Impressions of the 2007 AIGA-MN Portfolio 1-on-1
This afternoon, I reviewed portfolios at the annual AIGA-MN Portfolio One-on-One event. The event served me well when I was a student designer, and it makes me feel like I’m returning the favor when I’m invited to attend.
The 4 portfolios I saw were very good, spanning the spectrum of design experience – from just starting their formal design program, to just finishing up, to just starting their careers.
Unlike previous years, I didn’t see anyone with computers showing interactive work. I think that was a good thing. It’s tough to get a good foundation design education and anything more than a taste of digital work. The former is far more important than the latter.
Prior to the event, the organizers asked me to fill out a questionnaire about my experience, these 2 questions I wanted to share with you, and ask for your take:
What do you do when you get stuck in responding to a design project?
Do something else. Leave the office. Take a walk. If the question is
interesting to you, the answer will come.
What three things should recent graduates be aware of as they enter
the professional design community?
- The only thing scarce is importance.
- The internet has made visual design both more important and
completely irrelevant.- Open Source software projects need good visual designers
5 Comments
“The internet has made visual design both more important and completely irrelevant.”
I like that one a lot. Nicely put!
I might contradict your statement about no laptops. If they are indeed interactive designers, aiming for interactive gigs, they better show interaction well. Clicking works better for that than mounted boards (speaking of which, are design schools still pumping out spraymounted boards…in hindsight…complete overkill, IMHO).
The one item I’d add to things to be aware of is salary. It seems to be a bit of a taboo subject both while in school and by the employers in general. But you did spend those 4+ years in school to hopefully earn money some day, so be prepared to answer the inevitable ‘well, what arey our salary requirements’ question that will pop up.
Darrel,
Excellent point on salary. I think we as a community could serve each other and the newly graduated better if we were more transparent and open about compensation.
Any word on Senior Shows at Stout yet?
As usual, the Website is no help.
I’ll probably mail one of the professor or something in a week or two.
Jake/Garrick/Other stouties…why don’t we set up a trip to Stout for a senior show some time? Might be a fun mini-road trip to see the alma mater.
that’s an excellent idea.
According to the Stout calendar, it’s on May 11th