surprise the designer

What do you do when you have a day off? Today I woke up, grabbed my camera, and pointed my bike in the direction of the local park. Why? Because I know there's usually a port-o-potty somewhere over there. I swear I'm not a weirdo (although at least one mom & daughter steered very clear of me as I was snapping shots of the port-o-let.) My senior thesis was a portable restroom, and I'm going back to the project to spruce up some of the assets. Trying to practice what I preach, back-sketching and back-shooting to put my best foot forward as I dive into some earnest, enthusiastic job applications. Hrmm... maybe I'll call my portfolio a port-o-folio?! ;)

This might sound obvious, but one of the greatest things about being an adjunct professor is the chance to share the knowledge you've amassed with people who haven't quite found it yet. Making a portfolio is a challenging process. You have to put your best foot forward, standing out enough to be noticed while blending in enough to appear compatible. Thanks to co-oping with four different employers (and professionally working with three more), I've made a lot of portfolios. So I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve. I gave this short presentation to the junior class at Wentworth today. It covers some of the basics: building blocks to eventually get you to the point where you'll be learning from yourself. Do you have any tips to add? Industrial Design Portfolio Basics from carlyhagins If you're looking for a slightly more in-depth guide, check out Hire Me! by the UCID class of 2012. 

2012 Portfolio from carlyhagins Putting a portfolio together is a daunting task. It can feel like every little detail matters: font choice, color choice, layout, the order of your projects, and how many pages you include. People say that a first impression sticks, and your portfolio is always your first impression on a potential future employer. No pressure or anything, right!? Well, this is my latest attempt at a stellar first impression. It's also the first portfolio I've assembled since being out in the 'real world.' That very fact brings its own challenges: how much weight to give to school projects vs. professional projects and how to structure things to help get the job you really want. Take a peek, pick your favorite page, and let me know what you think. More after the jump...