Design Portfolios

I'm commandeering the blog this week and jumping ahead to what I have coming at me next semester. It'll be my final semester in the Publications Design program, so I'll have to prepare my portfolio. I've been kinda preparing by looking at my past projects and creating a starter portfolio website in my other class, Advanced Web Development. I've also been scouring the web looking at other designers' portfolio sites, trying to get a sense of what makes a good, great, and fantastic portfolio.

So far, I've discovered that most designers have a logo and/or tagline throughout their website. This helps brand the designer and gives viewers an idea of what their skills are right away. Collin Henderson, a Canadian web designer, has an informative and fun tagline:

I also found that you have to show what you can do, not just say what you can do. And if you can do it in a way that reflects your personality, giving viewers a sense of what kind of person you are, that's even better. Deidre "Deda" Bain has an awesome "About Me" section that shows off her personality, her skills, and her experience:

The other common thread that I've found throughout most of the designer portfolios that I scanned is a blog. A blog allows you to constantly keep visitors updated about you and what you're doing. It also shows that you have a sincere interest and dedication to your work. Jacob Cass has a pretty good blog where he posts his reflections on design, gives helpful tips, and links to other insightful articles:

What are some things that you guys think should be part of an online design portfolio? What makes a portfolio good and what makes a portfolio great?

Re: Title Sequences

That Versteeg video was great, Matt! Also, it's a shame that the oscars don't recognize title sequences but it's great that the Emmys do.

Pixar often use their title sequences as a way to do some different forms of animation as opposed to their super-polished CG animation.

Monsters, Inc.


Ratatouille end credits. (This is not the actual music... I couldn't find the real one.)


They're really cool, it gives the animators a chance to do something a little different.

Great topic Kat! Looks like a lot of the usual suspects have been named (Madmen, Dexter, Catch Me if You Can)but of course there's a million more. I didn't realize there's an Emmy award for best title sequence which the Oscar's have chosen to ignore.
Here is a graduation project by Dutch Jurjen Versteeg that gives a clever and brief history of leaders in the field.

A History Of The Title Sequence from jurjen versteeg on Vimeo.

RE: Title Sequences

Interesting post! I was in Principals of Design with Amy, and I too became a huge fan of the "Catch Me if You Can" title sequence. Beautifully done. I also immediately thought of the "Mad Men" intro, as Hannah pointed out. And from a totally non design perspective, I am a huge fan of the intro to "Workaholics" (a crass comedy). It's super short, but fits the tone of the show perfectly.



To the contrary, I DESPISE the intro for "Suburgatory"

Title Sequences

I really had to think about this one, because I HARDLY EVER see a title sequence. If I am watching a movie or television show, 9 times out of 10, I will just fast forward the DVR through the opening. But something that I like is when the title sequence of the movie actually has plot or character information, something to keep me involved. This is one of the few that I can recall:




From a graphic design perspective, I like the treatment of the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang opening sequence:

Re: Title Sequence

Well, since I was literally about to post the opening to Dexter, and then noticed that Steve beat me to it, I will not be posting that anymore. I love when title sequences are clever, like the Dexter sequence, because it gives the show or movie just that much more interest. I know that the Simpsons opening sequence isn’t a title sequence (most of the titles come after) but I do always look forward to whatever little clever scene happens at the end of the sequence. Anyone who has seen the Simpsons knows what I’m talking about. In May, comedian/actress Kristen Schaal was wrongly credited as "Kristen Schall” and the Simpsons cleverly corrected it using the opening sequence. I think this is really clever and as Kristen put it, classy.

Re: Title Sequence

So, I am not a movie person at all (in case you couldn't tell), but last semester we watched a series of title sequences, I think in Kate Talent's principles of design class (is that right, Rich? I wish Blogger had a tagging feature!). Anyway, one of them was the beginning of Catch Me if You Can. I am OBSESSED with it. I'm not sure what it is I love so much, but I was totally bored with the presentation of them until we watched this one, and ever since and I've become more and more interested. I can't sit through the rest of any movie, but I ALWAYS pay attention to the the title sequence.

I actually even suggested to Stephanie Gibson that they make a class for it eventually. I would love to take it!



(PS I can't remember who already posted it, but I think Casino Royale's is pretty cool too!)