IDD 480 - Print Portfolios

While my intentions of a print version of my portfolio are not at the top of my priority list. I did take trip over to Hull's Art Supply in New Haven to see what types of ways I could bind a print portfolio when I actually have time to get around to it. Unfortunately, my options are quite pricey for what I would consider just a fancy binder. Although, after reading in the book, I found that there are other options to creating a portfolio and packaging it in a nice neat way without it being expensive. Portfolios ranged from about $35 to several hundred dollars. Perhaps when I am no longer a student and am making very fine work I'll display it in an expensive portfolio.

Some of the ways I saw portfolios displayed in the book included cloth boxes, magazine holders, metal boxes, bound books, a variety of objects in a FedEx box., a suitcase made from cut-up coffee cans, and clever ways of packaging everything into a unique folder. The variety of objects in the FedEx box struck my interest. This was created by Modern Dog, a design group from Seattle. A couple of the items actually contained in it was a breath spray called, "The Original Liar" and a package of gum called, "Be Nice Or Leave Gum." The effect this had on me from just looking at the photographs on the book was quite interesting and definitely grabbed my attention. Now some of the other items in the portfolio is borderline and might offend some people. This topic does get discussed in the 9th chapter of the Digital Portfolios book.

When selecting work for a portfolio, especially as a student, I feel it is important not to step off on the wrong foot. Modern Dog's portfolio is not for everyone. We need to keep in mind that we don't know what type of morals, ethnicity, race, etc. the person on the viewing end of the portfolio has.

Whether we are writing our resume or providing captions for the work in our portfolio, we need to write in an educated manner. Spelling, grammar, and typos need to be perfect. Bad writing will make anyone will look bad and it doesn't matter who they are. Humor, can be important, tricky, and dangerous. Humor needs to be safe because we don't know who will be viewing it at the end. To some, it could be hilarious, to others, it might offend and they could want nothing to do with you and your work after that. One last thing to consider is paying attention to the audience of the portfolio. Who is going to be viewing the portfolio? Or who is more likely to view it? Catering the text and the language to them and more of your true personality can be exposed.