Portfolio Piece Re-design

Purpose: A portfolio piece will communicate to an employer whether you are right for the company. Its presentation and quality communicates the student's abilities as a professional designer.

This project is an exercise in applying self assessment and problem solving to identify strengths and weaknesses in a design piece. The student will then use that knowledge to improve the piece to the level of a successful portfolio piece.

Student examples:  Print 2006   Web 2006

View the project deadlines.

Step 1: Meet with your projects instructor.

  1. Go to the Re-design projects page and collect the project information:
  2. Print out a copy of the print sign-off sheet.
    Print out a copy of the Web sign-off sheet.
  3. Schedule a meeting with the projects instructor, who will be your client for this project.
Step 2: Meet with your process instructor.
  1. Go to the Re-design process page for Print or Web and collect the process information.
  2. Complete the process exercises:
  3. Schedule a meeting with the process instructor, who will be your art director for this project.
Step 4: Complete project research.
  1. Collect industry examples similar to the type of piece you are working on.
  2. Compare your work to industry examples.
  3. Research Exercises #1 and #2
  4. Research Industry Sites:
    1. Seven2
    2. Klundt Hosmer
    3. BHW1
    4. Anderson Mraz Design
    5. Salty Design Foundry
Step 5: Self-assess your work.
  1. Complete the evaluation exercise.
  2. List specific steps to improve the piece.
Step 6: Make appropriate changes and submit for critique.
  1. Improve your piece using your evaluation results.
  2. Present the piece in a critique session with your art director and fellow designers.
Step 7: Complete final revisions.
  1. Use critique comments to craft final revisions.
  2. Submit your final to the art director for approval/sign-off.
Step 8 : Verify correct file preparation with your lab instructor.
  1. Make an appointment with your lab instructor to sign off on the following:
    • hand in studio (lab) time sheet.
    • hand in your print preparation checklist for approval/sign-off.
    • hand in your sign-off sheet for approval/sign-off.

Step 9: Submit final piece to the client for approval/sign-off.

Step 10: Fill out self-assessments:

  1. Projects:
    Print, Web
  2. Process:
    Print, Web
  3. Lab