Hasta La Ideas

Hey I’m Sam and I do design. Some of the most popular YouTube videos I make are about portfolios and tips on getting a design job. For that exact reason, I wanted to write about portfolios here so I can share this information with you.

Sharing your work as a creator can be a daunting task, especially if you’re attempting to summarize solving a complex problem that took 6 months to define, and 6 months to develop the solution. In situations like this, it’s important to remember that the reader (your recruiter) must understand the project at face value as they’re speed-browsing through hundreds or even thousands of job applications. I make a point in my videos to flick through portfolios as fast as possible when first looking at them, with no time to read the headings or the body text. This reflects exactly what happens in industry, even if it does appear unfair to the designer on the other side of the portfolio. This is also the reason why each portfolio should be tailored to the job you’re applying for. For example, a red carpet set designer won’t be interested in seeing the baby walker that you designed (true story, I didn’t get that set design job).

Every employer will have different application specifications. My current job still asks for a PDF portfolio from students. We ask for them because we can archive them, and pull them out if we have a specific project that the specific designer can help with. And if they supply a completely different type of portfolio? Well, it unfortunately shows they can’t follow employer instructions. Next!

Beyond specific employer instructions, how should you show your work? There honestly isn’t one perfect be-all-end-all format. There are pros and cons to all of the solutions, so let’s run through some of them now to help you decide which is best for you.

PERSONAL WEBSITE

A personal website is a great way to show creativity and give the impression of a professional and well established designer. The pages and layout are also a showcase of how you think and organize information, and the format of a website means you can have multiple types of projects that your potential employer can choose to look for, or choose to ignore if they don’t suit the particular role available (just like a baby walker or set design). A personal website is great for these reasons, IF it works. The problem I personally had with my first portfolio website, especially as a student, was that it was expensive to keep it running. It came to the point where I needed to choose between renewing the website domain, or eating that week. I chose the latter. That meant that any potential employers that I had given my website details to now couldn’t find me if they had a project that would suit my talents. And even if they could find me through the email address I also gave them, a broken website gives a horrible impression anyway.

PDF DOCUMENTS

A PDF document is a traditional method by today’s standards. They lack the fancy animations that websites can have, and they need to be emailed around and stored locally. However, this can also be seen as a positive point, as each portfolio can be tailored to include only the most relevant project for maximum impact with employers. Having a PDF that pinpoints the exact type of projects that the employer needs help with shows that you are capable not only of the design work itself, but also understand the company’s needs and shows how you can help. If a website is a great place for employers to come and choose what they’re interested in, a PDF is a great way for you to show that you understand what they need.
However, dealing with file sizes and compression can be the difference between a 500mb monstrosity, and a file that’s pixelated beyond recognition. This is the final hurdle of a PDF document, and one that many designers trip on. A sensible file size is 5mb-10mb, and there are ways to compress your document while keeping the image quality high. I have a YouTube tutorial on that very problem!

PHYSICAL PRINTED BOOK

A physical copy leaves the most impact on a potential employer. In a world where everything is increasingly digital, it seems that providing a beautifully made book always provides that “wow” moment. There is just something about turning each page to reveal the next piece of information that is so satisfying, and the physicality of it often means that I would flick through a book slower than I would a PDF.

However, there are of course drawbacks with a physical portfolio. They are expensive. Very expensive. And it’s almost impossible to tailor each portfolio to include the exact projects specific to the job at hand. I’ve seen workarounds with binders and replaceable pages and projects, but that gets even more expensive.
In addition, while books are suited to archiving and being stored, they don’t possess the magical “search” feature that PDF’s and websites have. In 6 months time if I have a project that a designer could help with, and I can only vaguely remember that their work was in a book (and definitely can’t remember their name), then it takes a lot of effort to go searching. The effort I might spend searching could easily be re-assigned to finding a new designer with similar skills, even if the “wow” factor of the book was so nice 6 months ago.

COMMUNITY PORTFOLIOS

Community websites like Behance are more stable than personal website, but they also bring attention to the competition and their design work. While it’s very easy to plug in your images and copy into the pre-existing templates with fancy animations, it’s also true for every other designer on that website. The very nature of these types of sites mean that they make it oh-so easy to click through to find more designers and more work.

It could work in your favor by showing your projects are better than the competition, or it could show other designers and their work as well. You can rest safe in the knowledge that your links are going to work for as long as your project is on the website, but is it worth also potentially exhibiting the competition too?

THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS

It may be a catch-all cliche, but I do think it’s best to have a mix of portfolio types up to date at all times. It’s really important to be able to provide a current portfolio at any given moment as you never know when the next opportunity can come along. The best plan of action is often to use two or more types of portfolio for the same submission. PDF portfolios plus physical or website is also common. Remember, if specified, always listen to the employer’s instructions when it comes to formatting. Beyond that, a portfolio is a reflection of your mindset and your creativeness. The more creative you can be with a portfolio, the better. But don’t forget what a portfolio is used for once it’s left the drafts folder on your computer and out in the real world: it should be to the point, tailored, archive-able, and searchable. Oh, and don’t forget the “wow” factor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sam Gwilt is an industrial designer with an eclectic mix of skills. He graduated Brunel University London and worked for Paul Cocksedge Studio, specializing in bespoke lighting installations and exhibitions internationally. He now works with clients globally at consultancy Precipice Design, and also runs an Instagram Page and YouTube channel – Sam_Does_Design – where he shares industry tips with the community.

A gymnastics balance beam, rubber blocks and brass weights are among this collection of high-end gym equipment, designed by Rhode Island studio Work in Use.

Work is Use has launched a series of designs made from materials including wood, brass and leather for workout tools that differ from equipment often made of plastic. The pieces can be used for everyday practice, in addition to movement training that fuses gymnastics with elements of dance and martial arts.

The new collection comprises a series of handrails, weights, bar and rings.  These items are frequently used by Work in Use founder Wu – a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) – who came up with the idea while practising the Ido Portal Method in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

“I was training with a movement coach, and I was thinking that I need more things that I could use at home,” Wu told Dezeen. “My coach was having me do a lot of balancing, and I realised there’s not a nice balance rail out there, so I made one.”

Wu sought to create pieces that could improve her practice and fuse her experience as a designer.

“It spiralled into a collection of nice things that I need for myself,” she said.

Among the collection is a Ping Balance Rail, a rod-like piece that measures 48 inches (1.2 metres) long. It is designed to be walked on for practising balance, and is made of either rubber or oiled cherry wood with a powder-coated speckle texture for better grip.

The rail is supported on blocks made of either natural hardwoods or cast translucent rubber – these can also be used on their own for mobility work or as yoga blocks. There is an integrated registration pin that attaches the block bases to the rod as well.

Other designs in the series include the solid brass Yaling hand weights with knurling for grip, which Wu created as an alternative to dumbells.

The set of six comes in an oiled hard maple stand that supports three pairs of two cylindrical volumes of different lengths. Pieces increase in size as the weight gets heavier, with rods being 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg), 4.5 pounds (2 kg), and 6.5 pounds (3 kg).

The collection’s pull-up bar is made of walnut and cordovan steel, called Lachi, and is designed to be used over-the-door. The horizontal bar and bent vertical pieces are welded in a fish mouth joint. Leather wrapping on either end of the handlebar is intended to provide a softer touch.

A pair of wood bars on supports, called Jia Paralletes, are based on common equipment pieces used in gyms for simulated parallel bar movements, typically for strength building and gymnastic training.

Yuan Rings, or gymnastic rings, are made of circles of curved wood, and accompanied by a set of cast bronze buckles and nylon straps.

All of these objects are meant to be used and displayed in the home as a celebration of their craft and materiality, rather than hidden or placed out of sight.

Each is handmade in Work in Uses’s studio in Providence, Rhode Island, and produced a collaboration with a community of fabricators around the area and New England.

Wu, who spent five years working wood for Egg Collective in New York City, established her studio this summer, just after graduating with a masters in furniture design at RISD.

She launched the design-focused workout series at the Next Level exhibition, which took place during this year’s New York City design festival. The collection was a finalist in the Emerging Product Designer category as part of NYCxDesign, joining other emerging studios such as Yield, Ty Williams and Eny Lee Parker

In addition to these movement tools, other fitness designs include a bike station that makes bread, a balancing stool by Darryl Agawin and a computer with a keyboard made of punching bags.

Photography is by Nic Der.

The post Work in Use designs exercise equipment from fine materials appeared first on Dezeen.

American firms Wittman Estes and NODE have created a prefabricated accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, that is wrapped in charred wood and runs entirely on solar power.

The building was created for a homeowner in west Seattle who wanted a one-bedroom studio in her backyard, which she could rent out or list on Airbnb.

“The client wanted a second unit to create an additional rental income that would be self-sustaining and affordable, generating economic and environmental productivity,” said local firm Wittman Estes in a project description.

She asked the architects to design the dwelling, and it ended up becoming one in a series of models offered by NODE, a Washington-based company that creates eco-friendly, prefabricated dwellings.

“As a system of components, the entire home can be shipped almost anywhere and assembled in days,” the architects said. “The simplicity of the home embodies a ‘poetic pragmatism’, believing that good design can be accessible to anyone.”

Called Solar Studio, the project takes its name from the photovoltaics that line the sloped, south-facing roof. The solar panels generate enough electricity to power both the backyard cottage and the main house, according to the team.

Facades are wrapped in cedar planks that were charred using shou sugi ban, a traditional Japanese technique. Beyond enhancing the dwelling’s appearance, the burnt wood helps reduce the need for upkeep. Dark grey corrugated metal was also used on the exterior.

Shallow steps lead to the home’s main door, which is fronted by a small wooden deck. Rectangular in plan, the interior is divided into three zones. One side contains an open-plan public area, while the other encompasses a craft room and storage space. The bedroom was placed at the centre of the dwelling.

Low-emitting, locally sourced materials were employed throughout the dwelling. White walls and light-toned bamboo flooring are contrasted with darker elements, such as black window frames and black lighting fixtures. Tropical plants add pops of colour to every room.

The compact living room is fitted with an IKEA cowhide rug, a floor lamp by France and Son, and a replica of the Hans J Wegner CH07 Lounge Chair. The dining area features a tulip-style table and Modernica shell chairs.

In the kitchen, the team installed stainless steel appliances and white countertops, along with carbon-steel shelving designed by the architects.

In the bedroom, a stool designed by architect Alvar Aalto serves as a sidetable. The bathroom is equipped with low-flow fixtures, such as a glossy white D-Code sink by Duravit.

Solar Studio is the first detached ADU in Seattle to earn “zero energy certification” from the International Living Future Institute, which works to foster a more sustainable built environment.

“The studio demonstrates how modern building techniques can create human spaces, filled with light and warm materials, and achieve a high level of environmental sustainability,” the team said.

ADUs have become increasingly popular in cities that face housing shortages. In Seattle, Best Practice Architecture converted an unused garage into a small black cottage for an elderly family member, and in Toronto, Measured Architecture added a laneway house to a narrow, residential property. During the recent Los Angeles Design Festival, a series of architect-designed granny flats were open for public tours.

Photography is by Andrew Pogue.

Project credits:

Design: Wittman Estes with NODE
Architecture and landscape: Wittman Estes Architecture + Landscape
Builder: NODE (Don Bunnell)

The post Wittman Estes and NODE use prefab elements to create rentable backyard cottage in Seattle appeared first on Dezeen.

Inspired by the prominent role and place of grand pianos in homes, the Intermodality desk is just as grand. With a design that follows the cues of the large instrument, the desk comes with a similar shape, size, and even features a large lid that opens sideways, like in a grand piano. Standing on three legs, like the musical instrument, the Intermodality desk is crafted from antiqued plywood, and features copper trimmings near the handles and at the base of the legs, adding a touch of finesse to the desk’s grand design.

The desk comes with five drawers on the front, ample writing space on top, and an additional four storage cabinets at the back, under the lid. The plywood’s 2D nature results in the desk having a chamfered, low-poly origami-esque design rather than curves like a wooden piano. This immediately gives it a sense of differentiation, making it look instantly recognizable but also unique at the same time!

The Intermodality Desk is a winner of the A’ Design Award for the year 2019.

Designer: Attila Stromajer

I’ve always been fascinated by the original spinning top, which we used to spin with the help of a rope. Made from wood and spinning on the tip of a nail, the tricks we learned included spinning the top on our palm, making it jump the rope and moving it from one surface to another, without breaking its motion. Time has changed and so have our experiences with spinning tops – or fidget toys as we call them. The MezmoCoin is one such spinner, that reminds me of the wooden top, albeit this one is classier and can spin for more the twelve minutes at a go.

Pocket sized and creating an optical illusion when it spins, the MezmoCoin spins doing the spiral dance. It is precision machined to look the size of a coin and thanks to its flat design, it creates magical ripples as it spins. Sporting a metal body and tungsten carbide tip, the spinning record so far is 14:40 min – something that you should consider breaking!

Designer: Kristoph Krisjans

Click Here To Buy Now: $20 $30 ($10 off). Hurry, less than 48 hours left! Raised over $180,000.

About MezmoCoin

A pocket-sized spinning toy that creates a mind-bending optical illusion of a continuously flowing spiral.

Designed to spin on any desk or flat surface. The solid body and smooth finish make it very pleasant to interact with. It spins silently so you won’t be bothering anyone around.

Full collection of three beautiful metals- Brass, Copper and Stainless steel

Built for designers, makers, thinkers, and anyone who wants to release their inner creativity and imagination. Keep focus, relieve stress or simply play around anytime and anywhere.

MezmoStand – precision machined out of Stainless steel to compliment each Mezmocoin. Use it as display on your desk and present your coins with style.

The Stainless steel combines beautifully with all three metals and we designed the stand to highlight every side of the Mezmocoin.

The flat shape and compact size makes it a perfect toy to carry around. It will fit in any pocket without making a bulk. Each Mezmocoin comes with a nice leather sleeve to carry with style and protect from scratching.

Tricks

Spin on the edge, launch them together, explore high frequency drops and more. The flat shape opens new possibilities for many cool tricks.

Click Here To Buy Now: $20 $30 ($10 off). Hurry, less than 48 hours left! Raised over $180,000.