Choosing the right work for your portfolio is often the first step and hardest part of creating a solid print portfolio. Your work should be recent and every piece should be as strong as possible. Having a variety of work is essential because it shows you are versatile, but you will still want to tailor your print portfolio based on the job you are applying too.
If the job is for a position at a magazine, then having a majority of site designs instead of magazine spreads in your portfolio might not work out for you so much, so keep in mind what job you are applying for when choosing pieces.

Organizing and Displaying

The presentation of your pieces is very important. All your pieces should be trimmed and printed out as large as possible, especially for work such as posters you want to display it as large as possible. You should also use some type of removable tape or sticky material to keep your work secure on the pages. You don’t want your work shifting around and all lopsided when you open up your book in an interview!

Starting Strong

First impressions are everything; so make sure you put one of your best pieces at the start of your portfolio. This will help wow the viewer and entice them into wanting to see more, but the catch is to make sure the rest of your portfolio is just as good! Don’t put your resume in the first sleeve, place it in the back or keep them out of the portfolio.

Portfolio Flow

There should be a good flow to your portfolio, try to find a balance between types of work, color and the strength of the designs. If you have 6 great designs and 6 good designs alternate between good and great and make sure you start with a great and end with a great design!

Portfolio Spreads

Don’t just focus on individual pages and how they look. Take a step back and see if the pages look good side by side. Try mixing and matching pieces to see which look best side-by-side. Your poster design may look like crap next to one of your site designs, but it may look great next to one of your magazine spreads. Try to keep projects together as well, avoid showing the business card for a company at the start and then the letterhead for that company a few pages later.

Ending Strong

Ending strong is just as important as starting strong, because this is the last thing that will be imprinted in the viewers mind, so you want it to be a good last impression.

Labeling Your Work

Labeling projects will help you while you talk about your work, but if you leave your portfolio behind and they look at it again, it will help them understand what each project is about. Keep the labeling short and sweet. Give it a title, describe who it was for and possibly a short sentence about the project in general.

The Amount of Work

Everyone has a different opinion about how many pieces you should have in a portfolio, but the key is finding a balance so your portfolio does not seem to short or too long. I would recommend at least 10-12 pieces, but no more then 18-20.

Practice Your Presentation

Make sure you are able to speak about each piece going over topics such as the concept, style, who it was for, what the company was about and the goal of the project. Practice talking about each project out loud and even in front of friends or family, until you are very comfortable speaking about each piece!

Other Essential Items

When you go to an interview you should bring other items besides your portfolio. Make sure to have several copies of an up-to-date resume, cover letter, business cards and if you portfolio case is expensive make sure to have a disposable portfolio to give your potential employer. You might also consider brining a CD with a PDF portfolio file on it, that is as small in file size as possible.

You portfolio is a reflection of yourself and it will be an essential part of your life as a designer. Work hard at creating it, take care of it and keep it up-to-date!

• Create a portfolio.  A portfolio that demonstrates creativity, versatility, and competency for the type of jobs you want is a must. If you are applying for a specific job, you can customize your portfolio by adding pieces that are similar to the work the gig requires.

• Use the Web.  Lots of artists have been “found” through their impressive Web sites. Creating an awesome Web site is especially important for graphic and Web designers. And don’t neglect the many sites that post available art jobs online. 

• Use contacts from previous projects and professional organizations.  You don’t usually find artists in polo shirts and popped collars networking at traditional mixer-type functions. Networking probably seems pretty repulsive to most artists. But the truth is that many good jobs are found through personal connections. So stay in touch with people you’ve worked with and think about joining a professional organization or social network. It probably won’t be that bad.

Another option is getting a degree or professional certification. Art school will help build your portfolio and will introduce you to other artists and teachers with professional connections. Plus the degree will add another attraction to your resume. 

Source:
Artist Resource

Design for the Slopes: How to Become a Snowboard Designer
Imaging seeing your design on a snowboard that’s pulling crazy flips in the half pipe or rocking the moguls in the terrain park. Designing snowboards is one of the most specific, competitive fields of art, but it’s also one of the coolest. So how can you “clip in” to the world of snowboard designers? Here are a few ideas:

Snowboard Design Contests
Some snowboard companies have design contests– these contests are a good way to get practice designing boards, and to get free gear and lift tickets if you win. Companies offering contests include:

Prior Snowboards
Salomon Snowboards
Monson Snowboards, and many more. 

Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop has a new snowboard design program that allows you to create graphics on a snowboard-size template. You can even see where the bindings will cover the design.

School
Some art schools and other colleges have snowboard design teams or clubs. For example, at the University of Toronto the snowboard design team does everything from designing and fabricating the boards to marketing and selling them. Cool.

Sources:
Adobe Photoshop
Monson Snowboards
Prior Snowboards
Salomon Snowboards
University of Toronto- Snowboard Design Team

For example, a Production Coordinator at AppleOne in Huntington Beach, California manages inventory, procurement and logistics for this swimsuit industry company. The production coordinator analyzes sales demand by booking orders and understanding the sales history of the company. The production coordinator also prepares vendor purchase orders to ensure the continual supply of accessories and apparel.

In order to prepare for a career like this one, a degree from a school of art and design is very useful. Entering the job market with a degree ensures that you have the knowledge and experience to manage the many aspects of an operation that a production designer does. Coursework at a school of art and design ensures that when you become a production coordinator, you will be prepared.

Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Monster.com

Graphic Design Degrees

There are many aspects to the creation of an image used in marketing and other arenas. Today, much of this work occurs digitally, and to be competitive in this field, you need to have the right training. Courses from a school of art and design are tailored to today’s high tech market.   

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends post-secondary training for all artists, noting that schools of art and design focus intensively on the kind of art training that leads to full time employment as an artist.

In this market, production artists must be skilled in the use of the latest computer technology, especially key software programs. A production artist at Update Graphics in New York City, for example, creates illustrations using Quark, Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign programs.  The production artist proofs, pre-flights, prepares and press checks files. 

In order to begin the process of obtaining a degree in this field, consult a school of art and design.

Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Monster.com

Graphic Design Degrees

Accessory Design Is The New Black

Is your closet packed full of scarves, belts and hat? Is your vanity table overflowing with jewelry, gloves, and clips for your hair? Parlay your passion for accessories into financial success by considering the up-and-coming occupation of accessory design. Accessory design is currently experiencing high growth due to popular movies like The Devil Wears Prada, and TV shows like Ugly Betty. But prepare yourself—accessory design is a highly competitive field. Since few retail companies employ accessory designers, most work independently. That means if you want to be successful, you’ll need training in fashion design and how to create your own buzz. A Bachelor’s degree in Art, Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising or a related program will help you become more knowledgeable about both topics. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits approximately 250 postsecondary institutions with programs for art and design degrees, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the right kind of training in an area near you.

Accessory Designers design jewelry, handbags, shoes, ties, belts, hats, and gloves to coordinate with clothing fashionably.  This field is hot! hot! hot! and constantly changing with fashion trends. You’ll never be bored! Designers make $29,000 to $38,000 annually, but expect that number to rise as the increase in demand for accessory designers continues. Sound good? Then research which programs can offer you the right degrees and training because with so much attention on fashion these days, you won’t want to miss the opportunity for success.

Sources:
US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
bls.gov
fashion-schools.org

Watch Out Versace—Here You Come!

Are Zac Posen, DKNY, and Marc Jacobs part of your everyday vocabulary? If so, then you should check out how fashion school can help you earn a fashion design degree today. For a fashion designer, a two or four-year college degree in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising or a related field is recommended, as well as several years of training under another noted fashion designer. Competition for fashion design is fierce because many are attracted to the glamour associated of the industry. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports, “few job openings arise because of low job turnover and a small number of new openings created every year.” You’ll need the proper training and degree from an accredited school to position yourself for the greatest success in the field.

Fashion designers conceptualize and design new clothing, often working closely with production and sales and marketing departments to produce a successful product. It is important they keep themselves informed of all fashion trends, and decide which unique niche they want to design clothes for. BLS reports fashion designers made an annual average of $55,840 in May 2004, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $112,840. And don’t expect the field to slow down at all. The demand for fashion designers is always strong because fashion trends are constantly changing, and consumers like to stay current. So, don’t wait! See how fashion school can deliver the training need to transform your dreams into reality.

Sources:
US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
bls.gov
fashion-schools.org

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a retail merchandiser with experience and a degree from a program at an accredited school can make a very healthy income. Average salaries range from $50,000 to $80,000, while the highest up the executive ladder can see more than $100,000. Retail merchandisers have large financial and management responsibilities and are among the most important and respected of company employees. They usually have bottom-line responsibilities at every stage of their careers. As a retail merchandiser, you will analyze market trends, costs, and past sales figures in order to help the manufacturer decide what path to follow in the coming seasons. You should have good math skills, in-depth knowledge of industry trends, decisiveness, and an ability to work well under pressure.

A Fitting Career
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of retail merchandisers is predicted to grow at a slower rate than for the average job. In 2004, retail merchandisers held approximately 75,000 positions in the U.S. job market. Improving software has drastically reduced paperwork, and a growing percentage of purchases are being made on the internet. However, despite the slow growth, retail merchandising will continue to be competitive as a career due to job openings resulting from workers changing to other occupations or retiring and from a general expansion of the services sector.

Possible jobs include merchandiser, merchandising assistant, and merchandising director. Employers generally require a bachelor’s degree from a program at an accredited school, as well as some experience in retail. If you have a head for bottom lines, as well as an eye for hem-lines, give retail merchandising a second look.

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents”

According to the Associated Press, some 61 million people were expected to peruse the racks this year on Black Friday, putting the fashion coordinator’s job in the spotlight. The essential task of the Fashion Coordinators is to direct the marketing of clothing, maintaining a consistent style among the various fashion sections of department stores, retail stores, design houses, and fashion magazines. As a fashion consultant, you will need to maintain a strong grasp of fashion trends by talking to designers and keeping up with the relevant industry magazines. Among the most enjoyable of your tasks will be travelling overseas in the name of research. With this information in hand, you will help buyers choose their purchases and provide salespeople or magazine editors with advice to pass on to their customers.

Well-suited to Your Career
Although there are not many of these advanced level positions available, job outlook is reasonably good, as there are numerous industries that employ fashion coordinators and numerous schools offering accredited degree programs.

There are numerous career paths for fashion coordinators, including positions such as retail sales associate, assistant fashion coordinator, fashion coordinator and fashion director. Both design houses and large department stores hire fashion coordinators, as do fashion magazines. Employers generally expect a bachelor’s degree from a fashion design or fashion merchandising program earned at an accredited school.  As these are specialized and competitive jobs, employers also want you to have considerable hands-on experience of the fashion industry. If you want to be in a position to influence not just your own wardrobe, but those of large sections of the shopping public, a job as a fashion coordinator could put you there. 

Sources:
Accounting Web, “Black Friday 2006 & Beyond”
holisticjunction.com, “fashion-coordinator”
Jobguide, “Fashion Coordinator”
myfuture.edu, “Occupation Information: Fashion Coordinator”
occupationalinfo.org, “Fashion Coordinator”

 According to Monster.com, with a degree from an accredited school, you can possibly bring in six figures as a fashion buyer. Fashion buyers purchase clothes from designers, wholesalers, and manufacturers to be sold by retailers, department stores, and independently owned businesses. As you might often make your purchases two years or more in advance, you would need a keen sense of fashion trends, as well as an understanding of your customers’ needs and desires. In addition to fashion sense, buyers need advanced computer skills, strong budgeting skills, and an ability to work within deadlines. You will liaise closely with retail staff and consult complicated sales reports to determine what to buy and the competitive price to charge.

Tailor-made Career
Beginning as an assistant buyer, you will have strong prospects of becoming an independent buyer in 3 to 5 years. Starting salaries fall between $30,000 and $45,000, while the experienced can earn $50,000 and above. These figures can also rise comfortably to between $70,000 and $100,000.

An attractive path toward success is the executive training program. Often run by large retailers, these programs train entrants as assistant buyers with a view to eventual promotion to positions as fashion buyers. Employers generally require at least a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising or other relevant fields earned from an accredited school. Retail experience is a plus, and of course being a fashion-lover is a must in this job. So if you have a love for style and a head for business, a job as a fashion buyer might be a perfect fit.
 
Sources:
bls, retail purchase agent
careerccc.org, “Fashion Buyer”
monster.com, “Work as a fashion Buyer”