(Credit: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33808662/ns/us_news-fenway_park?q=Fenway%20Park)
Starting at my college career as a Chemistry major (pre-med track) I would have never expected to end up as an Interactive Digital Design major at Quinnipiac. Throughout high school I loved science and math and thought that would be the perfect major for me, as I worked my butt off and barely had any resemblance of a normal life as a student in college I thought switching schools would be the perfect solution. As a sophomore at Quinnipiac nothing felt different - I ended up taking a semester off (my Spring semester of sophomore year). In the Fall I came back with a brand new perspective on college and what I wanted to do. I decided to be an IDD major, I always had a special eye for art, design, etc. and realized this was what I wanted to do. That being said, I cannot believe how much has changed within the past 4+ years. I am now a senior with only three courses standing between me and graduation.
I hope this class will help me become more confident in myself as a designer and will show me (physically with a portfolio) that I have done a good job as a graphic design student. I am very excited to start on this new chapter in my life. The hard work and dedication to school will finally pay off come May when I can finally say I am a college graduate. I will have a wonderful portfolio showing off all of my hard work and hopefully interviews that will lead to jobs. I cannot predict what happens in the future but I can only hope for the best!
I began reading Designing a Digital Portfolio by Cynthia L. Baron and what it means to design a professional portfolio. Digital portfolios are in! (PDF, CD, DVD demo reel, slideshow on laptop, etc. (Baron xvi)). Although digital portfolios are the way to go Baron also touches upon the reasons why a physical portfolio can still be important in the professional field of graphic design. Employers sometimes require a physical portfolio.
What a portfolio is not: an autobiography, a resume, therapy, an inside joke, a grab bag, or a checklist (according to Baron page 13). Employers want to know what you are capable of now and displaying it in a confident and logical manner (meaning don't include every project you've ever done because amount doesn't matter it's usually quality over quantity).
With all of this new information it is time for me to get started on putting together my portfolio - starting with a mind-map due next week! I am going to start reviewing all of my past courses and projects and start organizing it.
