Reflections on Reviewing Portfolios, or, some suggestions to help you get a job

I was honored to be asked by Northampton Community College, a school where I spent a year and half, to come back and critique portfolios of the current graduates. I remember what it was like to be on the other side of that table showing my own book, thinking how much I thought I knew while also finding the feedback and response to my work incredibly helpful.

I’m not sure I was as helpful as I would have liked to be, though I tried to give constructive criticism and feedback and generally challenge the students to think about why they made the decisions they made. I found myself saying a similar things to a few students and thought it might be of help to write them down to share here. These suggestions are less about actual design concepts like typography (it’s too big) or layout (use grids—obviously) and more about presenting your work in a thoughtful and intelligent way.

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I updated my portfolio with tons of new work in preparation for The Great Job Search of 2011™. Some pieces I’m especially proud of include The Spirit of Overton branding project, the annual reports, and, of course, the Being God’s Medium books. I’ve also included for the first time ever a few pages from my sketchbooks.

I updated my portfolio with tons of new work in preparation for The Great Job Search of 2011™. Some pieces I’m especially proud of include The Spirit of Overton branding project, the annual reports, and, of course, the Being God’s Medium books. I’ve also included for the first time ever a few pages from my sketchbooks.

I’m really enjoying the design and illustration work of Pencil + Paper aka Justin Fuller. His work is at once fun and playful yet professional and communicative at the same time. I’m especially drawn to his typographic sensibilities and his custom illustration work. And it doesn’t hurt that he has a strong last name either.

I’m really enjoying the design and illustration work of Pencil + Paper aka Justin Fuller. His work is at once fun and playful yet professional and communicative at the same time. I’m especially drawn to his typographic sensibilities and his custom illustration work.

And it doesn’t hurt that he has a strong last name either.

The work of Stitch Design Co. has been linked around a lot lately and deservedly so. This design duo consists of Amy Pastre and Courtney Rowson and together, the two have created a great portfolio full of letterpress-esque (possibly real letterpress - I’m not sure) pieces full of great patterns, textures and wonderful typographic details. It took me a while to figure out how to navigate the portfolio (it’s probably not laid out as clear as it could be) but once I did I spent quite a bit of time digging through some of their great work. I also love how they present their print pieces; arranged nicely with small objects added in to reflect the client. Such a great personal touch.

The work of Stitch Design Co. has been linked around a lot lately and deservedly so. This design duo consists of Amy Pastre and Courtney Rowson and together, the two have created a great portfolio full of letterpress-esque (possibly real letterpress - I’m not sure) pieces full of great patterns, textures and wonderful typographic details.

It took me a while to figure out how to navigate the portfolio (it’s probably not laid out as clear as it could be) but once I did I spent quite a bit of time digging through some of their great work. I also love how they present their print pieces; arranged nicely with small objects added in to reflect the client. Such a great personal touch.

The talented folks over at We Made This has a great new portfolio showcasing their design, photography and writing. Be sure to take some time to really look through their portfolio, they have a lot of great work ranging some interesting styles. We Made This describes themselves as “We’re a London based graphic design studio specialising in rather tasty print work.” I like using the word “tasty” to describe design, too.

The talented folks over at We Made This has a great new portfolio showcasing their design, photography and writing. Be sure to take some time to really look through their portfolio, they have a lot of great work ranging some interesting styles.

We Made This describes themselves as “We’re a London based graphic design studio specialising in rather tasty print work.” I like using the word “tasty” to describe design, too.

Paul Tebbott is a graphic designer and electronic musician and has a really great minimalist illustrative style that I’m really enjoying. He has a nice sense of color and his use of shapes and overlay make for an interesting aesthetic. I especially enjoy the scientific feel of a lot of the works.

Paul Tebbott is a graphic designer and electronic musician and has a really great minimalist illustrative style that I’m really enjoying. He has a nice sense of color and his use of shapes and overlay make for an interesting aesthetic. I especially enjoy the scientific feel of a lot of the works.

Hollis Bennett is a commercial, editorial and fine art photographer from Knoxville, TN. His portfolio is diverse and far reaching and features some great colors and tones. Documentary photography is something I think is especially hard to do, balancing aesthetics and the documenting but I think Hollis does a great job with this, where it’s especially evident in the Cowlitz Country, Washington series. Take a look through the entire portfolio and I’m sure you’ll find something you enjoy.

Hollis Bennett is a commercial, editorial and fine art photographer from Knoxville, TN. His portfolio is diverse and far reaching and features some great colors and tones. Documentary photography is something I think is especially hard to do, balancing aesthetics and the documenting but I think Hollis does a great job with this, where it’s especially evident in the Cowlitz Country, Washington series. Take a look through the entire portfolio and I’m sure you’ll find something you enjoy.

Photographer Anna Wolf has a great portfolio full of stunning imagery. Her work has a light, summer-feel which I’m very fond of and her portraits are full of interesting lighting and great emotion.

Photographer Anna Wolf has a great portfolio full of stunning imagery. Her work has a light, summer-feel which I’m very fond of and her portraits are full of interesting lighting and great emotion.

Do yourself a favor and spend some time with the portfolio of Mia Nolting, an illustrator from Portland, OR. Ms. Nolting works in a variety of mediums from pen and ink to collage and it all has a light, airy, almost innocent feel. While you are there, also be sure to check out the ‘Other Things’ section that has some great content including my favorite, Book of Lists. 

Do yourself a favor and spend some time with the portfolio of Mia Nolting, an illustrator from Portland, OR. Ms. Nolting works in a variety of mediums from pen and ink to collage and it all has a light, airy, almost innocent feel. While you are there, also be sure to check out the ‘Other Things’ section that has some great content including my favorite, Book of Lists. 

I haven’t linked to many design portfolios in a while because honestly, I haven’t seen much that has really blown me away in recent weeks. However, I am completely in love with the work of the London-based Telegramme Studio. I cannot remember that last time I was this inspired by an individual studio. There work ranges from print design, illustration, web design, and art direction and it all features an obvious love of craft and bespoke aesthetic. They’ve produced a wide variety of work and it’s all thoughtful and elegant. I can’t recommend digging through their portfolio enough.

I haven’t linked to many design portfolios in a while because honestly, I haven’t seen much that has really blown me away in recent weeks. However, I am completely in love with the work of the London-based Telegramme Studio. I cannot remember that last time I was this inspired by an individual studio.

There work ranges from print design, illustration, web design, and art direction and it all features an obvious love of craft and bespoke aesthetic. They’ve produced a wide variety of work and it’s all thoughtful and elegant. I can’t recommend digging through their portfolio enough.

I’m really enjoying the photography of Brian W. Ferry. He has a nice lo-fi aesthetic happening that works really well with his locations and subjects. The Light Spotting set is especially exciting.

I’m really enjoying the photography of Brian W. Ferry. He has a nice lo-fi aesthetic happening that works really well with his locations and subjects. The Light Spotting set is especially exciting.

New Site from DesignStudio

The talented folks at DesignStudio have launched a brand new portfolio site. I usually hate Flash sites, but this one seems to work well and has a really nice grid system that I’m completely smitten with. 

Aside from the site design, make sure you actually look through the portfolio—there is some great stuff in there.

I’m loving the hand-lettering of Meg Gleason. She has a great playful style going that just looks great. Her site is currently under construction, but be sure to head over to her Flickr stream where she has a lot of work as well as some great sketchbook and developmental scans. 

I’m loving the hand-lettering of Meg Gleason. She has a great playful style going that just looks great. Her site is currently under construction, but be sure to head over to her Flickr stream where she has a lot of work as well as some great sketchbook and developmental scans. 

I’m loving the photography of Thomas Høedholt, a designer from Copenhagen. I’m especially partial to the Sans Color and Tokyo sets, but all his work is quite stunning in it’s stark, almost cold color palettes. 

I’m loving the photography of Thomas Høedholt, a designer from Copenhagen. I’m especially partial to the Sans Color and Tokyo sets, but all his work is quite stunning in it’s stark, almost cold color palettes. 

I’m loving the illustrations of Luke Bott. At first look, they appear super simple and flat but the more you study them you see all sorts of textures and dimension making for a great aesthetic. His use of shape is also really, really great.

I’m loving the illustrations of Luke Bott. At first look, they appear super simple and flat but the more you study them you see all sorts of textures and dimension making for a great aesthetic. His use of shape is also really, really great.

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