Portfolio Review's and Insight

 I really enjoyed having the opportunity to see peers of my discipline showcase how they constructed their portfolios, and the various projects within them. It gave me a lot of insight into my own portfolio build, and brought me some new ideas about how I can present my work. I was most captivated by Chi Hao Chang’s work and loved his process and final deliverables for the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The work itself was absolutely gorgeous and the design system and elements he created were super playful and fun. His detailed and curious research gave me a lot of ideas of how I can improve my own design process. I felt like he was very good at developing insightful questions that guided his design process towards success. Additionally he really told a story with his presentation through showing us the questions he had and how they prompted him to explore various avenues. 

Another moment that was memorable for me came after Parker Anne Poole’s presentation during which Ellen Lupton gave her some advice in showcasing her strengths and making them come to the front stage. Parker had a number of wonderful photographs that she used to give context to her design work. Often times designers opt for photoshop mockups to showcase their graphic design work because it’s easier and less time consuming, however Parker was actually taking real pictures! This is a wonderful skill that Ellen mentioned could be emphasized in her portfolio by captioning photo credits. Additionally Parker had written tons of content for each of her projects which is an extremely beneficial skill to have as a graphic designer, and something that will open doors too many projects like advertisements and catalogs. Unfortunately the content Parker had written was overshadowed by other elements of her presentation. Ellen recommended enlarging and emphasizing the images that contained her writing to allow the reader the ability to digest her work. 

This information has prompted me to begin thinking about what my strengths are, and what elements of my design process/design deliverables I might want to specifically highlight. 

In regards to the order of projects, it seemed like both Parker and Dustin began with ones that were more personal, or allowed them freedom to explore parts of their own identity, with Parker’s love of vintage typefaces and Dustin’s connection to his Navajo roots. It allowed us as viewers to learn more about these designers and their unique stories, but more importantly how those impact and influence their design work.