers are those that have a life beyond the subject of design. Those who are able to communicate and listen as well as being able to design is extremely important. Communication and openness is key when meeting potential employers, clients and fellow graphic designers. I love how this book is geared for the younger crowd and those that are still learning. Shaughnessy does a good job of explaining the options one has when looking for a job in the design field. I found the first sentence of the second chapter very interesting and helpful—“the reason you go to school is to learn how to learn”. It’s such a simple idea but extremely truthful with design classes. It makes me kind of worried that I never thought of a statement like that since starting design classes freshman year… but oh well, better late than never. Shaughnessy goes through every step in the hunt for a job; finding it, approaching the design studio, etc. He also includes some tedious statement that were a little self-explanatory, for example the one about when showing your portfolio to an interviewer to never show it to yourself…That was common sense for me, but I know he just wants us to do the absolute best we can during an interview. I enjoy the short stories and the advice he gives the reader. It is all continual, supportive and is more than helpful. I think the most important advice he says is to “trust your personality and trust your work”. My portfolio and my personality are the only tools that are going to help me find a job, and they are both valuable possessions that I will have with me forever in my design profession.