hey guig i'd be interested in assisting.

Why don't you drop me an email. I'll have a two part PDF available tonight or so...which is in about 12 hours for me.

guigg, we are moving at the same pace now. i started asking for feedbacks last week and hopefully this week i would get some positive response. i`m still working out a few changes though.
i really wish to see your work and how its turned out now. but, only after probably march '06? so worry not.

as for the front cover, mine is extremely simple with less/ no graphics.

cheers.

Word. I was thinking less of the graphic design and more of the material for the front cover. Do they find it annoying to have a different material for the cover? Is a good card stock good to use? The same paper that you used for the pages of the portfolio? etc...

I've been following the grad school strings for the past year though I've never posted before. I am applying for MArch for Fall 06 and I would love to check out some other people's portfolios. I'm almost done with mine as well and could use some similar feedback. Like, yeah its formatted so I'm not going to go and re-vamp the whole thing.

So yeah, I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

Ok so I'll be brave now and just post my portfolio. Input would be great!

Here's my disclaimer:
I have a BA undergrad with a major in architecture from an accredited school, albeit an artsy-fartsy theory-heavy non-technically based program.
I've been working in an architecture firm doing residential work for the past three years and I'm applying to MArch programs for Fall '06.

The portfolio is obviously incomplete but I guess I rather show it now while there's still time to work on it. I plan on justifying all text (text is all a mess right now) and I plan on adding a few additional pages to showcase printmaking, photography and freehand drawing. As well I'm still working on a cover and the order and assembly/binding of the whole thing.

I'd love criticism, comments, etc.

Thanks!

Also, I'd love to check out other people's stuff too.

8888, thanks for stepping forward. I think that looks great man. I can't help but notice the insane difference between portfolios from students coming out of architecture schools and...mine. I won't let it get to me I guess. The difference is great enough that I don't think I am capapble of giving worthy criticism.

On a different note, I think I'll stop taking requests to see my portfolio until I post it publicly. Thanks to the...um, one person, who has gotten back to me about it. i await more critiques

Joe
Thanks for the words. Much much more input than I could even get out of my co-workers!
To respond, I think that showing professional work is important. I've spent three years working which is just about as long as I spent in architectural studios at school. I'd like to show that I know basic construction. I can detail and draw wall sections, and I have an understanding of materials. I think the lack of technical know-how is apparent in my school work because I wasn't focused on that aspect of architecture at that point in time. But now I have that experience as well and I'd like to show well-roundedness.
As well, I think professional photography would be great to include. Hopefully it shows composition and unique perspective. And its just another skill, right? Show 'em all you've got!

Guiggster
What is your background? I'd love to take a look at your portfolio too.

can a portfolio ever be finished?

8888,

Your stuff looks nice, I just have one thing to offer. I would be leary about putting things like that private residence in your portfolio to grad school. Yes it shows you have some 'real' experience, but is that really representative of your work? It is 'ordinary' and un-thought provoking, I doubt you want that to be looked at as a real reflection of your work.

I did the same thing and learned the hard way.

All the best.

Never mind, Joe already covered it. His post wasn't there when I opened the thread...

Are undergrad portfolios expected to have the same or similar quality as the one posted by 8888? I sure hope not.

ky11 - clarify?

"Are undergrad portfolios expected to have the same or similar quality as the one posted by 8888? I sure hope not."

To defend myself here:
I was responsible for the inception of those details. Someone said to me "figure out how this works. detail it. design it." So that work is mine. Same holds true for the private residence. I know its boring, but its also partially my design.

8888,
after a quick glance looks not bad at all. agree on not putting in the house at the end. doesn't show much to help you get into a school, and might even work against you.

Ok can someone explain WHY putting professional work could sabotage my chances of acceptance? I re-read the portfolio constraints for some of the schools i'm applying to and I realize now that it specifically says to not include professional work unless you've held a principal design role. I buy that. But why would it hurt me otherwise?? Just tryign to figure all this confusing shit out. Much thanks.

Thanks for the honesty.

nice work... i think your photographs should add the colour that is needed + if your coverpage has a little colour, i think it would be more balanced.

So long as you have enough, you guessed it, cowbell, I think you'll be looking good.

really nice 8888
Im a little intimidated to tell you the truth.
I like the amount of plans and sections really nicely resolutioned.
I dont know about your professional work. MAke it look good, hide the house and highlight your details. Make it almost seem like they belong to another structure.

8888,

i'm curious how your format will be.....are each of these images a two-page spread? if so, you might consider how the image will be split by the binding....if these are not two-page spreads, then how are you setting this up. just be very self-critical about your format. picture yourself as one of the reviewers trying to flip through 500 books. while you are trying to pique the interest of the admissions board, you also want to make sure that your work will be accessible, clear, and not frustrating to look at.

also....my hats off to you.....it takes real balls to post your portfolio in this crowd.

thanks cynic.
yes these are two page spreads and i have thought about assembly...originally i planned on printing it magazine style, sewn down the middle. then i realized that no one makes large format (plotter feed) double sided coated paper. or at least i can't find any. so as of now i'm going to do a separated two-page spread with a clear sprial bind in the middle. i have no choice unless i find paper that suits my needs. and if that's the case then i plan on tweaking the layouts so that i'm not splitting critical images...

nice work, 8888, and best of luck... Thanks for having the guts to post for all to see.

+q, intimidated? I've seen your portfolio, not sure what reason you have to be intiimidated...both are good for different reasons.

you can get 17 x 22 and 22 x 34 sheets of two sided matte or glossy paper from a few manufacturers.

Let me search my links and I will post the info I have.

AP, you know you see the differences and get a little freaked, specially coming to the end of this thang.
Youll experience it in a year... the anxiety, and knot in your stomach feel.
8888's portfolio has strengths that mine just doesnt have, and vice versa. But Im sure that would be the case with anyone's portfolio really. Its a tough process.
And like I said I really like the level of detail in the plans and sections in 8888's portfolio.

I would post mine but Im not done quite yet.
Plus I already have gotten about 50 crits, one more and I ll go nuts.

q

jason
please please please let me know who makes that paper. i've had no luck, online or in stores...

my bad
thanks!

8888,

yeah what joe said is what i meant. when i applied to grad school i had designed and done cds for about 5 buildings on my own, mostly mid-size stuff, 5000m2 or so. but i only included 2 of them cuz the others weren't really the best i could do and totally bland. i also had worked on maybe 15 other projects including doing a significant number of cd sets but would never put any of them in my portfolio, cuz i didn't do the designs. just ain't right.

i included this one in grad-school application portfolio, though i wince a bit to look at it now...



did NOT include this one. ick. so embarassing. i normally don't show this even to my best friends so don't look too close. but i can't think of anything more awful that i have been responsible for, and it makes my point. yeah its professional work but for portfolio to grad school? no way. I don't even keep it in my regular portfolio...Personally i blame the bad design on my youth and inexperience...this was before grad school remember and we never did high-rise projects in undergrad ( i know, no excuse, but i got better, honest )...

yeah jump. i get it. :)
so i think then i'll just include some other pages of photgraphy and printmaking and freehand drawing. i'll post again when i've worked on it some more.
you all have been quite helpful.
but, again, any additional comments on my work would be awesome.
(link above)