If you're feeling a bit creative and able to channel that creativity in a quick time frame than you may want to try submitting to the Chicago Advertising Federation's Creative Club Competition. The initial deadline of Monday, August 28 has been extended to Friday, September 1 by 5PM due to low amount of student entries.
This year's assignment: Create a campaign that helps convince the International Olympic Committee that Chicago should be selected as the host for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The prize: The winner of the 2006 Student Competition will receive three interviews at Chicago area agencies/design firms of his or her choice.
Find out complete details at www.chicagocreativeclub.com/students.
This is a challenging task I'm sure but remember even if you don't win; you can still use your campaign for your portfolio. And isn't that reward enough?
A critical and unfortunately common mistake web designers make is to neglect their own personal portfolio website, leaving up dated content and allowing the design standards to fall a generation (or two) behind. If this is you, keep in mind the fickle nature of freelance work. The freelance gods can will take as swiftly as they give, so no matter how much work you're getting today, finding work tomorrow is the successful freelancer's primary goal.
About.com's web blogger Jennifer Kyrnin has a good article for web designers on the importance of keeping current and keeping standards-compliant, so whip that portfolio into shape and we'll see you online.
Your pals,
The Portfolio Center
Alumni call or stop by our office constantly pleading to use our services. Unfortunately we have to to turn many people away because resources such as portfolio production and our one-on-one portfolio reviews with industry professionals are available only for graduating seniors and at times recent alum (less than 1 year out).
So when we see programs offered elsewhere that the "general" masses can attend we try to let you know. As such, Chicago Artists' Coalition has a few workshops lined up for the fall for visual artists.
HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL PORTFOLIO September 6, 2006 6:30-9pm This workshop will help you select the right pieces for your portfolio, and arrange them in a way that speaks to your audience. Led by Susan Aurinko Director, FLATFILEgalleries.
LEGAL ISSUES ALL ARTISTS SHOULD KNOW September 12, 2006 6-8 pm Art Law: Nuts and Bolts of Creating and Selling Art and Other Creative Visual Works. Led by Craig McCrohon, a partner in the international law firm of Holland & Knight
ARTIST AS CURATOR September 21, 2006 6-9pm This workshop will cover the ins-and-outs of curating and creating an exhibition, from concept to implementation.
Visit CAC Online for event locations, fees and to register.
One way you as an artist can sum up your talent and gain exposure for yourself in the professional realm is via a press kit. The press kit is your chance to brag about how great you are. You can include samples of your work, press coverage, and upcoming events where people can check out your work. All that you probably already knew. However, more and more creative industries are turning to the EPK (electronic press kit) as opposed to the paper assemblages. This is increasingly true with music and film.
Most independent filmmakers have been broken in by such services as Without A Box because currently most film festivals worldwide prefer paperless entries. And as a former film student, I'm not complaining. It has definitely saved me time and money. If you don't already know of this system's benefits basically for each of your films you can upload pertinent information for an online press kit as well as all the information that would possibly be required for festival applications. The downside of this system is that it doesn't generate a PDF document or link that you can e-mail to people. Only festival programmers with access to the system can be sent your film's information through the system. One positive is that although Without A Box does charge a fee for some levels; basic registration is free.
The music industry equivilant of Without A Box seems to be Sonicbids. This service is available to musicians, booking agents, managers, promoters and event organizers. It seems like a great way for artists to compile information about their musical style, including performance specs and music tracks. There isn't an option for free membership; but you can choose a monthly, 6-month or yearly membership. It costs about $50 for the year. However, you can e-mail your custom weblink to whomever you desire. That's a huge plus.
This year the Portfolio Center plans to organize a couple of events to discuss EPK and PDF portfolios in more detail. Be sure to check our website and click on theevents page frequently so you don't miss out.
I'm unsure if I'm allowed to endorse particular companies seeing as how we don't receive corporate sponsorship but what the hay. I'd like to take this moment to say that if you're in search of professional CD or DVD duplication Discmakers is first rate. When sending out your materials to potential employers, investors or promoters ensuring that your CD plays is key. I know printing discs from your home computer is convinient and cheap but a reliable disc is priceless. Spend the loot if you can...
I've personally only used their services once for DVD dups, but the company caters largely to musicians. They've got an informative website, tons of options, an online system for low quanity orders and now it seems as if they're branching out to being an educational resource. See info below.
Learn how to make a great CD - on time and on budget - at Discmakers' informative How-to Seminar at our Chicago, IL office. They're offering two dates: Tuesday, August 15 or Thursday, August 24 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
Meet and greet Disc Makers staff and learn from the pros on these important topics: The all-important master. How to make sure it's error-free and optimized for replication.
Your artwork. DIY or let the pros at Disc Makers' Design Studio™ handle the job. Best programs, using templates and more.
Key questions to ask your replicator. Pricing and turn times. Guarantees of quality. Who's really making these discs?
Promotion. How to get the word out. Planning for your release party.
Radio play and touring tips.
Distribution. What you don't know can hurt you.
And lots, LOTS more. The Disc Makers pros are available to answer all your questions and concerns.
Reserve your seat today. Please RSVP by August 11, 2006.
Designers. Do you read 37 Signal's Signal v. Noise? If not, I'd recommend it. It's a design blog pure and simple. Good web design, good print design, good product design...just basically good design if you're catching the drift.
37's Matt Linderman spoke with Richard Bird, Jim Coudal, and Carlos Segura about..."roots/influences, what it's like to sell your own products, dream projects, control freaks, the loss of craft in design, and how they used to walk five miles to school every day, in the snow, uphill, both ways."
PS: We're proud to say both Jim Coudal and Carlos Segura (or at least his design team) are Show Off vets.
Oh, and IAM majors may want to check out their job board as well.
Narciso Carlos has one of those "problems" where, prior to graduation, he was pulled into the ad/mktg/design business. Talent can be hard to contain. That said, talent must be "on display" to be noticed. If that sounds too obvious, it's mentioned here because too many talented students aren't outward enough with their work. Narciso is not one of them. A new design and integration of blogging tools into his portfolio site are worth the look to all who have or want an online portfolio. There's a wealth of links to other creatives and their portfolio sites as well.
This fall, the Portfolio Center will host a program, "blogging for portfolio." (Day and time TBD, so stay tuned.) Narciso, you're invited. We hope you can make and share your thoughts on the subject. Your site looks excellent (as does the work inside) and the blogging is right on. Tells who you are, what you do and highlightes your creative talent. Bravo.
All the best, Portfolio Center.
