My feedback from one Berliner to another...

First of all, the ETH application procedure sucks. Why the international applicants (you know the ones who have MORE to do, ie. translating transcripts, getting documents from their home country, taking language proficiency exams, etc.) have to submit their applications a good half-year before their Euro counterparts is simply beyond me. Seems a bit of a ridiculous system to me....

But there's unfortunately nothing one can do about it.
The fact that you're applying after effectively only two years of arch education is also far from ideal. That's why what you do present them has to be top notch.

As it stands, I feel you've got a fair bit you could still improve upon. I know you probably don't want to here that, but here goes:

- first page (with render) looks alright, however I'd zoom in on the actual subject itself substantially. Your current perspective offers too much of a site / context view. Trouble is, I can't actually tell what the context is, I can't tell how one accesses the building (I see no walkway, no plaza, promenade, service road, etc), and all I see is a fairly unusual looking building plunked down in the middle of a grassy field surrounded by a suburban looking roadway (without any side-walks even!).

Second + third page, I'd probably remove (one or both of) the aerial photos. I don't think they're adding very much to either the presentation or the understanding of the project. The elevation is way too small to really gain anything from. Again, blow it up!
Site-plan looks good and the floor-plans as well. Diagrams should be re-done in a cad program / illustrator as the current sketches simply appear too "sketchy" imo.

the next two pages, probably don't need to change much, while the wall-section on the following page should be annotated and perhaps have a figure added for scale.

Project 3: The overlaid aerial images again don't add much, nor does that indeterminate white thing that's obstructing one of the few parts of the model that seems to have any level of interior detail (the stair-case). If you have a better model-shot, I'd use it here.
The exterior rendering on the next page suffers much the same fate as the one from the first project too. Why are you showing so much of the Spree and the mostly uninhabited walkway on the other side from your site? Again, I think a simple exercise in re-framing (cropping) the subject will do wonders.
On the next page, label those floor-plans. We don't need to be overwhelmed with text or descriptions, but a simple north arrow and a clean EG / 1.OG / 2.OG would certainly be appreciated by your reviewers. Remember, you won't be there to lead them through the project and they may not read your descriptions in their entirety, so your drawings (with associated annotations and captions) are absolutely vital.

The West Kreuz development, simply put is not your strongest project, so I'd be hesitant to send off with it. Maybe switch places with the Artist's centre? Also, while the sink is kinda cheery / fun, I don't think it's appropriate. Teamed with the drawn on glasses and the somewhat bewildering quote, it just comes across as slightly juvenile.


I hope that doesn't come across as harsh, but rather as honest and constructive advice. You've still got time, so work at it. The basis is there, it just looks like this was a first attempt. Now it's time to tighten things up. Good luck!

hi iamgray, i really appreciate you taking so much time to go through and give me so many tips on the portfolio. i will be working on it this and next weekend for sure! (espeically the resize+crop for many images, i didnt even think about it!)

you're totally right the acrobat school thing should definitely come at the end.
(westkreuz thing was a one month urban planning project)

im currently doin an internship but am quite hesitant on using any designs from there in the portfolio..

and the joke thing: i wasnt even thinkin about putting it in, until i showed the foto to a friend who just graduated from eth and basically forced me into it. (she did her diplomarbeit with angelil, who apparently does the admission ALONE [that man is crazy/fantastic], and was convinced it would crack him up)

ill get rid of it :)

anyway, what did you think about the projects themselves? do i have a chance??

ps: what's up with the snow and freezing cold already?!

Hi, what program did you apply for at ETH? Do you know what the march costs roughly? I have a 5 year american degree, but am thinking about applying for 2012.

@ hailcien: again, from one berliner to another. I studied at FH Potsdam during 08-09 under Ortner, and spend a considerable amount of time in TU's library.

I was accepted to ETH's MAS Urbanism program last year, but opted to not attend. Here is a link to my portfolio. It is an updated version of what was submitted to ETH:

http://issuu.com/p.zuroweste/docs/portfolio

Overall, the portfolio is not bad for three years of work, but admission to ETH is competitive. You have a month, in my opinion you need it. Here are my suggestions:

Redefine your layout grid. Considering your horizontal orientation, I would recommend 3 columns, 2 rows. Establish a concept for introducing each project, and be more rigorous with your gutters (the space between the columns that establish the white space between images and text boxes). Your are German. The grid is in your blood... use it. Here is a good reference:

http://gridness.net/

AND

http://www.vignelli.com/canon.pdf

I reccommend 10 pt text on a 4mm baseline. ALL TEXT SHOULD ALIGN TO THE BASELINES.

Approach each page as its own piece of graphic design. Use titles and headers as formal tools for directing the eye through and across the page.

LOSE THE SKETCH DIAGRAMS. If you truly think they are important to your process, build them in rhino, use the command 'Make2D' to generate a .dwg drawing, and edit the lineweights in Illustrator. You can also add dashed lines and arrows here to more clearly illustrate concepts of orientation and movement.

Rework the color. Each project should use only one color, two max. Variation can be achieved through adjusting value(brightness/darkness). This can be easily achieved in photoshop. Do not just drop files into InDesign... each image should be edited to best express it's purpose withing the larger scheme of the project. The editing should informed by the size of the image, and its orientation to other elements on the page.

RENDERINGS: Try desaturating the context (i.e. make it black and white), and leaving color only on your actual design. This would help especially on the Spree rendering (p.s. why didn't you include oberbaum brucke? that would help orient the viewer). And like iamgray said, lose alot of the context. Renderings are for projecting an image of what experiencing the building will be like. Site plans and diagrams are for locating the building within a context.

SECTIONS. Try dropping them to the bottom of the page. This anchors the composition, and establishes the bottoms of the page as the "ground." The other drawings can become "clouds," or "buildings." Often it is helpful to think of the page as an elevation, with each element having different characteristics of heaviness and lightness.

SUPER-IMPOSITIONS: Lose them. The show a lack of rigor. Place them on the page as entities to be engaged, not afterthoughts.

...with some work, I think your chances are good. The projects are solid. You just need to find a way to more clearly illustrate your process, and the specefic intent of each design. Try expressing each project in a sinlge sentence. Then place text, images, headers, gutters, and other graphic design elements within your grid, situating them in a manner that creates a rythym as you move through the document. Like a minimal techno composition, but images instead of sound samples, and grids instead of beats per minute : )

the first link to vignellia's canon might not work. if so, try this:

http://www.bing.com/search?FORM=VE3D01&q=vignellia+canon&src=IE-SearchBox

click on the first entry.

hi peter :)

actually i'm an international student so i've had to submit my stuff back in dec.. but of course i wish i had more time to work on it....

thank you so much for the help however, i'll keep them in mind for future portfolio-fun. i hope i made a good enough change in my portfolio with iamgray's helpful comments.

fingers crossed! (im supposed to hear in march?)

and folk: the tuition fees are on the site of the rektorat :)

You're link didn't work. Wasn't able to see it.




IAmGray, are you a berliner, currently? I have some questions for you, if so.

Hey hailcien, best of luck with your application!

After reading the detailed comments of IamGray and pzuro I'd really like to see the original and if at all possible, the revised versions of your portfolio - I think it would be an awesome learning experience for all of us!

jplourde: which link? vignellia canon? try this:

http://issuu.com/dsaba76/docs/canon#download

you can download it as a .pdf from this location. I highly recommend doing so, it is an infinitely valuable resource.