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Another Portfolio Critique

CultureofCon

I posted my portfolio a while back and the only feedback I got was I should change my font.  Well since then, I've done quite a bit more than change my font and I'd like some feedback on the new overhaul.  I'll be submitting it Friday for a portfolio competition but, in general,  it's intended to be used in my search for an internship.  The last project is in total disarray while I figure out what to do with it so disregard it unless you REALLY want to try and make sense of the non-sense.

Thanks in advance for your input!

http://issuu.com/gregmorse/docs/spring2013portfolio4

 
Mar 27, 13 10:02 pm
snail

I'm picky, but I don't see much to talk about. Your presentation is unclear. All I see are weak concepts, me-too diagrams, and technically competent renderings.

Mar 28, 13 12:22 am  · 
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0super2

You have some really interesting images! However, the presentation is unclear (snail) and defeating (tiorted). Spruce up your plans, and take them into photoshop. Don't add colour like you're using MS Paint, but instead focus on shading, poche, layering, opacity. Make the floor plans and such read as "drawings" instead of leaving them to "float" like they do now. 

May 17, 13 1:17 am  · 
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natematt

Some of the images are pretty nice; I think the models with photoshoping are more compelling than the pure renderings though. I'll let others speak to the content beyond that...

I think you would be wise to figure out how to be more uniform in the way you present the different projects. Text is flying all over the place, there appears to be no concrete grid, and even the tile pages for each project have mostly different formats.

May 17, 13 1:44 am  · 
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med.

Your "How was it made" section in the end is pretty unneccessary.  That can be used as a talking point in your interviews.

May 17, 13 11:49 am  · 
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Anob

It looks good. I would keep the plans in plan in white and do some space programs diagrams in photoshop. To add diversity to get hired at a Arch firm or a Construction firm add some detailing work. Show that you really know how to put a water/air tight building together.

May 17, 13 12:38 pm  · 
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e_tron_quattro

Your drawings look pretty generic, I agree with tiorted about "sprucing" them up. Just don't get too carried away with colour. I had a teacher who always said "once you add colour to a drawing it becomes worthless". He studied under the Texas Rangers and is a bit of a jerk, but in a funny way. Needless to say, he  was one of the best professors I have ever had.

May 17, 13 12:50 pm  · 
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JayCon

I liked it, I think there was a lot more "text" than what needs to be (context, concept, wheelchair accessibility, how it was made).  Now, that's not to say that all text is bad thing, just keep the text simple, one-liners for example.

I think an on going design theme should be addressed throughout.  You address something similar with the "ARC" logo on page 13, but you don't see anything else on that nature.  There is nothing that says these pages belong to your portfolio other than the binding.

If I were you, I'd ditch page numbers and Table of Contents.  Your portfolio is going to change (a lot) and the last thing you want to do is burden yourself with something that people aren't going to care/pay attention to.  Page numbers are for research and reference

May 17, 13 3:56 pm  · 
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CultureofCon

Woa I didn't expect this post to get brought back up after a month and a half of sitting around.  Thanks for the feedback!

I'm currently working on replacing text with diagrams, making my images a little flashier, and increasing graphic consistency between projects.  

On a side note, I include the "How It's Made" index in the back whenever I email my portfolio so who ever reads it can gauge my proficiencies in each program.  I left it out of my physical copy though because, as med. mentioned, I can just address that in person.  I think I might reorder it though so that the headings are the programs/techniques and the projects will be listed under the programs so that, at a glance, you can see I've done x number of projects in Revit, y number of projects in Photoshop, etc.

I've only had one interview so far but I got the job (YEAH!).  Like pretty much everyone else here though, I'm still improving my portfolio and looking for more work.

May 17, 13 5:06 pm  · 
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Hey there,

I just happen to see your post and I stumble upon this content of yours. Thanks for the appreciation. 

I'll pass on some feedback and hope it will help to improvise your portfolio.

1- The cover page is bit too complicated to me. It's trying to shout out but it's getting lost somewhere. May be you can reduce the size of the model picture, keep it to one side, make the background black and then add your title.

2-  When I go to the second page, I feel there's a loss of consistency. It's black on the first page, and then mixture of grey, and pink. May be you can put white or black, instead of grey.

3- on the Third page, the FONT is not working at all. I wish you would stick to maximum of 2 fonts, throughout the portfolio. This will create subtle vibe and will not distract the reader. P.S I love the graphical illustrations in this page, May be you can replace the table of content with these images.

4- May be reduce the text on the right side and merge the renders from the following page to the same page?

5 - And How was it made simply is not working. I feel it's a bit turn down.


P.S I like your graphical illustrations but the renderings need to be worked out. You're lacking white spaces throughout the content, may be reduce the size of the renders and provide breathing space ?

Best of luck with everything. :)

Jun 7, 14 6:28 am  · 
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BulgarBlogger

I saw this portfolio a few days ago and I wasn't impressed. Today I was bored and took a look again, and have a few comments..

1) Don't be so literal in your representation of how the drawings relate to the renderings. If you have to be so literal (example: showing what floor plan corresponds to what location in the rendering) then you are clearly not doing/showing enough to make it clearer. Remember who your audience is. Give architects some credit.. they look at and coordinate drawings all day; they have to have some sense of scale, graphics, and representation.

2) I would eliminate the "How it Was Made" Page. By the time a reviewer comes to that page, they have already flipped through your portfolio and probably will be too lazy to go back and forth. The reviewer has many portfolios to go through and a bunch of deadlines to meet. It would be more useful to have a small label at the corner of the drawing that says something like "Vray+Sketchup."

3) Your plans look really schematic and the line weights really don't come through. Improve these and you'll have better drawings.

4) Keep your projects consistent in terms content. Don't jump from buildings to chairs. Have a logical order... 

5) I generally like the simplicity of your portfolio. Continue keeping it simple...

Jun 11, 14 9:06 am  · 
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RemIsActuallyAnAutobot

Did you go to a community college?

Jun 19, 14 1:05 pm  · 
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