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MacCubeBoy · Feb 26, 2003, 07:59 PM

Hey cool macintosh artists. I wanted to get some feedback on my newly created portfolio. The majority of the work has been made on a mac \m/!

http://homepage.mac.com/nofxsux/

Thanks!

art_director · Feb 26, 2003, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by MacCubeBoy:
Hey cool macintosh artists. I wanted to get some feedback on my newly created portfolio. The majority of the work has been made on a mac \m/!

http://homepage.mac.com/nofxsux/

Thanks!

you have some strong logos. i especially like the nofxsux.com. it's quite distinctive and has a wonderful personality.

nice sites, too.

Yager · Feb 26, 2003, 09:46 PM

Really, really like the web stuff. You could bring your logos and print work out a little more - I mean play with 'em more - but they look good. Over all I say B+.

Adam Betts · Feb 27, 2003, 02:05 AM

Agreed with Yager but still your portfolio is neat and pleasant to look at.

I like your works. K.I.S.S. always worked

Arch. · Feb 27, 2003, 03:47 AM

very clean interface on the site...A . Nice content for the most part B+.

chris v · Feb 28, 2003, 04:36 PM

Do Liason and SouthCoast Intern Network know that you're using the same images on their pages?

Nice stuff, though.

CV

art_director · Mar 1, 2003, 07:40 AM

MacCubeBoy:

a wise old ad man once told me that your book is only as good as its weakest piece. i hate to be blunt but the print work on your site is lacking and, in my opinion, it's bringing down the stronger pieces.

if i were you i'd ditch the print and:

a. do some new print

- or -

b. add more in the disciplines where your strengths are ( web & id )

sorry but candy coating it won't help you. i still like your corporate id's and web work. clearly you enjoy that sort of thing.

Burn · 11:08 AM

mmMMmGouache!

Very nice, great suggestions already, just want to add that amongst your digital creations, I hope you don't drop the freehand stuff (most do).

As art_director mentioned, your portfolio is a little unbalanced. If you don't have new work to sort it out, maybe pull back and more clearly present the stronger site designs - 5 pieces in each discipline maybe?

Really like the white space, paintwork, sites and id's. Your portfolio is clear and consice, wouldn't add much more if anything (maybe expansion of your contact info after graduating for example).

I Bent My Wookiee · Mar 1, 2003, 03:23 PM

Looks good.

MacCubeBoy · Mar 1, 2003, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by art_director:
MacCubeBoy:

a wise old ad man once told me that your book is only as good as its weakest piece. i hate to be blunt but the print work on your site is lacking and, in my opinion, it's bringing down the stronger pieces.

if i were you i'd ditch the print and:

a. do some new print

- or -

b. add more in the disciplines where your strengths are ( web & id )

sorry but candy coating it won't help you. i still like your corporate id's and web work. clearly you enjoy that sort of thing.

You are correct and i probably will be taking that work down. I would love to do more print work but i think i work better in web. I think my favorite design type work is easily logos and id work. I find it the most challenging and yet the most rewarding.

Thank you for the constructive critism. Thats the only way to really improve right?

MacCubeBoy · Mar 1, 2003, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by Burn:
mmMMmGouache!

Very nice, great suggestions already, just want to add that amongst your digital creations, I hope you don't drop the freehand stuff (most do).

As art_director mentioned, your portfolio is a little unbalanced. If you don't have new work to sort it out, maybe pull back and more clearly present the stronger site designs - 5 pieces in each discipline maybe?

Really like the white space, paintwork, sites and id's. Your portfolio is clear and consice, wouldn't add much more if anything (maybe expansion of your contact info after graduating for example).

Yeah i love Gouache! I have 3 paintings that i plan to finish once i find a job. I try to draw, doodle, or write down some weird idea in my art pad at least once a day. So hopefully i never stop my freehand work.

Thanks for the critique guys you've been very helpful.
Laurence

G-mac · Mar 1, 2003, 06:41 PM

Nice work on your site. I like the simplicity of your designs. Good luck with school and keep up the cool designs!

keywest · Mar 1, 2003, 08:40 PM

Nice site and some nice work.

I'll skip adding more praise and give you the criticisms straight up, but keep in mind I like everything I saw and especially the clean presentation.

If I were looking to hire, here's what I see. I don't like having to click on the little thumbnails to see the piece. The small thumbs don't give me any sense of what the piece is ahead of time, forcing me to wade through all the thumbs. Sometimes I don't have that kind of time.

Second, if you put print pieces up, tell me how they were printed. One of my biggest complaints with hiring new designers is they are weak on getting things on press. What is the piece for, how was it printed, stock used, etc. As a student, it is difficult to go to press I know, but I would be impressed if you added a spec page with each piece telling me how you wanted it printed. Again, paper stock, varnish, UV, any special handling, etc. Even if it nevers sees the light of day as so many school assignments don't, I would know you are thinking about prepress and final product as you are working on the piece.

Last, I agree with someone above who mentioned putting up less and focusing on your strongest pieces. It told me a lot when you followed up in a post that you like the logo and web-based design the best. Tell me that by what you focus on in the pieces on your site. Your logo work is good and especially if that is what you enjoy, highlight it and let me know you consider it one of your strengths. Everything on your site has equal weight in the presentation, yet some is stonger that others and you like some better that others. Communicate that to me.

All that said, good work and nicely done.

andi*pandi · Mar 3, 2003, 12:50 PM

nice stuff overall, but agree the print is weak. Typography issues there. Kerning. Overabundance of crashing type. In the second print piece, you've used a hash mark for an apostrophe! Agh! Agh!

Don't. Do. That! Even on the web. Especially in typographical graphic elements. Makes you look unprofessional.

What I really like is the navigation. I like the breadcrumbs, the thumbnails point out how many I'm going to be clicking thru so I'm not stuck in an endless loop... I don't mind that they are so tiny, prefer a cropped thumnail than a micro of the whole thing.

darklightfaery · Mar 4, 2003, 06:18 PM

MacCubeBoy, your portfolio is neat and simple. It seems to be always the best approach when it comes to online portfolios. I was also an art student and even am still working on re-vamping mine seeking graphic design (print mainly) job with web design as additional function. I agree with keywest - some description of what you've done on each piece is helpful to potential clients and/or employers. I picked that up while in school, through other students and online research.

What do the most employers seek in design portfolios? Well detailed descriptions next to images and aesthetically correct typography? Well done composition? Eye for color? Neat and simple web layout and navigation? Like MacCubeBoy, I used cropped thumbnails to signal what my works are inside, but, you, keywest, say that it takes a lot of time to do that?

I'd love feedback as I work on re-inventing my portfolio (both online and print).

Thanks! MacCubeBoy, nice to meet a fellow art student.

Adam Betts · Mar 5, 2003, 03:28 AM

Originally posted by darklightfaery:
What do the most employers seek in design portfolios? Well detailed descriptions next to images and aesthetically correct typography? Well done composition? Eye for color? Neat and simple web layout and navigation? Like MacCubeBoy, I used cropped thumbnails to signal what my works are inside, but, you, keywest, say that it takes a lot of time to do that?

From my experience, a well detailed descriptions is not really necessary. All you need to do is to show the image and let people decide for themselves. If they have some questions, they could email you.

Look at our website http://www.thebettsbro.com and you'll see what I mean

andi*pandi · Mar 5, 2003, 09:23 AM

hey adam, nice site!

but what the foo is up with the gorram PAGE CURLS in your print portfolio? Why? Why? Why????

darklightfaery · Mar 5, 2003, 02:53 PM

While we're on the subject, Adam, your portfolio is unique! I love that spotlight effect and the way you set it up. Big difference from MacCubeBoy and RenaissanceGirl's style.

Is it really, really necessary to have an online portfolio if you're mainly looking for PRINT design jobs? I read that some people don't even have online portfolio at all because they prefer to show their print designs on printed paper rather than on the website.

I understand the need for online portfolio if you're looking for web design, animation, or anything related to the web, or perhaps to set up design shop. But does that apply to print/graphic design arena? The reason I'm asking because why bother to set up online portfolio when you want to keep your print work only for potential employer's eyes and no one else? What happened to traditional methods when it comes to applying for jobs like mail?

Adam Betts · Mar 5, 2003, 09:41 PM

Originally posted by darklightfaery:
While we're on the subject, Adam, your portfolio is unique! I love that spotlight effect and the way you set it up. Big difference from MacCubeBoy and RenaissanceGirl's style.

Is it really, really necessary to have an online portfolio if you're mainly looking for PRINT design jobs? I read that some people don't even have online portfolio at all because they prefer to show their print designs on printed paper rather than on the website.

I understand the need for online portfolio if you're looking for web design, animation, or anything related to the web, or perhaps to set up design shop. But does that apply to print/graphic design arena? The reason I'm asking because why bother to set up online portfolio when you want to keep your print work only for potential employer's eyes and no one else? What happened to traditional methods when it comes to applying for jobs like mail?

Glad to hear that you like the site

I agree with you about saving Print designs for potential employer's eyes but the current print designs you see at our website are really old. We usually wait more than several months for any new works then post it up there.

Print is our last priority though. We get most of the profits from Icon, Website and Logo Design. If we get some complex projects (for Print), we would just redirect the client to some other Design Business.