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grad school portfolio - last minute help!

ampersand

does it look bad to go with one of those retailed portfolio binders (the black ones with the clear insert pages)? does it seem totally uncreative? planning to apply to big name schools...

 
Jan 7, 05 3:55 am
MMatt

My honest gut reaction would be that a store-bought portfolio case is sort of a weak cop-out. We're in a field which celebrates craft and design, and you're foregoing an opportunity to design and craft yourself a cover and a binding system. Even if your binbding system is store bought (ie Kinkos), you're still forced to look at the binding as part of an overall compilation. Buying a retail binder negates all of the design and craft of that portion of your portfolio, and whether you intended it to or not, the people on the review might take that as an indicator of your lack of craft and design skills. (Not saying that you lack these, but that this might be how they react to the binder).

Then again, I might be overreacting. If it's your last hope for getting the portfolio out by a deadline, I guess it's a legitimate response.

.mm

Jan 7, 05 12:36 pm  · 
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taboho

another gut response:

yes, architecture is about design and craft, but the content of your portfolio speaks volumes more than the binding/binder options. my advice is to find a nice store-bought folder if you must. but then again, are you printing the portfolio yourself? can't you just get the pages spiral bound at kinko's? it's the same process no?

Jan 7, 05 12:40 pm  · 
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ha

I agree with mm.... plus the clear insert pages cause glare and can be distracting

Jan 7, 05 12:41 pm  · 
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traceā„¢

For a job it'd be no problem, but grad school is different. They are looking at the whole package, so your presentation will count.

If you don't have much time, and it doesn't seem like you do, I'd just print on thick paper (Epson has some), spray mount the pages together or use double sided (but it sucks if you do that and screw up both sides), then have kinkos or staples bind it. That's all I did for mine and it worked well.

The design is the most important part. While it only took me a few days to print them all, spray mount them, and bind them, I spent several weeks, if not more, on and off thinking about it, sketching, making anything needed to fill it. Then there's all the text, etc.

Go to a good book store and look through their graphic books and maybe some of their architecture books. It can be really simple and really nice. Better to be minimalistic than overly complex and distracting.

Most importantly, though, is to look at what makes your work look good. Meier's books differ from Morphosis's books for good reason.

Jan 7, 05 1:19 pm  · 
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ampersand

thanks for the replies- i think it's last minute jitters/"oh crap, i still haven't finished my applications" anxiety

planning to go to the local kinkos and figure out what my options are!

Jan 7, 05 4:20 pm  · 
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c.k.

don't go to kinkos
they have the ugliest bindings
go to staples, they have a double coil metal wire binding that's decent

Jan 7, 05 4:28 pm  · 
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citizen

The fact that there are so many opinions just on this thread should tell you something: there's no way to know who's going to review your portfolio, or how they'll react to this or that binding.

The one thing you DO know is that what's ON the pages--your work--is important. Make that part sing.

Jan 7, 05 8:49 pm  · 
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honorthebrick

ampersand, i'm binding and sending out tomorow morning. I designed a cover and getting it mounted tomorrow as well. where are you applying?

Jan 7, 05 9:31 pm  · 
 · 
VanWinkle

"big name schools"????

Jan 8, 05 1:19 pm  · 
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db

content content content
presentation is secondary
(though still an important secondary!)

I'd say it's fine for the store-bought portfolio if he work is good. again, IF THE WORK IS GOOD.

If the work isn't good, then prove yourself with a good binder etc.

(of course, if the work ISN'T good, why are you doing it anyway???)

Jan 8, 05 5:30 pm  · 
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interrobang

For what it's worth at this late late hour, an excerpt from Penn's instructions:

"Portfolios should be a maximum of ten by twelve inches and contain no more than ten double-sided pages. Applicants are encouraged to use a high-quality rod binder portfolio, such as a Prat Classic 112 which is available with one set of ten double-sided sheet protectors. Special attention should be given to the reproduction of high-quality images for the portfolio."

I went with a Prat for all of my apps. I figured with the abuse of many sets of hands and cups of coffee, the sheet protectors were the way to go--although a pro binding would have looked nice. And as mentioned above content content content! This is also mentioned by the schools themselves. Probably part of their reasoning is that they have to store and transport 300 of these things, so portfolios that are 18x24, 5 inches thick, or have wheels or power cords would be problem. Anyway, leave a lot of time for Kinko's or have a plan B because other people can sometimes misinterpret or poorly execute your directions. Good luck!

Jan 13, 05 11:40 am  · 
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THREADS

oops....I sent penn a 14 page portfolio....what should I do!!!??

Jan 24, 05 7:38 pm  · 
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THREADS

really.

Jan 24, 05 7:38 pm  · 
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THREADS

the book is 14 double sided....no hard cover....only a piece of white cardboard placed in between the first page(white) to add stiffness (name and info in clear font) clear plastic sheet protector, white (a few silver) double coil bind.

but I'm sure they're not concerned with thickness...just following the directions.

Jan 24, 05 7:43 pm  · 
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anatomical gift

I sent them a 60 page (30 double sided sheets) portfolio with no problem. Don't worry.

Jan 24, 05 8:06 pm  · 
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citizen

Remember that your audience --underpaid and overworked faculty-- will be going through probably hundreds of portfolios. While this might SEEM to make the case for a unique binding, they'll have enough trouble trying to sort through (and recall) the actual work represented. Chances are, unless the folio is sheets of thin alabaster bound together with strips of spun silver, it won't make an impression. There are much better things for you to worry over....

Jan 24, 05 8:35 pm  · 
 · 
o+

...'underpaid and overworked faculty'? underpaid maybe, but overworked? come on........most find it difficult to make it to 3 studios
a week on time.........

Jan 24, 05 8:40 pm  · 
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citizen

I take your point. But most people I know who teach studio work very hard.

Jan 24, 05 8:52 pm  · 
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lking

I applied to Penn as well. I had made a 21-page portfolio, single sided, and I created my own binding. The moment before I mailed the application I noticed the section regarding those specifications (I don't know what I was looking at the first time). So I called Penn and talked to the Asst. Chair. He told me that they make those requirements so that it is easier to look through all of the portfolios quickly. So obviously double-sided is very important. He also mentioned that if a portfolio has too many excess pages, it will not be looked at with as much detail.

Jan 25, 05 5:46 pm  · 
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