Portfolio Night 8: Participant perspective

Showing your portfolio to a professional creative was extremely daunting. Having your heart and soul put into A3 plastic sleeves to be judged was more than scary. However, given the relaxed venue and nature of the people involved, it made for a fun and insightful night. Despite popular belief these Creative Directors were actually normal down to earth people too. They knew what it was like to have a first folio and have it torn to shreds. Their advice became small nuggets of gold that helped us question our work in a way that pushes it forward. They wanted nothing more than to make our work better and help us improve. This thought was comforting.

It was interesting to see prospective advertisers showing their work through different mediums. The classic A3 folio was a popular old school, yet suitable choice for the evening. Some students used their laptops to show their pieces and videos, which seemed to work well for them. Assuming it was charged and didn’t freeze. Most interestingly though was the students who whipped out their iphone or PSP, taking portfolio night into a new digital territory. These devices were a new way of showing off their work to Creatives. However I don’t believe the folio showing experience was enhanced in anyway. In fact, small screens in dimly lit rooms with ten measly minutes to impress may not call for needing to rely on technology.

Regardless of how work was presented though, the feedback gathered by students although ego damaging will help to build the foundations for a better Copywriter and Art Director. Take on board what you have heard from these Advertisers, decode its often cryptic meaning and apply it to your folio to make more successful pieces.