Design Director Amy Kosnick from packaging design experts Akimbo Group (formerly i4Design) will visit the Portfolio Center on June 8th at 10am to meet juniors, seniors and spring '07 grads and review graphic and product design portfolios. While Amy will be here to look at work samples and advise students on building a portfolio (or building a better one), she is also scouting for a summer intern. The last intern that this company hired from Columbia was recently promoted to a full-time position at Akimbo. Akimbo is an award-winning branding and package design agency effectively reaching consumers by stimulating emotional experiences. Clients include Kellogg's, Quaker, Philip Morris, Keebler, Ocean Spray among others.
If you haven't already, register with the Portfolio Center and make sure you select the 'Show Off' option. Then, call 312.344.7280 to sign up to show off your work.
If you're reading this after this review came and went, check the Show Off page for a current schedule of guests.
Tom Kim is not only our portfolio advisor for Game Design majors, he's the producer of Gamasutra's podcast. On April 25th, 2007 Tom interviewed Marc Mencher of gamerecruiter.com. Their conversation covers a lot of ground - finding un-advertised job leads, the essential role of networking, how to introduce and sell yourself at industry events, how to stand out among the hundreds of candidates applying for a given position, etc..
Beyond networking tips, Tom get's Marc talking about some specific ways to look at building a game design portfolio that catches the eye of recruiters. Although demand in the field is at an all-time high, so are the expectations. Their's no shortcut to getting a job in the field. It's your portfolio that will (or won't) break through.
We can help. Just let us know when you're ready to start.
Filmmakers, designers and copywriters have a pretty clear idea what we mean when we say portfolio, but the concept applies to PR and Marketing students as well. Join other students and professional guests from the industry for an advice oriented brainstorming session geared towards helping you understand what a PR/Marketing portfolio has in it, what it looks like, and how you can begin building yours.
Guests include creative marketing guru Wendy Lalli and recruiters Rachel Grimm and Sharon Potsch from Artisan.
This discussion is open to all current students of Columbia College Chicago and May 2007 graduates and will be held in the Portfolio Center, 623 S Wabash, Room 307.
We're big fans of Jon Krusell '02 and we're pleased to see him featured on ReelChicago's who's who in Chicago production. He recently moved from Red Eye Studio to Wideload Games, one of Chicago's premiere game development outfits.
Jon's been a portfolio advisor with us for over a year and has been a guest at several events designed for animators and game designers.
Keep in mind that your friendly neighborhood Portfolio Center is open all summer and we're making appointments for students to meet with Jon, and all our portfolio advisors, to get advice and direction on building a competitive portfolio.
We met Mike Chait '06 when film advisor Ritch Barnes pulled one of us into his office to see Mike's reel. It was incredible. Not just because Mike has a penchant for pulling off Hollywood-esque production quality, but because Mike knew a little something about cutting together an actual Director's reel - something more than just a series of pieced together film segments. We'd like to think Mike's reel took some shape from the several Show Off sessions he took part in, but it probably had something to do with his talent as a filmmaker as well.
That talent will be on display as part of the Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett project, The Lot, a competition style reality series based around a select group of up and coming filmmakers. Mike is not just the only Columbia grad in the show, he's the youngest contestant as well. You can see Mike on The Lot's pilot episode (..and maybe longer depending on how far he gets), airing Tuesday, May 22nd at 8pm (CST) on FOX.
If you're wondering just what Mike had to show to impress Spielberg et al, it's online as part of the show's contestant capsule. His work is also being featured online as part of Sundance & Sci-Fi channel's exposure film contest. His latest reel is in the Portfolio Center (623 S Wabash, Room 307), if you want to stop by and see it, please do.
We'd also like to dig a little at all those advertising & copywriting students who didn't apply for our "Get Your Spot Shot" contest. Not only did you miss out on a funded :30 spec spot, you missed out on the opportunity to have Mike direct it. So there.
Congrats Mike. We hope you'll remember us when you're big.
Over 15 years and 75 roles later, Chicago-native Rusty Schwimmer knows the ins and outs of the business in L.A. What makes a good headshot? Rusty knows. Do you really, absolutely need to have an acting reel? We asked and she told us.(mp3)
From humble beginnings waiting on the Fonz at Ed Dbevic's to appearing on Six Feet Under and Desperate Housewives (to say nothing of her film work), Rusty shares all the tips and tricks for what those fancy pants Los Angeles types are looking for and how you can make them take a look at you. (mp3)
Armed with a degree, just how should you use your newly honed skills? For good? For evil? Is advertising evil? We don't think so.
As more and more companies begin to abandon the traditional advertising mediums of print and television, digital artists have gained ground in the advertising industry. Online ads, motion graphics based commercials and other such new media employ digital artists to create visually dazzling images and conceptual ad campaigns that call upon the artists' creativity and unique technical skill.
Interested? Check out how to make a digital art reel for advertising. Need a little help putting it together? We can help.
To get good work in your industry, you need more than a business card and a cool hair-cut. You need a well-cut reel that is professional and authored onto a DVD. Get it done at Short Cuts, a solid week of editing and DVD authoring. On campus. For FREE.
Call 312-344-8624 for guidelines and to schedule an appointment with an advanced editor.
This opportunity is open to all currently enrolled students of Columbia College Chicago and May 2007 graduates who have a rough reel already assembled.
Chute Gerdeman is a leading retail branding and environmental design company with offices in the United States and India. Creative Director (and portfolio advisor) Lori Mukoyama will join Glennon Schaffner, Director of Design Development and Marina Pulliam, Senior Designer in Retail Environments to meet graduate and graduating students from the Interior Architecture program, review their portfolios and scout talent for entry level openings in their chicago office.
If you haven't already, register with the Portfolio Center and make sure you select the 'Show Off' option. Then, call 312.344.7280 to sign up to show off your work.
If you're reading this after this review came and went, check the Show Off page for a current schedule of guests.
On Friday, May 18th, Columbia students and recent graduates will have an opportunity to get their portfolio samples documented by advanced/expert photography students for free. Fashion design, product design, flatwork and paintings, headshots, portraits, sculpture, packaging . . . if it fits in the door, we'll get it shot for you.
The Photo Studio is at 72 East 11th Street on the 6th floor. You may sign up to work with a photographer at either 10 a.m., 1 p.m., or 3 p.m. Lights go out at 5 p.m.
Call 312-344-8660 to sign up. Your work must be organized and absolutely ready to go.
The maximum number of items you may bring is 10. If you need special props and/or special materials, you must bring them. We'll provide you with a CD of your images.
You MUST sign up in order to attend.
This opportunity is open to all currently enrolled students of Columbia College Chicago and May 2007 graduates.
The best portfolio in the world won't help you get work if employers can't figure out how to get in touch with you when opportunity knocks. Get a business card. One that you can be proud of.
To sign up for a design session on May 17th with one of Columbia's finest, call 312-344-7280.
This opportunity is open to all currently enrolled students of Columbia College Chicago and May 2007 graduates.
Graduating seniors with portfolio samples that reflect achievement advertising can make an appointment to get portfolio feedback and advice from several accomplished professionals from their field.
Professional guests:
This discussion is open only to December 2006 and May 2007 graduates of Columbia College Chicago.
*This session will be held on the 2nd floor of the University Center, 525 S State Street. Participants must call 312.344.7280 to make an appointment.
