The 3 key interview points are Personality, Portfolio and Passion
PERSONALITY:
- Relaxed - Relax in the interview, your talking about a common favourite subject in design, theres no need to be nervous or uncomfortable
- Professional - Be punctual and have a professional attitude
- Honest - Be honest about your work, you will ALWAYS get caught out
PORTFOLIO:
- Genuine - Be genuine about your work and what you've done, you'll get caught out if it's not your work
- Confident - Be confident about your work, be proud of your portfolio
- Receptive - Take note of all advice given to you in the interview. These are respected designers with a lot of experience
PASSION:
- Brave - Be brave, talk about your work and take all opportunities thrown your way
- Committed - Be committed to the cause, don't give up
- Positive - Always have a positive outlook, it'll get you far
In Dave's opinion, these points can get you the extra yard on other designers trying for the same job.
Thursday 17 March 2011
Dave McDonald
Today Dave McDonald of Infinite Design gave a talk on his career, his work and advice on how to get a job.
Key Points on Dave's career so far:
- Graduated at Newcastle College 1996
- Went to London
- Worked at two leading companies
- Returned North after realising london wasn't for him
- Unemployed for 12months
- Took a design job, but quit on his 1st day
- Got a job for Infinite Design
Key Points on his work:
- Had an influence on 'Dancecity' design. He worked with the architects and created a well recognised brand
- Worked on Metro branding
- End Clothing brand work
- Virtual Motion Dance Company brand work
- Saints Hotel Newcastle
Key Advice:
- Source own projects to build portfolio
- Be honest with yourself - Is it what you want to do?
- Collaborate and become friends with people in the industry, and different specialisms in the industry
- Agree on payments before commencing work. Always cover your costs.
Key Points on Dave's career so far:
- Graduated at Newcastle College 1996
- Went to London
- Worked at two leading companies
- Returned North after realising london wasn't for him
- Unemployed for 12months
- Took a design job, but quit on his 1st day
- Got a job for Infinite Design
Key Points on his work:
- Had an influence on 'Dancecity' design. He worked with the architects and created a well recognised brand
- Worked on Metro branding
- End Clothing brand work
- Virtual Motion Dance Company brand work
- Saints Hotel Newcastle
Key Advice:
- Source own projects to build portfolio
- Be honest with yourself - Is it what you want to do?
- Collaborate and become friends with people in the industry, and different specialisms in the industry
- Agree on payments before commencing work. Always cover your costs.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Top 5 portfolio techniques.
After research, I have found my top 5 tips for enhancing a portfolio (in no particular order)...
1. "When ordering your pages, we’d suggest starting with your second best project, and finishing with your best piece. Also, try to make sure you don't have two projects running over one spread. You’ll find that as you’re explaining the first page of the spread, the next project is being looked at before you’re ready to move on to it. To fix this, just space your projects out, even if it means you’ve one or two blank pages in there." - Thoughtful
2. "Be ruthless with your portfolio. You don’t need to show everything you’ve ever done, so choose around 10 of your best projects. The ones you get excited and passionate about. You’ll be able to talk about these with enthusiasm and hopefully, get your potential employer excited too." - Thoughtful
3. "Layout: As I said just up there, when I told you to stop archiving, your work needs to be communicated so design something that will allow it to do so. It will help to be very strict with a grid and how much you put down, but this all comes down to forgetting your work (another one-at the very top). I'd suggest going for a simple and to the point grid that allows you to be flexible." - ohshitwhatnow
4. "Landscape: is one of many ways you can present your work. And it's probably the better way to do it—but of course this depends on your work that you're presenting. If the majority of your work works better in portrait, then the answer is obvious—likewise if it's Landscape. If you have a mixture, you'll end up spinning the book around more than an empty bottle at a teenagers' sleep-over, so I suggest you be harsh with yourself: pick one and stick with it" - ohshitwhatnow
5. "Always rehearse your portfolio. I know, I know, you're thinking "Rehearse? Fuck off. If my mates saw me they'd never let me live it down." And although this may be the case, and you may just develop a fear of public speaking due to the monotonous friend-ridicule, it's still important. I always used to write out every possible thing I wanted to say about each project. Then I'd read it aloud. It allows you to get a feeling for how you sound when presenting your work." - ohshitwhatnow
1. "When ordering your pages, we’d suggest starting with your second best project, and finishing with your best piece. Also, try to make sure you don't have two projects running over one spread. You’ll find that as you’re explaining the first page of the spread, the next project is being looked at before you’re ready to move on to it. To fix this, just space your projects out, even if it means you’ve one or two blank pages in there." - Thoughtful
2. "Be ruthless with your portfolio. You don’t need to show everything you’ve ever done, so choose around 10 of your best projects. The ones you get excited and passionate about. You’ll be able to talk about these with enthusiasm and hopefully, get your potential employer excited too." - Thoughtful
3. "Layout: As I said just up there, when I told you to stop archiving, your work needs to be communicated so design something that will allow it to do so. It will help to be very strict with a grid and how much you put down, but this all comes down to forgetting your work (another one-at the very top). I'd suggest going for a simple and to the point grid that allows you to be flexible." - ohshitwhatnow
4. "Landscape: is one of many ways you can present your work. And it's probably the better way to do it—but of course this depends on your work that you're presenting. If the majority of your work works better in portrait, then the answer is obvious—likewise if it's Landscape. If you have a mixture, you'll end up spinning the book around more than an empty bottle at a teenagers' sleep-over, so I suggest you be harsh with yourself: pick one and stick with it" - ohshitwhatnow
5. "Always rehearse your portfolio. I know, I know, you're thinking "Rehearse? Fuck off. If my mates saw me they'd never let me live it down." And although this may be the case, and you may just develop a fear of public speaking due to the monotonous friend-ridicule, it's still important. I always used to write out every possible thing I wanted to say about each project. Then I'd read it aloud. It allows you to get a feeling for how you sound when presenting your work." - ohshitwhatnow
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