Portfolios for Interior Designers: A Guide to Portfolios, Creative Resumes, and the Job Search

The complete guide to portfolio development for interior designers

It′s a widely known fact that interior designers need a strong visual presence in the form of a well–crafted, professional–looking portfolio. Surprisingly, however, many interior designers aren′t equipped with the expertise required to organize and unify their work in a fashion that optimally conveys their talents and skills.

Portfolios for Interior Designers helps demystify the process by guiding the reader toward mastery in assembling a winning portfolio. It delivers essential step–by–step instruction presented in a manner that shows interior designers how to properly and effectively display their designs. This book also includes:

Color and black–and–white illustrations showing portfolio elements and options

Graphic design concepts necessary for portfolio development

Specific information for the design of digital portfolios

Supplemental teaching resources that direct readers to a companion Web site

Useful tips on the ways that popular graphics software applications can be best implemented for certain portfolio elements

Samples of cover letters and resumes, along with discussion of job search procedures

With the aid of real–world examples, Portfolios for Interior Designers examines how a portfolio can be used as an effective tool for communicating with clients and other professionals. A much–needed guide, this book eliminates the uncertainty surrounding portfolio development so that interior designers can showcase their abilities success–fully and land the next job.

Acknowledgments.

Part I:Building Blocks.

One:Introduction.

Overview of the Job Search.

Phase 1: Preparation.

Phase 2: Research and Distribution.

Research: Types and Sources.

Networking.

Distribution.

Phase 3: The Interview and Offer.

The Offer: Salary and Negotiation.

Internships, Contract, and Part–Time Positions.

Two:Portfolio Development.

Telling Your Story, Creating a Personal Narrative.

The Portfolio Inventory.

Portfolios for Other Reasons: Academics and Awards.

Design and Portfolio Organization.

Timing and Number of Projects.

Design Process Documentation, Construction Documents, and Sample Boards.

The Container.

Unifying Many Elements.

More about Digital Portfolios.

Portable Digital Portfolios (CDs and DVDs).

Portfolio Web Sites.

Preparing Work for the Portfolio.

Three:Grap hic Design: An Overview.

An Introduction to Typography.

Working with Type.

Hierarchy.

Creating Hierarchy.

The Grid.

Alignment.

Types of Grids.

Four:Adobe Creative Suite Software and Portfolio Development.

Adobe Illustrator.

Illustrator Tools.

Adobe Photoshop.

Photoshop Tools.

Photoshop Palettes/Panels.

Working with Photographic Images.

Adobe InDesign.

Defining a New Document.

The InDesign Toolbox.

InDesign Palettes/Panels.

Exporting.

Adobe Dreamweaver.

Adobe Acrobat.

Five:Resumes and Related Correspondence.

The Resume.

Resume Design.

Resume Organization.

Word Choice.

Cover Letters and Thank–You Notes.

Cover Letters.

Thank–You Notes.

Part II:Examples.

Six:Resumes and Related Correspondence.

Seven:In the Ma il and 0n the Web.

Eight:Components from Complete Portfolios.

APPENDIX ONE:Professional Voices.

APPENDIX TWO:Personal Na rrative Exercise.

APPENDIX THREE:Portfolio Project Review and Inventory Worksheet.

APPENDIX FOUR:The Pamphlet Stitch: Instructions.

Index.

Maureen Mitton is a designer, educator, and author. She is currently on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Stout, where she has received several teaching awards. She is the coauthor of Interior Design Visual Presentation, and Residential Interior Design (with Courtney Nystuen), also published by Wiley. She is a member of IDEC, is NCIDQ qualified, and is a Certified Interior Designer.