Computer Arts issue 113

Creating the best portfolio you can is imperative for any designer serious about getting a job in the real world. But portfolios are difficult things to get right. Too arty and your prospective employer may think you have delusions of grandeur, too much of the same style and they may think you’re not able to diversify. Too sparse and you’ll be pigeon-holed as someone with little experience, but too packed and your visitors may get lost and bored.

Your portfolio must be well planned and researched. What are your strengths and how do you sell them on your site? Similarly, what are your weaknesses and how do you play them down? Who do you want to attract to your site? Or, more simply put, what type of employer do you want to work for? Your portfolio site should be cunningly designed to attract these people but, more importantly, make it easy for them to view your work.

Which opens a new debate – what about usability? There are some who argue that a portfolio site should be an example of your work in itself – if you are a Flash designer then your site should be a display of your Flash abilities. But from our research this isn’t always the best option. It’s much better to let the client work speak for itself by providing links to a selection of your work, leaving your portfolio site simple, clear and easy to use.

We look at a lot of links here at Computer Arts, and believe us when we tell you that simple is best. Remember that visitors are there to see examples of what you can do. They will be clicking from link to link to get a feel for what you’re about and anything that stops them doing that (and we mean anything; a large file, an animation, audio files or a slow server) will turn them off, which ultimately means you won’t get the job.

So, to make sure you do get the job, read our guide to creating the best portfolio possible.

REVIEWS

SONY VEGAS + DVD
Exciting features and a keen price-point breathe new life into this PC video editor

ACRYLIC (BETA)
Microsoft’s Expression-based illustration app is all set to challenge the big guns

HP DESIGNJET 90R
High-quality, full-colour A2 printing for just under a grand? We were amazed, too

BRYCE 5.5
The addition of DAZ|Studio is a key draw for this scenery-generating software

MOJOWORLD 3 PRO
Terrific presets turn this world-creating app into a serious tool for wannabe deities

SPACEPILOT
Sculpting in 3D dimensions with this unique controller proves most satisfying

PIKAONE FLYCASE PRO
We were disappointed by this cheap, below-average portable hard drive

DESIGNED FOR LIFE
Gadgets and gizmos you can’t do without

BOOKS: PRODUCTION FOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Our book of the month offers expert advice

GROUP TEST: OPEN SOURCE APPS
Paint.NET 2.1, Blender 2.37, Jahshaka 1.9, Nvu 1.0 and the GIMP 2.2.8 – all freely available, but which one is best? Our free-for-all Group Test should decide

TUTORIALS

TEXTURED BRUSHES
Create an old-fashioned pirate map

3D ANIMATION IN FLASH
Add animated text to your Flash projects

BLUR TEXT IN INDESIGN
Blur your words, without leaving InDesign

INTERACTIVE MAGAZINES
Use Acrobat to create fully interactive pdfs

DRAWING NOSES
Tips on how to draw the perfect nose

BRAND YOUR BROWSER
Make your own browser with BrowserBob

FEATURES

THE ULTIMATE PORTFOLIO
You’ve got the skills, the ambition and the experience – now it’s time to tell the world

UNIVERSAL EVERYTHING
“I’m always trying to find an excuse not to sit in front of a Mac,” says Matt Pyke, founder of design firm Universal Everything

I NEW YORK
Milton Glaser’s iconic seventies design continues to be loved across the globe

GET STARTED WITH...CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATION
It’s a challenging and competitive market, but the rewards speak for themselves

JACKSON CHANG
This Netherlands-based designer strives for tension in his print work

BUMP ‘N’ RIND
Behind the scenes at Danish Bacon’s new online viral ad campaign, a take on the brilliant Citroën ad

ON THE CD

BROWSERBOB 3 PROFESSIONAL (PC)
Customise your browser interface with this easy-to-use application

MACHINE WASH VENEER (MAC+PC)
Add wood veneer effects to your images with this Photoshop plug-in

OPEN SOURCE APPS (MAC+PC)
Read our Group Test then try out the contenders – Paint.NET, Jahshaka, Nvu, Blender and the GIMP

BRYCE 5.5 (MAC+PC)
Fancy creating your own 3D landscapes? Then try out our feature-packed demo

DAVID CARSON DOCUMENTARY (MAC+PC)
A short film by Hillman Curtis, espousing the work of renowned designer David Carson

FIVE PHOTOSHOP TEXTURES (MAC+PC)
Try out these hand-crafted, high-resolution paper textures from Photomorphix