Could you use additional funding to finish a project? Apply for the Albert P. Weisman Award. This matching grant provides funding, up to $4000, to a limited number of undergraduate (60 credit hours or more) and graduate students in a variety of media.
The application deadline is Friday, December 18th. To help you prepare, we recommend you attend an upcoming information session. This is your opportunity to get questions answered about the application process and receive tips on how to submit a solid proposal for the Award.
Information Sessions:
Wednesday, Nov. 18 @ 10am
Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 4pm
All sessions will be held in the Portfolio Center, 623 S. Wabash, room 307. Applications and guidelines are available at www.colum.edu/weisman.
Sponsorship: The Albert P. Weisman Award is made possible by the generosity of Tony Weisman, the Weisman committee and the many friends of Albert P. Weisman who donate both time and resources to make this award possible.
Congrats, your work now has the exposure to make wonderful things happen. You are on the world wide web. The accessible-at-any-time World. Wide. Web. Yes, you can update your online portfolio, that's what we expect you to do. A “portfolio” is always in flux and is never truly finished. But, as you update your work, you want to ensure that your site is always in a presentable state. You want to keep it fresh. The following tips will get you there.
* Purchase a personalized Domain Name and set it up so it redirects your visitors
to your WebAgent account.
* Activating the masking feature provided by the vendor that the Domain Name
was purchased from.
* Setup a personalized email (example: joestudent@joestudent.com) this is a
service provided by GoDaddy and is usually included as part of the purchase of
your Domain Name. Visit GoDaddy.com for more information.
* Only create groupings that you have work for. Avoid creating groupings
prematurely.
* Upload and assign your content to the correct grouping.
* Provide captions regarding your work to spark conversation with your audience.
* Replace the “WebAgent icon" that is normally used as thumbnail with an image
that is directly related to the content you are showcasing. (Example: an audio
file that is uploaded will be assigned an icon that has an image of headphones.
You should replace that icon with an image that is related to the audio file.)
* Upload a PDF of your resume or print portfolio so it is available to be
downloaded.
* Provide a text version of your resume and or bio in the text field located on the
site options tab. This information will be displayed on the “about page” of your
WebAgent site.
* Make sure the dimensions of your images are sized correctly. The images should
not exceed 600 pixels in both height and width.
Join Columbia College's Elizabeth Burke-Dain, along with Althea Legaspi (Chicago Public Radio), John Dugan (Time Out Chicago) and Andrew Huff (Gapers Block) as we discuss best practices for developing a voice online, as well as how and when (and if) to make money blogging.
Date / Time: Wednesday, November 4th / 6:30pm
Location: Portfolio Center / 623 S. Wabash / Room 307
Open to all Columbia College students and alumni.
Please call 312.369.7280 to register.
Back by popular demand: Emily Easton will lead a conversation about graduate school options for Cultural Studies majors. This is THE time to discuss strategies for choosing a program that’s right for you, get tips about the application process and insight on how to best assemble your portfolio for grad school.
Date / Time: Tuesday, October 20th / 1pm
Location: Portfolio Center / 623 S. Wabash / Room 307
Open to all Columbia College students and alumni.
Please call 312.369.7280 to register.
Find a space, add art, then show. A nice start, but to really make a gallery show work you’ll need to know more. Learn the ins and outs of exhibition from those who do it best. Panelists include Elizabeth Chodos, Executive Director of threewalls; Fine Artists Derek Erdman and Brian Ritchard; Art Critic Lori Waxman, and Neysa Page-Lieberman, Director of D.E.P.S.
Date / Time: Tuesday, October 13th / 6:30pm
Location: Portfolio Center / 623 S. Wabash / Room 307
Free and open to the public.
Please call 312.369.7280 to register.
The Anatomy Of... is a panel discussion that aims to explore how various arts and media professionals work together.
The wit. The information. What more can The Onion give us? How about feedback...Meet with Onion A.V. Club writer David Wolinsky on Monday, October 5th at 3pm to get feedback on your clips and find out what it is like to work in the entertainment division of "America's Finest News Source."
Date / Time: Monday, October 5th / 3pm
Location: Portfolio Center / 623 S. Wabash / Room 307
Juniors, seniors, grad students and May '09 graduates are eligible to participate.
Call 312.369.7280 to sign up for an appointment.
WHAT IS SHOW OFF? Show Off is a program that gives students a chance to meet one-on-one with professionals during 20-minute appointments. You can use the time to have our guests give you feedback on your work. It's also a good time to discuss general issues about industry expectations. This is a low pressure way for you to practice interviewing, make connections and ease into the professional realm.
Join us on October 14 at 5PM as we celebrate the 2009 Albert P. Weisman Award recipients at the opening reception of their exhibition.
Location: The Arcade, 618 S Michigan Ave, 2nd floor
Weisman Award Exhibition Dates: October 12 - December 11, 2009
The Albert P. Weisman Award was established in 1974 to encourage both undergraduate and graduate Columbia College Chicago students to complete projects in all fields of communication. With projects spanning multiple disciplines the Weisman exhibition presents a dynamic range of contemporary artistic agendas being addressed by Columbia College students. Exhibition organized by DEPS.
PORTFOLIO CENTER
New to the Portfolio Center and unsure how to get started? Stop by between Noon and 1PM any Monday through Thursday for a general “what’s up” at the PC. We’ll guide you through our services and events so you can choose what is right for you in your portfolio development.
PORTFOLIO OVERVIEWS BY MAJOR
Know a little about the Portfolio Center and its programs, but need more information specific to your major or industry? The Portfolio Center has two people on hand that can help you gather feedback on your work to create a more compelling portfolio. If you have questions or need a little guidance stop by and meet with the Creative Industry Liaison for your major on a day and time listed below.
Caroline Cook Juhlin: Walk-in hours Tuesdays 10AM-1PM and Wednesdays 3PM-5PM
For majors: Art and Design / AEMM: Fashion/Retail Management, Visual Arts Management / ASL / Dance / Early Childhood Education / English / IAM / Interdisciplinary Arts / Marketing Communication: Advertising / Photography / Theater
David T. Lewis: Walk-in hours Wednesdays 1PM-2:30PM and Thursdays 10AM-11:30AM
For majors: AEMM: Arts Entrepreneurship, E-Business and New Media Management, Media Management, Music Business, Performing Arts Management, Sports Management / Audio Arts and Acoustics / Cultural Studies / Fiction Writing / Film and Video / Journalism / Marketing Communication: Marketing, Public Relations, Sports Marketing / Music / Radio / Television
WEBAGENT
Visit the WebAgent page for details on how to get help using your site.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Assistance with quick job search questions is now available on a walk-in basis. Stop in for a 10-15 minute meeting with Career Development Specialist Christie Andersen to discuss topics like resume and cover letter revisions, interview tips, job search questions, or an overview of resources.
Walk-in meetings are in 623 South Wabash Avenue, Suite 307 twice a week:
Tuesday: 10AM – 12PM
Wednesday: 12PM – 2PM
Appointments are still available and encouraged for more in-depth questions. Contact Christie at ceandersen@colum.edu or 312.369.6985 for more information.
Meanwhile, there’s a ton of info about portfolios in all fields at www.colum.edu/portfolio. Click on “student” then find your major/media. Dig in.
Join us for a discussion on October 7 at 6:20PM with Columbia College alumni J.C. Gabel, founding editor and publisher of STOP SMILING, a literary arts & culture magazine for high-minded lowlifes based in Chicago and New York. In 2010, STOP SMILING will cease publishing a periodical, and instead venture into book publishing under the same name through a partnership with Melville House/Random House. Gabel is also a regular contributor to Wallpaper and Playboy.
Big Fish is a career-centric lecture series dedicated to the up-and-coming voices that help shape Chicago’s creative landscape. Free and open to the public.
Location: 623 S. Wabash, suite 307
The Portfolio Center will take part in “Tips on Tuesdays” sponsored by Multicultural Affairs and offer a session geared to help you understand how to showcase your best work. We’ll discuss various portfolio formats and show examples. This is a great session to attend if you're wondering what a portfolio is, how to get started, and how the Portfolio Center can assist you. Open to all students.
Date: Tuesday, November 3rd
Time: 12PM-1PM
Location: 618 S. Michigan, 4th floor
It's time for Columbia's annual fall semester kick off we all know and love-- Convocation! Be sure to look for the Portfolio Center booth (well table) among the crowd of students, organizations and departments. Get there early and you might snag yourself a free poster from the Portfolio Center.
Date: Thursday, September 3
Time: 12PM-3PM
Location: Grant Park, Balbo & Columbus Drive
Keeping your work in both a physical and digital format is a crucial part of creating work. Most artists are unclear about this process, and many can ruin their own work by improper storage. Through this chat, you will learn the basics of archiving, allowing you a chance to preserve your work for your senior portfolio. You will also learn more about the Portfolio Center and how they can assist you at various levels of your college career. Open to all students and recent alumni.
TWO DATES!
Tuesday, September 1 @ 3PM and Wednesday, September 2 @ 3PM. Both sessions take place in the Portfolio Center, 623 S. Wabash, suite 307.
*These sessions are part of Weeks of Welcome.
Here is your chance to pair up with a talented graphic designer or photographer to make an aspect of your portfolio better. For free.* Limited space is available by appointment only. Juniors, seniors, grad students and May '09 graduates are eligible to participate.
Be sure to read the guidelines and eligibility requirements first then call us at 312.369.7280 to schedule an appointment. All participants must complete an application by the due date listed below to confirm their appointment. Registration opens on Tuesday, September 8 for all Portfolio Production Week events. [Please do not call us before then.] *Printing and duplication not included.
| SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 2 | ||
| Graphic Design Assistance Day | For: Layout assistance, CD or DVD package design, type treatment, image clean up, image manipulation, film or music marketing material, DVD menu design, and business card design only with another design service. | September 28 / Application due by: September 21 |
| Graphic Design Assistance Day | For: Layout assistance, CD or DVD package design, type treatment, image clean up, image manipulation, film or music marketing material, DVD menu design, and business card design only with another design service. | September 30 / Application due by: September 23 |
| Photo Doc Day | For: Headshots and fashion photography | October 2 / Application due by: September 25 |
| OCTOBER 12 - OCTOBER 16 | ||
| Graphic Design Assistance Day | For: Layout assistance, CD or DVD package design, type treatment, image clean up, image manipulation, film or music marketing material, DVD menu design, and business card design only with another design service. | October 12 / Application due by: October 5 |
| Graphic Design Assistance Day | For: Layout assistance, CD or DVD package design, type treatment, image clean up, image manipulation, film or music marketing material, DVD menu design, and business card design only with another design service. | October 14 / Application due by: October 7 |
| Photo Doc Day | For: Product/3D work photography | October 16 / Application due by: October 9 |
| NOVEMBER 16 - NOVEMBER 20 | ||
| Graphic Design Assistance Day | For: Layout assistance, CD or DVD package design, type treatment, image clean up, image manipulation, film or music marketing material, DVD menu design, and business card design only with another design service. | November 16 / Application due by: November 9 |
| Photo Doc Day | For: Headshots and fashion photography | November 18 / Application due by: November 11 |
| Business Card Day | For: Business card design services only. This event is only being offered once this semester. | November 20 / Application due by: November 13 |
| DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 4 | ||
| Photo Doc Day | For: Product/3D work photography | December 2 / Application due by: November 25 |
| Graphic Design Assistance Day | For: Layout assistance, CD or DVD package design, type treatment, image clean up, image manipulation, film or music marketing material, DVD menu design, and business card design only with another design service. | December 3 / Application due by: November 25 |
| Graphic Design Assistance Day | For: Layout assistance, CD or DVD package design, type treatment, image clean up, image manipulation, film or music marketing material, DVD menu design, and business card design only with another design service. | December 4 / Application due by: November 25 |
WALK-IN HOURS
New to the Portfolio Center and unsure how to get started? Stop by between Noon and 1PM any Monday through Thursday for a general “what’s up” at the PC. We’ll guide you through our services and events so you can choose what is right for you in your portfolio development.
PORTFOLIO OVERVIEWS BY MAJOR
Know a little about the Portfolio Center and its programs, but need more information specific to your major or industry? The Portfolio Center has two people on hand that can help you gather feedback on your work to create a more compelling portfolio. If you have questions or need a little guidance stop by and meet with the Creative Industry Liaison for your major on a day and time listed below.
Caroline Cook Juhlin: Walk-in hours Tuesdays 10:30AM-Noon and Wednesdays 3PM-5PM
For majors: Art and Design / AEMM: Fashion/Retail Management, Visual Arts Management / ASL / Dance / Early Childhood Education / English / IAM / Interdisciplinary Arts / Marketing Communication: Advertising / Photography / Theater
David T. Lewis: Wednesdays 1PM-2:30PM and Thursdays 10AM-11:30AM
For majors: AEMM: Arts Entrepreneurship, E-Business and New Media Management, Media Management, Music Business, Performing Arts Management, Sports Management / Audio Arts and Acoustics / Cultural Studies / Fiction Writing / Film and Video / Journalism / Marketing Communication: Marketing, Public Relations, Sports Marketing / Music / Radio / Television
WEBAGENT
Visit the WebAgent: Build page for details on how to get help using your site.
Meanwhile, there’s a ton of info about portfolios in all fields at www.colum.edu/portfolio. Click on “student” then find your major/media on the right side of the page. Dig in.
When working with video files that you intend to make available for viewing on the internet specifically using the WebAgent. You will need to make sure your video files comply with the requirements set by WebAgent and Vimeo. Remember WebAgent requires your file must NOT exceed 30mb and Vimeo accepts a wide variety of file formats. For information on compressing your video for the use of Vimeo and WebAgent, please follow this link. http://vimeo.com/help/compression
Beat the heat and come sit in one of our cool labs as you learn how to get your best work online using Columbia's # 1 web publishing system WEBAGENT. For the remainder of the summer we're offering you a choice of three workshop days: Mondays from 3PM-5PM, Wednesdays from 12PM-2PM, and Thursdays from10AM-12PM.
These workshops are set up as two hour crash courses that include a one part introduction to using the system and one part hands on learning experience. We encourage you to bring in your work samples on a USB drive or disc. Oh, and WebAgent is free and available to all students. All you have to do is read the guidelines then register for a workshop.
It's back--Portfolio Boot Camp, our multi-day event designed to help YOU shape up your best work in preparation for a portfolio. June 23-25 are the dates and all sessions are FREE. So what are you waiting for? Register now!
Programs Include:
-Portfolio Workshops: We'll discuss how to prepare, organize and put together a package that showcases your best work.
-DIY Print Book Workshop: Tips and resources for printing and packaging your work. You'll learn techniques related to layouts, image usage and font selections all geared to give you tools to do-it-yourself.
-Resume Reviews: Bring in your resume and cover letter for a one-on-one feedback session with Career Development Specialist Christie Andersen
-You Are What You Website: We'll discuss why building an online presence for your work is important and we'll convince you about the power of a professional, well organized, concise site...and show you some examples.
-WebAgent Workshops: Get your best work online using Columbia's #1 web publishing system. By the end of this workshop you'll have a live site ready to promote or work on further.
-Graphic Design Assistance Day: You'll have 60 minutes to meet with a designer for layout assistance, CD or DVD cover design, type treatment, image clean up or image manipulation.
-Photo Doc Day: You'll have 30 minutes to get your work or yourself documented by skilled photographers...no low resolution images here.
-And more...
Portfolio Boot Camp is open to all level students and alumni. Some production events may only be open to juniors, seniors, grad students and recent graduates.
Currently the WebAgent allows the account users to upload only one PDF file per account. If you feel that you have the need to offer multiple PDF files for download. Then you will want to follow these steps.
1. Upload the file that you wish to make available as a download on your WebAgent site to a free file hosting site.
(There are many websites that provide this service, so make sure you read their guidelines before you use their services. Some sites will only host your file for only 90days or for the first 10 downloads depending on which comes first. So you will obviously need to re-upload you file after it expires)
Here is a short list of some recommended sites.
http://rapidshare.com
http://www.mediafire.com/
http://www.megaupload.com/
2. After you have uploaded your file to the hosting site you will want to take the download link and use that as the URL of the hyperlink that you will create using the WYSIWYG in any of the text fields where the WYSIWYG is available.
3. Remember when creating a hyperlink in the WYSIWYG you will want that new link to open in a new window.
Back by popular demand: Emily Easton, Senior Program Development Officer at University of Chicago will lead a conversation about graduate school options for cultural studies majors on Monday, March 9 at 12:30PM. This is THE time to discuss strategies for choosing a program that’s right for you, get tips about completing the application process and insight on how best to assemble your portfolio for grad school. Open to all students.
Location: 623 S. Wabash, room 307
Use Web Agent, Columbia’s free web publishing system, to get your best work online. Get set up with an account, upload your best work, work on it over time...it's that easy. Register for a workshop to start. You’ll learn more about the system and see sample sites that use text, images, video and audio to showcase portfolio work. This workshop will be hands-on so feel free to bring work samples with you on CD or USB drive.
Workshops are offered weekly:
Mondays – 12PM to 2PM
Tuesdays – 2PM to 4PM
Wednesdays – 4PM to 6PM
Fridays – 10AM to 12PM
Juniors, seniors, grad students, and December ’08 graduates are eligible to set-up accounts. Read the Web Agent guidelines then call 312-369-7280 to reserve your seat.
You and a graphic designer in a room for 45 minutes making an aspect of your portfolio better. For free.* Limited spots available. Juniors, seniors, grad students and December ’08 graduates are eligible to participate. Registration opens on January 26 for all production event dates.
PRODUCTION DATES / REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Thursday, March 5 / Registration Ends: February 19
Wednesday, March 18 / Registration Ends: March 4
NEW! Tuesday, April 14 / Registration Ends: March 31
Friday, April 17 / Registration Ends: April 3
NEW! Monday, April 27 / Registration Ends: April 13
Visit the Portfolio Production page to read guidelines, eligibility requirements and get reservation details.
*Printing not included.
Graphic Design Assistance Day is part of Portfolio Production Weeks brought to you by the Portfolio Center.
Yes. We will arrange for you to have your business card designed. For free.* Need we say more? Oh yeah, only on the dates listed below and sign up early. Limited spots available. Juniors, seniors, grad students and December ’08 graduates are eligible to participate. Registration opens on January 26 for all production event dates.
PRODUCTION DATES / REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Wednesday, March 4 / Registration Ends: February 18
Tuesday, March 17 / Registration Ends: March 3
Thursday, April 16 / Registration Ends: April 2
Visit the Portfolio Production page to read guidelines, eligibility requirements and get reservation details.
*Printing not included.
Business Card Day is part of Portfolio Production Weeks brought to you by the Portfolio Center.
So the weather outside is frightful…BUT it’s the perfect time to lock yourself up at home and work on your web portfolio. And that’s where Columbia’s free account based web system, WEB AGENT comes in. Get set up with an account, upload your best work, work on it over time...it's that easy. Register for a workshop to start.
J-TERM WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
Friday, January 9
Wednesday, January 14
Friday, January 16
Wednesday, January 21[CANCELLED]
All workshops take place from 12PM to 2PM in 600 S. Michigan, room 709. Junior, seniors, grad students and December ’08 graduates are eligible. Call 312-369-7280 to register for a workshop. Limited seating is available.
Learn more about Web Agent.Royalty (copyright) Free images that can be used to override the Web Agent icons that are generated for the following Audio, Video, and Text content.
You may have uploaded a piece of work that the Web Agent system assigns a icon that will be used as the thumbnail. You will want to override that icon with an image that best represents your piece.
For example if you have a video that you uploaded. You will then want to upload a photo still from the video shoot or some other image that represents you video. Or if you uploaded an excerpt from a short story you will then want to upload an image of the published cover art to represent your short story. The same idea would be applied to audio.
Now let’s say a photo still or some form of image for your video, audio or text is not an option for whatever reason.
Well there are several options to explore:
A: Take your own photo that you feel expresses and represents the work you uploaded
B: Create a text based image using Photoshop or Gimp
C: Visit a royalty (copyright) free website to obtain an image.
There are several websites that provide Royalty (copyright) Free images that can be used on your site. Here is a short list of some site you might want to visit. It is still important that you make sure you read the providers guidelines in regards to usage.
http://www.copyrightfreephotos.com
1. Reserve a domain name and launch website
2. Show only best quality work
3. Keep your site fresh (add new work regularly)
4. Include your site name on any and all printed material
5. Tell everyone you know about your site and ask them to tell someone
6. Optimize your meta tags for specific terms
7. Exchange links with other websites
8. Participate in blogs, forums, social, and professional networks
Who owns your work? On Friday, November 21 at 11AM we’ll give you the scoop on how to protect your intellectual property from being ripped of as well as how to negotiate contracts that work in your favor. This session is a MUST for anyone considering freelancing, commissioning work or publishing work online. Open to all students.
Location: 623 S. Wabash, room 307
Would you like to be recognized for your best work? If you answered “yes” then the Columbia Collective Awards (CCA) Talent Programming Committee is looking for YOU! CAA is seeking candidates for the 2008 Columbia Collective Awards “A Chronicle of Creating Change” which recognizes the achievements of Columbia students and gives merit to their work. Ten awards will be given out to various majors and all you have to do is nominate yourself. To do so, send an electronic file of your best work to ccctalentmanagement@gmail.com by Thursday, November 6.
Good luck and we hope your portfolio is together…
Are you unsure about how to assemble your body of work for inclusion in a portfolio? On Wednesday, October 22 at noon we’ll talk about ways that you can turn your “box, discs, files, etc” of completed projects into a professional package. You’ll be introduced to various delivery formats and examples of creative portfolios. By the end of this session you’ll have a deeper understanding of what pieces are needed to build your portfolio as well as how to present them.
Location: Conaway Center, 1st floor, 1104 S. Wabash
This session is open to all student and is being produced in conjunction with the Graduation Block Party.
Could you use additional funding to finish a project? Apply for the Albert P. Weisman Award. This matching grant provides funding, up to $4000, to a limited number of undergraduate (60 credit hours or more) and graduate students in a variety of media.
The application deadline is Friday, December 12. To help you prepare, we recommend you attend an upcoming information session. This is your opportunity to get questions answered about the application process and receive tips on how to submit a solid proposal for the Award.
Information Sessions:
Wednesday, Oct. 29 @ 12PM
Thursday, Nov. 6 @ 6PM
Tuesday, Nov. 11 @ 10AM
Thursday, Nov. 20 @ 3PM
All sessions will be held in the Portfolio Center, 623 S. Wabash, room 307. Applications and guidelines are available at www.colum.edu/weisman
Sponsorship: The Albert P. Weisman Award is made possible by the generosity of Tony Weisman, the Weisman committee and the many friends of Albert P. Weisman who donate both time and resources to make this award possible.
The Portfolio Center will take part in “Tips on Tuesdays” sponsored by Multicultural Affairs and offer a session geared to help you understand how to showcase your best work. We’ll discuss various portfolio formats and show examples. This is a great session to attend if you're wondering what a portfolio is, if you need one and how to get started. Open to all students.
Date: Tuesday, October 28
Time: 12PM-1PM
Location: 623 S. Wabash, suite 307
This is a MultiPass event
Join us on Monday, October 20 at 12:30PM for a conversation about graduate school options for cultural studies majors. Emily Easton, Senior Program Development Officer at University of Chicago, will be back to discuss strategies for choosing a program that’s right for you, provide tips for completing the application process and how to assemble your portfolio for grad school. Open to all students.
Locations: 623 S. Wabash, room 307
Seniors, grad students, recent alumni and (starting this year) juniors can use Web Agent, Columbia’s free web publishing system, to get your best work online.
Attend a workshop, set-up your account, learn more about the system and see sample sites that use text, images, video and audio to showcase portfolio work. This workshop will be hands-on so feel free to bring work samples with you on CD or USB drive.
Read the Web Agent guidelines then call 312-369-7280 to reserve your seat.
Starting September 9:
Tuesdays - 12pm to 2pm & 2pm to 4pm (these times alternate weekly), 600 S Michigan, room 709
Wednesdays - 12pm to 2pm, 624 S Michigan, room 606 and 4pm to 6pm, 600 S Michigan, room 709
Thursdays - 12pm to 2pm, 623 S Wabash, room 423
Fridays - 12pm to 2pm, 600 S Michigan, room 709
You and a graphic designer in a room for 45 minutes making an aspect of your portfolio better. For free.* Limited spots available. Juniors, seniors, grad students and May ’08 graduates are eligible to participate.
To participate on Thursday, September 25 you MUST RSVP by September 18. Visit the Portfolio Production page to read guidelines, eligibility requirements and get reservation details.
Next Graphic Design Assistance Day dates:
Thursday, October 23 – Register by October 16
Thursday, November 20 – Register by November 13
*Printing not included. Graphic Design Assistance Day is part of Portfolio Production Week brought to you by the Portfolio Center.
Yes. We will arrange for you to have your business card designed. For free*. Need we say more? Oh yeah, only on the dates listed below and sign up early. Limited spots available. Juniors, seniors, grad students and May ’08 graduates are eligible to participate.
To participate on Tuesday, September 23 you MUST RSVP by September 16. Visit the Portfolio Production page to read guidelines, eligibility requirements and get reservation details.
Next Business Card Day dates:
Tuesday, October 21 – Register by October 14
Tuesday, November 18 – Register by November 11
*Printing not included. Business Card Day is part of Portfolio Production Week brought to you by the Portfolio Center.
It's time for Columbia's annual fall semester kick off we all know and love-- Convocation! Be sure to look for the Portfolio Center booth among the crowd of students, organizations and departments. Get there early and you might snag yourself a free tee, button or poster from the Portfolio Center.
Date: Thursday, August 28
Time: 12PM-3PM
Location: Grant Park, Balbo & Columbus Drive
Take a trip with the Portfolio Center to some of the top companies and organizations in Chicago. You’ll experience the working environment, mingle with professionals and engage in conversations about presenting work, portfolios and professionalism. Any student from any major is welcome to attend any of the field trips. Limited spots available. Call 312.369.7280 to reserve your spot.
Fall ’08 Trips:
October 6 - The Onion / CANCELLED /
October 15 - Wall To Wall Recording Studio @ Noon / FULL /
November 12 - / CANCELLED /
November 20 – Metro Chicago @ 3PM / FULL /
Brought to you by the Portfolio Center in collaboration with Columbia Click.
As the new semester gears up we are very pleased to welcome our new neighbor and BFF, Christie Anderson. Christie has just been hired at the College Advising Center and is available to assist with questions related to career development. She helps both students exploring career paths, and provides assistance with resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, and job search strategies. Contact her directly at 312.369.6985 to schedule an appointment, or you can send quick questions via email.
Software can be expensive. When you don’t have the funds to purchase the software needed to manipulate your work, be it audio, video, and or image based, what do you do? The answer is not to obtain an illegal copy of that software needed, but to look for a free legit alternative. A great place to find these options is by using the internet. You will want to do a search for “open source software” or you check these two links to see what they have to offer. The use of open source software is a great alternative plus it can save you money and have the same results as almost any commercial software.
Q: What kind of software will I find?
A: DVD ripping, video conversion, audio conversion, graphic/photo editor, and much more.
Here are two great resources:
The Portfolio Center and Columbia College Chicago as a whole does not provide technical support to open source programs that are available. The Portfolio Center is simple providing information on free legit software. If you choose to download and use any of the open source software you are responsible for reading and adhering to the user agreements provided by the creator of the software.
Pulling your work together for the first time for inclusion in a portfolio can be daunting. But you need to buck up and get it done. Then, get your portfolio in front of others and welcome any feedback on how your work is being received. Rachal Duggan, an art & design major, had a huge body of work in illustration. Before this past spring, she'd never organized or presented that work to anyone that could actually hire her. Rachal used the Portfolio Center's Show Off program to work through her presentation jitters.
PC: What industry do you want to work in?
Ideally, I'd like to work within commercial illustration.PC: What’s in your portfolio?
My portfolio is a series of drawings I recently completed.
PC: How are you showing your work to others?
I participated in a show off (portfolio) review at the Portfolio Center, with Langley Creative, an established illustration agency. Receiving professional feedback is invaluable. The Portfolio Center has industry contacts that are willing to come in and sit down with students.
PC: Why do you think receiving feedback on your work is important?
After countless critiques in the classroom, a working professional's advice is vital. From that, you can take what they say and then use it to fine-tune your portfolio.
PC: Anything else you think is important for other students to know?
It can be incredibly intimidating to meet with a professional and peel open your book. After you try it, you gain confidence in the representation of yourself. After one meeting, you'll be ready for several more.
---Rachal worked with a designer to layout her illustrations for inclusion in a portfolio that she can use both in print form and as a PDF. If you're interested in creating your print book, the Portfolio Center will host "DIY Print Book Workshop" and "Clean Up Your Image Day" events during Portfolio Boot Camp during June 9-13.
SAVE THE DATES FOR PORTFOLIO BOOT CAMP! Shape up your body of work during this week long program especially for recent grads. You’ll have the opportunity to receive feedback on how to present your work and tighten up your portfolio presentation through production services. December 2007 & May 2008 graduates are eligible.
Full schedule with dates, times and registration information is coming soon but here are a few of the programs that will be offered:
Portfolio Web Workshop / Move your work onto the world wide web by attending a tutorial session for Portfolio Web, Columbia’s free website publishing system. You’ll have the chance to set-up an account plus we’ll show you sample sites that use text, images, video and audio to showcase portfolio work.
Photo Doc Day / Get high quality photos of your portfolio samples taken by advanced photography students. For fashion design, product design, flatwork and paintings, headshots, sculpture, packaging . . . anything 3D…if it fits in the door, we'll get it shot for you.
Covered: CD/DVD Package Design Day / Is your work covered? If not, we’ll pair you with a graphic designer to create a cover and disc label for your work. Sending out your film, reel, demo, aircheck or resume tape on CD or DVD with your name scrawled in Sharpie just won’t do...
Short Cuts: Reel & Resume Tape Editing / Bring in your footage* and meet with an editor who will cut a professional reel or resume tape for you. Open to film & video, television, and broadcast journalism recent grads ready to assemble their final reel. *Note: All footage must either be in QuickTime (.MOV), DVCAM, or MiniDV format.
DIY Print Books / Learn how to create and update your print book or press kit. We’ll discuss resources and techniques relating to layouts, image usage and font selection all geared to give you tools for do-it-yourself application.
Clean Up Your Image Day / Ready to organize your work into a PDF, print book or press kit? You’ll have the chance to work with a designer on layout assistance, font selection/type treatment, image cleanup and image manipulation.
We're opening up our doors and giving current Portfolio Web account users several chances to come in, ask questions and continue the plight to online portfolio greatness. If you need individual attention, can't quite get your formatting right, or maybe you can't decide on which design works best with your content then this is the time to resolve those issues.
Schedule:
Monday, May 12 / 12-2PM & 4-6PM
Tuesday, May 13 / 11AM-1PM & 4-6PM [4-6PM session will be held in room 419 of 623 S. Wabash]
Wednesday, May14 / 12-2PM & 3-5PM
Thursday, May 15 / 10AM-12PM & 3-5PM (last chance before Industry Night)
Friday, May 16 / No walk-in hours...you should be at Manifest anyway
Location: 623 S. Wabash room 307 unless otherwise noted above.
Open only to senior and grad students who currently have an account. If you'd like a free web account and you are a senior or grad student please give us a ring at 312-344-7280 for more information.
Back by popular demand: Portfolio Web Workshop Week. Seniors this is your chance to move your work into the world wide web. Attend one of the Portfolio Center's web site tutorial sessions during May 5-9 that will introduce you to Portfolio Web, Columbia’s free website publishing system. You’ll have the chance to set-up an account and we’ll show you sample sites that use text, images, video and audio to showcase portfolio work. This session will be hands-on so feel free to bring work samples with you.
Walk-ins welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged to ensure you get a seat. Sign-up by calling 312.344.7280. Open to seniors only.
Monday, May 5
4-6PM / 600 S. Michigan, Room 709
Wednesday, May 7
4-6PM / 600 S. Michigan, Room 709
Friday, May 9
Noon-2PM / 600 S. Michigan Avenue, Room 709
If you currently have an account and just need some help figuring next steps please come by the Portfolio Center with your questions during Portfolio Web Walk-In Hours.
We're opening up our doors and giving current Portfolio Web account users several chances to come in, ask questions and continue the plight to online portfolio greatness. If you need individual attention, can't quite get your formatting right, or maybe you can't decide on which design works best with your content then this is the time to resolve those issues.
Schedule:
Monday, May 5 / 1-3PM
Tuesday, May 6 / Sorry...no walk-in hours
Wednesday, May 7 / 3-5PM
Thursday, May 8 / 3-5PM
Friday, May 9 / 10AM-12PM
Location: 623 S. Wabash room 307
Open only to senior and grad students who currently have an account. If you'd like a free web account and you are a senior or grad student please give us a ring at 312-344-7280 for more information.
Here is a quick tutorial on how to resize your images for the Portfolio Web system using Photoshop.
Go to File > Open… and select the image to be resized.
Go to Image > Image Size… a pop-up window will display your image size and resolution information.
Make sure that the Pixel Dimension fields are chained together in order to keep your image proportion correct. (If the Pixel Dimension fields are NOT chained together, then place a check mark in the box next to Constrain Proportions)
Then In the Image Size window you will NEED to lower the resolution to 72.
In the drop down box located at the bottom of the Image Size window you will want to choose”bicubic sharper (best for reduction)”
In the Pixel Dimension field lower the width to 600 pixels* (make sure you have selected pixels NOT Percent in the drop down box that is to the right of the width field) then press OK. *Remember NOT to exceed 600 pixels wide nor 800 pixels high.
Go to File > Save As… and select JPEG as your file type and choose a destination for your file. Remember to give your file a different name, so you avoid writing over and losing your original file.
Choose JPEG from the drop down box. **IMPORTANT** Rename your file so you do not loose the original file.
We realize that you may not know exactly where to begin when it comes time to build your portfolio. Quick word of advice: Start with your content. Does any of your work need to be documented? If so, there are several services that the Portfolio Center offers to help seniors and grad students capture their work. Lani Schuster, an MFA student in the Book & Paper Arts program, utilized the Portfolio Center's Photo Doc Day to get high quality photographs taken of her paper art.
PC: What type of work do you produce?
Lani: I am a Book Artist, Paper Artist and Sculptor.
PC: How do you showcase or promote your work?
Lani: I participate in exhibitions and with the help of the Portfolio Center I will have a website.
PC: What type of information or samples are in your portfolio?
Lani: I include an artist statement along with slides, digital images and samples of my books, handmade paper and sculptures.
PC: How did the Portfolio Center help?
Lani: They have helped in documenting my artwork and have provided tips on how to represent myself as a Fine Artist.
PC: Why do you think displaying / packaging your work is important?
Lani: The only way to get exposure is to show your work. This leads you to making connections with those whom can offer you opportunities you didn't have before.
PC: Anything else you think students should know before putting their portfolio together?
Lani: Although it is an overwhelming task the Portfolio Center will help you step by step and encourage you along the way.
-----Lani was able to get dozens of photographs of her work by participating in Photo Doc Day. Graduating students needing professional documentation of their garments, products, fine art, and really any 3-D work or even headshots should plan to get it done at the next Photo Doc Day in mid-June during Portfolio Boot Camp.
Mark your calendar for Portfolio Boot Camp: Workshops & Production for New Grads to be held this June. We can't give you specifics on which professionals will be here or give you the exact times / dates of programs yet, BUT we can tell you that if you're graduating in May and still unsure of how to pull your work together then you should plan to attend.
During this week you’ll have the opportunity to receive feedback from professionals and tighten up your portfolio presentation through production services. More details coming soon about how you can shape up your body of work during Portfolio Boot Camp. Check back...and if you haven't already, register with the Portfolio Center and let us know you're graduating. We'll put you on our mailing list.
We're spotlighting some of the talented soon to be or recent grads of Columbia and their work...as well as services they've used through the Portfolio Center (of course). Blake Wells, Audio Arts & Acoustics major, recently set-up his text-based portfolio using Portfolio Web. He shared with us his approach to showcasing his skills online.
PC: What industry do you want to work in?
Blake: Acoustical Consulting
PC: How are you showcasing or promoting your work?
Blake: Scanning documents from previous classes and a lab notebook. Displaying my resume and other attributes that will show that I am qualified for the position I'm applying for.
PC: What type of information or samples are in your portfolio?
Blake: Written reports, a lab notebook, and a preview of a final project that is still in the works.
PC: How did the Portfolio Center help or what services did you receive through us?
Blake: I was able to create a website that potential employers could navigate to in order to learn more about the Acoustics program at Columbia and the work that I am able to produce. It also created a place for people to see my resume if they lost it.
PC: Why do you think displaying / packaging your work is important?
Blake: It's important for people to see what kind of work I am able to do after my education at Columbia. The Acoustics program is unique and many people do not know much about it. Showing my work reflects the caliber of the school and what I can offer to potential employers.
PC: Anything else you think students should know before putting their portfolio together?
Blake: Know what to show, and what not to show. Keep it simple and to the point. Don't overwhelm your audience with too much info, but put your best foot forward. Try to be as creative as possible, but still maintain a professional atmosphere. Have reasons for why you did what you did because interviewers will reference things you display in the portfolio and have questions for you about it.
-----Blake used Portfolio Web, Columbia's free web publishing system for seniors & grad students, to get his work online. If you're a senior or grad student interested in moving your work to the world wide web check out an upcoming Portfolio Web Workshop during April 28-May2.
Seniors: Get your work online, in time for graduation. Attend one of the Portfolio Center's web site tutorial sessions during April 28-May 2 that will introduce you to Portfolio Web, Columbia’s free website publishing system. You’ll have the chance to set-up an account and we’ll show you sample sites that use text, images, video and audio to showcase portfolio work. This session will be hands-on so feel free to bring work samples with you.
Walk-ins welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged to ensure you get a seat. Sign-up by calling 312.344.7280. Open to seniors only.
Monday, April 28
10AM-12PM / 623 S. Wabash, Room 921 - Art & Design Lab
4PM-6PM / 600 S. Michigan Avenue, Room 709 – TV Lab
Tuesday, April 29
10AM-12PM / 623 S. Wabash, Room 921 - Art & Design Lab
12PM-2PM / 623 S. Wabash, Room 307 - Portfolio Center / Portfolio Web walk-ins. Only for students who currently have accounts and need assistance.
4PM-6PM / 623 S. Wabash, Room 419 – IAM Lab
Wednesday, April 30
10-Noon / 600 S. Michigan Avenue, Room 709 – TV Lab
4PM-6PM / 623 S. Wabash, Room 419 – IAM Lab
Thursday, May 1
10AM-12PM / 623 S. Wabash, Room 921 - Art & Design Lab
3PM-5PM / 623 S. Wabash, Room 307 - Portfolio Center / Portfolio Web walk-ins. Only for students who currently have accounts and need assistance.
Friday, May 2
12PM - 2PM / 600 S. Michigan Avenue, Room 709 – TV Lab
On Thursday, May 1 at 12:30PM we’ll explore graduate school options for cultural studies majors. Emily Easton, Senior Program Development Officer at University of Chicago (and former Portfolio Center staff dynamo), will join students to discuss strategies for choosing a program that’s right for you, provide tips for completing the application process and how to assemble your portfolio.
Unfortunately this session was canceled. But if you want to know more about portfolios for graduate school these articles: Portfolios for Grad School Application and Graduate School Application Know-How are pretty good reads...
When thinking about posting video clips online it's important to know which formats are best suited for the system where your website is being hosted. Below is a list of the accepted video file formats that can be used with the Web Agent. Note: Video files must NOT exceed 30mb in file size. (Files that exceed the 30mb limit will not upload to your website)
Accepted File types: asf, asx, avi, divx, dv, dvx, m4v, mov, mp4, mpeg, mpg, qt, wmv, 3g2, 3gp, 3ivx and 3vx
