Columbia was visited by Arc Worldwide Creative Director (and Alumni) JT Anderson and a whole gang of designers, motion artists and art directors who looked at student work as part of the Show Off program.
Here is the lowdown on what they saw, and what they had to say:
1. They like us.
They were very impressed with both the motion and flash work they saw and in fact plan to follow-up with several students they met with about future internships and employment opportunities.
2. Montage or not?
For the motion designers...JT and Chris, one of their senior motion designers, both expressed a preference for more montage work within a motion portfolio. Don't show everything you've done, but instead put your reel together as its own piece. Transitioning creatively between various projects you've developed. Then, make your full pieces available to watch if the person watching your reel is interested.
3. The weakest link
If you're a great motion or flash designer, but a mediocre interface designer or DVD author, make sure you UI and authoring work are simple and functional. Keep in mind your portfolio is looked at holistically. Any part of it that is weak, brings the whole thing down. Consequently you should either keep what you're not great at simple and minimal or have someone help you.
4. Don't apologize
As great as our students work is, they too often begin a review session with, "Well, I'd like my work to be more like ____ but..." or "I'm not happy with this piece but..." If you've got work to show you should be proud of it. It doesn't have to be the best work ever and sure you can and will do better in the future, but be confidant in what you are showing.
5. ...but don't be cocky
That said, no one is receptive to someone who think their work is great and is only doing a review to hear how great it is.
Thanks to JT, Mike, Chris and Pat from Arc for their visit.
