Fantasy portfolio

fantasy portfolio

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Putting together a portfolio

• There is no right or wrong way to organise your portfolio but your portfolio is very important and says a lot about you and the way you work so it is vital to get it looking just right.

Is this true?

What should a portfolio contain?

Are there any rules?

‘broad brush’ requiems

• a mature train of thought.

• the ability to be creative, yet precise.

• the ability to design to the company’s target market.

A mature train of thoughtWhat• Different approaches different challenges in work.

• Ability to problem solve and to think through projects in a logical manner.

How• Consider showing the process of thinking, highlight how different

designs can be used together within a collection.

• Show the challenges that you encountered, and overcame, during projects.

Be creative, yet preciseWhat• Entry-level position often consists of many monotonous

duties, such as repeats, data entry, etc. but are important and need to be done perfectly.

• Ability to be precise and professional, while still allowing your creativity to shine.

How• Show you can handle day to day tasks and help to assistant or

support the rest of the team’s creative efforts through a creative, yet polished portfolio which shows that these abilities have been used previously.

Design to the company’s target market

What• The focus is on the customer and managers want to see

that you can handle this challenge.

• The ability to design to the company’s target market.

How• Consider showing market research, collections aimed at

a variety of customers and discuss the challenges of each.

specifics

some rules


• Present your most recent work first and the oldest work towards the back.

• Use your judgment as to whether it is still relevant to include your graduate work.


• a simple A4 or A3 portfolio.

• The portfolio needs to be constructed in a way that allows you to change pages around or remove some projects completely so you can tailor your portfolio to a specific client.


• Ornate presentation can look wonderful but think practically about the easiest way to show the work and the easiest way to pack up as you leave.

• A client may have to flip through a large number of portfolios in any one day and anything too fiddly may have a negative impact rather than the positive impact you were hoping for.


• Include work not just from your professional career but continue to work on personal projects to keep your portfolio fresh.

• Obviously for you this means include set projects/competitions and personal project.


• Make sure the work in your portfolio is 100% yours, and if it is not label it accordingly.

physical portfolio v digital format

both

• easy to email

physical portfolio v digital format

both

• technical glitch• tablet functionality• let go of the equipment• hand drawn work• mood boards, fabric swatches, trim samples in reality as

well as imagery. • touch / texture – physicality / materiality• background work and “finished product”

advice

some thoughts


• Constantly re-evaluate your portfolio:• How do you feel about it?• Are you confident enough to talk someone

through it?• Does it show variety and speak clearly about

your strengths?• Does it relate specifically to the interview you

are taking it to?


• Think about which area you would ideally like to work in i.e. womenswear, menswear, interiors etc.

• Aim your portfolio towards the particular market you are interested in.


• Think creatively.

• Most people tend to stick to womenswear but show other areas.


• Think ‘commercially’ as well as ‘creatively’ due to the variety of potential opportunities/clients.

commercially creatively

• What do these words mean?


• Keep working on your portfolio!!

• You need to constantly reflect on and edit your portfolio – consider the organisation you are showing work to.


• If you would like to work for a ‘Designer Brand’, do projects at that level

but • Keep you options open by doing other

projects aimed at High Street level or another context that is appropriate.


• Make your printouts clear as bad quality images look unprofessional.


• Most companies send hand drawn work to Clients – not catwalk shots or look-books.

outline

session 1• content• What does your portfolio need to contain?• What are the industry standards of the sector you wish to be part

of?• size (physical / digital) • amount of work• order of pieces• purpose of session• to have a plan for the rough draft of the content of your

portfolio(s)

outline

session 2 • How to live your life• Setting goals• Post NUA• Planning for success

outline

Between now and your session tomorrow• Research what your portfolio should contain.• Develop a 2 minute presentation.

• You can use work you have already made. • You can project use text or image as a stand in.

• any format of presentation is possible.

outline day 2• presentation session• we would like you to present your goals for the future within the context of

your fantasy portfolio.• where do you want to go next?• what will your portfolio contain?• each person has 2 minutes to present their findings with 2 mins of

questions/comments followed by a short discussion within the group after all presentations.

• purpose of session• to set goals that are attainable• to create a map of what you have to do• to get feedback from the group • to practise presentation skills• to build confidence

Education

Fantasy portfolio