Carbonmade : Easy On-line Portfolios

from Cram Blog by Matt:

"I came across this neat little site for creating online portfolios and I have to say that I think it to be awesome. Of course if your thing is web design, you should make your own. But if you are strapped for time or the web isn’t really your thing and you still need to get something up to show, it would be hard to do better than what carbonmade has created.
I think that this is so easy in fact that there is really no excuse for having some sort of simple portfolio online. So, what are you waiting for? Go make something…"

Portfolio Book - Blurb

We all know that portfolios are NEEDED at a job interview... but many wonder the best way to present the work.

Genevieve passed on a website called BLURB where you can upload photos, add context, layout and page and they will print it, bind it and ship it to you!

They already have portfolio layouts for you to choose from too!
Here's from their website:

• High Quality - Our Hardcover, Dust Jacket, Hardcover, ImageWrap and Softcover books all feature professional bindings and coated, matte paper.
• Affordable - prices start at only $12.95 for a 40 page softcover,
  
• Flexible Ordering - Order just one of many copies of your portfolio. You have the option to place your portfolio in Blurbs bookstore for friends and colleagues to purchase
• Easy to make - Drag and drop images and text into hundreds of professionally designed layouts to showcase your work.
• Unique sizes - Choose from four sizes including a distinctive Square 7x7 or Large Format Landscape 13x11 for a big impact.
• Easy to make - Drag and drop images and text into hundreds of professionally designed layouts to showcase your word
• Fast turnaround - orders arrive on your doorstep in approximately 7 to 10 business days.

This is a great deal - I went to Kinkos last week to get my book printed and saddle stitched and it was $22 dollars. Plus I have to trim down the edges myself. Blurb looks very easy so let us know if you use it!

Portfolio 1 on 1 : what you missed

If you didn't attend this years portfolio 1 on 1 you should be kicking yourself. Not only was it a great learning experience it was also a lot of fun.

5 Stouties got there around noon on Friday and right away everyone was split up into groups of 10 for studio tours. My group went to Hunt Atkins, Imagehaus and GdB. Each place was very different - in the decor, their attitude and work they've completed. It was a huge insight on how they run their company and what they are all about. My favorite tour and person I met was Jay Miller, the Principal at Imagehaus. In a nutshell he told us to always be true to yourself, develop business relationships and don't work for free. (We also got a way cool pillow case!)

After studio tours there was a panel discussion wit Brian Grant from Olson, Sara Nelson Forss from Werner Works, Jeff Johnson from Spunk Design Machine and Mike Haeg from Schematic.

The next morning was all about Portfolio Reviews. All of us Stouties ended up seeing at least 4 reviewers for a half an hour each to discuss our portfolio. This was a knockout experience. I definitely learned my strengths and weaknesses and what needs to be revised and expanded on. I think we all also learned that our work, how it's put together, how it's shot, how it's displayed, how we present it is completely subjective. I met with 4 different people with completely different roles in the design world and they all thought that I should display my work differently than my last reviewer. Bottom line though: Expand your projects. Even if you were only assigned to do a poster, make an invitation, signage, buttons, bench signs, ANYTHING. Employers want to see a full campaign.

I'm not going to give away all the tips and tricks. It was maybe one of the best ways to spend $90. I gained tons of insight and connected with other students and professionals.

Portfolio 1 on 1

Dates: 

April 24, 2009 - April 25, 2009

Times: 
See schedule below.

Location: 
Solera 
900 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Cost to Attend:
AIGA Student Member: $90
Student Non-Member: $185
Join AIGA & Attend Conference:* $165
($75 AIGA student membership fee, $90 conference registration fee. A $20 savings by joining AIGA).

*Non-members: to register for the event and join AIGA, you must email the chapter office at office@minnesota.aiga.org instead of going through the online registration process. You will be required to submit Proof of Enrollment prior to the event (a tuition receipt or current class schedule is acceptable proof of enrollment. Copied student IDs will not be accepted).

Since 1993, AIGA Minnesota’s annual Portfolio 1 on 1 event provides advice, insight and industry information to design students from around the upper Midwest. Over the course of two days (April 24-25, 2009) students will interact with professional designers during studio tours, portfolio review, a panel discussion, and professional workshops. See details about the event here.

EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday, April 24
11:30	- 12:30	Registration
12:30	- 1:00	Welcome/Lunch
1:00	- 4:00	Studio Tours
4:30	- 6:00	Panel Discussion/Scholarship Announcement
6:00		Closing
Saturday, April 25
8:00	- 9:00	Continental Breakfast
8:30		Announcements
9.00	- 11:.30	Morning Review Sessions/Workshops
11:30	- 1:00	Lunch
1:00	- 3:00	Afternoon Review Sessions/Workshops
3:15		Door prizes/Closing