Show Case: Developing, Maintaining, and Presenting a Design-Tech Portfolio for Theatre and Allied Fields
Amazon Exclusive: A Letter from Rafael Jaen, Author ofShow Case, Second EditionDear Amazon Readers,I first got interested in portfolio development in the 1980s. While in college, I created an art-book sampler that helped me transfer from a renowned architectural school in South America to the Theatre Design Program at New York University--not a small accomplishment for someone who didn’t speak English! Later, I used various formats to get internships, to get into graduate school, to get jobs, and to get a teaching position in higher education. Through the years one thing has remained constant: the achievement of every goal that I have set for career advancement has been dependent on creating or updating portfolios.I wrote the book’s first edition to assist others--a friend who heard me complain repeatedly about the lack of a bibliography on this subject matter suggested that I “should write a comprehensive guide.” With the second edition, I wanted to expand the content with more contributors, more samples and more images. I also wanted to explore 21st century approaches such as branding, social networking and web based multimedia portfolios.As a comprehensive guide, the book’s main objective is to facilitate the process of building an exciting portfolio. The chapters help the reader plan and develop details such as personal presentation, page layout, content variety, aesthetic sequencing, marketing and next steps. They also cover a wide range of aspects, from the beginner’s portfolio to the advanced portfolio and from the traditional portfolio to the electronic portfolio.It is my sincerest wish that this book will inspire and help you with the development of your portfolio, whether traditional or electronic, and whether you are a beginner or a seasoned practitioner.Warm regards,Rafael JaenTop Ten Tips from Rafael Jaen to Improve Your Design-Tech Portfolio1. Keep the principles of design in mind when planning your page layout and your rendering plates. Employers will equate the attention to detail in all of your work with the level of detail you put into your portfolio, so pay attention to this. That means use a ruler, don’t eyeball!2. Have stories that tell something about you and your approach to design and/or technology collaboration prepared for each image you show. These stories should reflect positive experiences and demonstrate your skills--and a little humor is often appreciated.3. Often interviewers will ask questions about what they are looking at--be prepared to answer a range of questions that may allow you to "strut your stuff" a little more.4. Select images that demonstrate the process, not just the final product. Most employers or schools are interested in seeing how you work through a project (as well as the final results). So, having beginning sketches and finished drawings as well as images of the project on stage can help.5. Make sure your images and labels are professional in appearance and appropriately mounted, and check for proper spelling on all written work! Neatness and consistency do count here. Sloppy labels, misspelled names and presentations that fall apart are embarrassing for you and indicative of shoddy work. If the work presented requires a disclaimer or an apology, it probably doesn't belong in the portfolio.6. Show a variety of work. Take and keep pictures of all that you do. Do your homework on the company, department, individual or job you are applying for, and assemble your work in a way tailored to their needs. This may also mean you assemble more than one portfolio. If you are using copies of work, get the best copy quality you can afford.7. Do not include the kitchen sink! You may have many projects or many pages per project that you want to include, but most interviews have a limited time frame. If it is difficult for you to eliminate, ask a friend or mentor to help you clean house.8. Be very selective. It’s far better to have two or three very good projects in the portfolio than to have many more mediocre ones. People will remember both the great work and the really not-great work, so work to eliminate the latter.9. Hang onto materials. Have a folder, drawer, or box that you put materials you've worked on into once you are done using them. Go through the box from time to time to organize the materials. It's much easier to pull together this information into a presentable format if you have it in one place instead of having to go looking for it (or worse, trying to remember that show you did in two weeks three years ago!)10. Don’t scrimp on the portfolio. You are selling a product: your skills. The package where you keep your portfolio says something about you. It might be a large-format traditional hard-copy portfolio, or a small booklet of 4x6 photos, or a CD with images. Take the time to make the package professional-looking and aesthetically appealing.