Hello Design aspirants,
Good to be back after a long time, this time with the most desired topic -
PORTFOLIO making. In my previous post on
Tips on design portfolio making, I've shared written tips rather than working on actual designs, along with some online helpful folio links. In this post I've taken time to make some works and collect and group my previous works to give you a broad idea. While I'm seriously not a designer or an expert in sketching, I tried to make something to give you some idea of how the portfolio could be handled and what Softwares, designs, layout could be used in yours. For now, I'm just sharing the works that I made as part of the portfolio in digital forms.
Additional reference: My technical portfolio that I used for my engineering interview in PDF
In the above PDF, I've shared my work collections, exclusively related to my research along with some basic general designs to strengthen my profile during my interview at IIT Madras. This might give you some idea on what else you can plan to include in your portfolio.
Note:
- I've chosen to show portfolio in A4 format with some creative idea of opening papers or viewing the details in it. I will show how my portfolio went in a video soon. You can opt A3 also.
- Followed by each image below, I have given some tips and observations which would help you.
- Please go through the tips for sure - for your benefit. I tried to cover PD, Logo, Poster, User Interface, Industrial designs in my portfolio, just as an example to help everyone applying for different streams. But, if you are applying to one or two specific streams, then include (to the max extent) your creative works or designs related to your selected stream - like say out of 15, make at least 10 related to yours, while the rest can include, sketches, other stream designs etc.
- Click on the images to view them in large size
Tools and media used by me
- {Mechanical pencil}, {Pilot Pen} and {Blue and Green ball pens} for hand sketches
- Adobe Draw using iPad and stylus
- Canva online software
- A3 size drawing papers
- Chart and cardboard (I will explain in video why I needed this)
Honestly, I used only above things. But for hand sketching, consider using different art media as per your skill, including H and B scale pencils, charcoal, colors etc
Let's start looking at my Portfolio!
Page #1
I considered making my portfolio in a book/binded form. So, I've used Front and back cover pages. My first page is cover page which states my name and what the content is. I initially planned to get color papers, cut and organise them creatively for my front cover, as the saying goes first impression is the best impressions. This will turn out to be positive especially for NID. But since I'm time bounded, I used online design tool called Canva (I will explain how to make one in a video) to make the above front cover which took me less than 10 minutes! But, note that simple white front will do the job and if you plan to go with plain front, just go ahead.
Page #2
My second page is "About Me" section, briefing about my profile. I was sceptical including this as I doubt whether it is good to include just for mdes interview (but it's kind of mandatory for real design interviews and so keep it a good practice). You might also consider pushing the about me section at the end if any of your seniors have told you not to include them in your folio! Trust me making these digital representations are damn easy!
The contents that can be included in this page are
- Your basic timeline (about you, your passions, goals, interest etc)
- Your background (education or design experience)
- List of Projects related to design
- A statement telling your passion/interest for the chosen design stream
- Your core competency (Proficiency), the things you are good at!
- Tools/softwares you know (optional)
As far as possible keep it simple and less
words, use short but powerful synonyms instead of writing a whole story!
Page #3
After the brief intro about me, I switched to the actual business of showing my design skills.
Problem statement:
Swachh Bharat IIT Madras chapter had decided to organise a cleaning campaign on 15th Aug, on the eve of independence day and to remember the social works of the recent demise of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Sir. Desing a Poster for inviting students and residents at IIT Madras, to participate in a one-day Swachh bharat cleaning campaign to bring awareness to them about maintaining cleanliness in the campus.
Requirements:
- The Poster should be attractive and should motivate many students to participate
- It can show the contribution and motto of Dr APJ Kalam to bring more focus
- Preferably a picture for motivation, showing cleaning activity
My Design
Online Tool used : Canva
It's better to show hand drawn poster designs, although it's also ok to show digital works. I'm lazy enough to use pnecils for this design and so I prefer this :P
Page #4
Problem and Requirements:
Technology is growing every minute, ranging from wearable technology like Virtual Reality headsets to Driverless cars. Although the growth is exponential, still in rural parts of India, many rural people are unaware of how to operate even a basic mobile phone. Forget about the apps available for them.
IViL - IIT for Villages, a social group in IIT Madras, came up with the idea of making a book that lists out the available apps for android based smartphones related to farming, productivity, chemical usage and more that would help them be productive and earn more. Phones are available but making them aware; are more important. So, the problem given to me is to design a back cover that catches the sense of incorporating technology for farming and the need of using apps for productivity issues.
My Design:
Tool used : Adobe Draw (iPad app)
Page #5
Problem and Requirements:
My Concepts:
I never thought I would design my own blog's logo :P
Some points :
- Better to show some concepts in their final state rather than showing the ideating/brainstorming process that we usually do while logo making.
- I've shown some funny rectangle enclosing boxes. You can avoid them, and use plain page.
- Better to keep all the font in CAPITAL letters!
- I've only three color pens and one pencil when I was making this (Poor guy you know :P) So, I used only them. For logo's you better use colors to make it visually pleasing.
- If you know some logo making softwares try it (I will list the softwares that I know, at the end)
Page #6
Problem and requirments:
An automation industry needs an adjustable conveyor in a very little space. The conveyor is to be made such that it should be adjusted in length while during operation also, without being stopped off the ongoing work. The workspace is limited for additional manipulations or links to attach or extend. Design a flexible and adjustable conveyor for this industry use.
My Design:
(This kind of designs are best for IISc)
Tools Used : MS Paint!
I'm serious. I developed this when I was in B.Tech 2nd/3rd year. That time, we are not used to Softwares, so I made this using MS Paint. At times simple tools like MS Paint and MS Powerpoint will come handy! So, don't take anything lightly
Page #7
Problem and requirements:
My Designs:
I thought like using online tools as it will be more professional and clear. But, I don't want to try new software at this point, so convinced with pen work! For UI design wireframes, better to have minimum color variations while pencil/pen sketching.
Page #8
Problem and requirements:
My Designs:
I made this work very roughly and I didn't give a thought to get the good idea, Whatever struck my mind I just drew them as I was running out of time!. Product Designs should be shown very well and should clearly explain what features the product could deliver to the users, it's uniqueness, with very clean and neat sketches. Your work should show some concepts (not less than three) with a final neat design showing all the parts, preferably in different views and/or with exploded view!
Page #9
Problem:
As part of IViL - IIT for Villages, a social group for helping villagers, a cycle donation campaign has been organised. The basic idea of our team was to collect used cycles from the graduands and donate that to the needy students in the villages whom usually travel several kilometres (10-15 km) every day to school. Indian statistics says that many children drop schools just because they cannot walk. So, design a poster to attract the graduands and motivate them to donate their cycles for the social cause.
Requirements:
Poster should include the details of where and when the collection happens or the contact details of concerned persons
It should invite people to volunteer in the campaign
Spread about presence of IViL in insti with eye-catching images
My Designs (I made three, I'm showing them all)
Tool used : Canva
Page #10
My Sketches:
Actually, only two of the sketches are mine (running cheetah and running lion), rest I took from a friend (Vijendra Singh) a lab mate here at IIT Madras. Because I didn't want to spend time again for sketching. It's strange to note that out of 10 students in IIT, at least 6 are very creative and hard-core designers here. But still, they like engineering very much. Most importantly, I've seen mechanical engineering guys being flexible and diverse nature, performing good at imaginative and creative stuff (I'm an example :D). So, whenever you come across some people claiming the opposite, just forgive them for their stupidity and limited knowledge :P
I considered showing my (for now consider these as my works) sketches in one page, showing the best sketches that I've done till date, which includes object sketchings, creative/perspective sketching, still life figures, cars, portraits etc to show my sketch skills to the interviewers.
Page #11
My Digital Works:
If you've worked with tools and software, then consider showing some or best of your works in the folio. These days, designers are required to have hands-on experience with digital tools and if you already have them, then you might have upper hand in the interview by showing your works.
Note that I've shown self-portrait of mine, as I don't have much of them, although I've worked on Gods etc. But since it's an interview, it's better not to show religious related works like gods etc, just not to get rejected, as the possibility of interviewer getting offended are there, even if it's very few percent!
Pl. don't laugh at me after seeing the photos :P
I only have 5MP camera with me, that too in mobile phone and iPad, so with the available resources, I could take only these much. If you've good photos and if your portfolio has less works, do show some of your photography, mostly capturing
- Poverty
- Unawareness or education
- Lighting and focus play
- Creative capturesPhotographs from which you've spotted problems be it is a scenario problem, product problem, interface problem etc
Page #13
Back Cover
That's it.
I've done only this much and it took me whole day to gather and organise including designs in canva online platform. I recommend to have not less than 12 designs in your folio, mostly covering the chosen stream, although you can show few other stream works , but make space for your sketches, other design works, photos of ur prototypes/models, creative craft/DIY works (or pics) that you made or any CAD models that you did like using AutoCAD etc. I had planned for more design ideas to be included in the above portfolio, but it'a getting late and I believe it's good to share with you soon so that you can start at the earliest. Also, I'm not giving the interview as such so I don't have to make many :)
P.S.
I don't had time and so I did many of the works very roughly or didn't cared for Font styles, borders, alignment etc. You should keep these things in mind and make sure that your representation is neat with care being taken.
Below are simple funda's that you might consider following
1. Applying to IISc ?
- Do more on Product designs, less (almost no) on VC, UI, Animation design
- Show mechanisms of the product, how they works, what components are included etc
- State the problems identified, factors considered, materials considered etc
- show many concepts for a product,
- Aim at industrial problems too
2. Applying to NID ?
- Do more on Creative ideas and play with colors (show your hold on colors)
- Be stream specific
- Include sketches, photographs and importantly pics of your DIY/creative works if any (you can carry them (and laptop/tab) during interview)
- If you've graphic designs, like those made from coroflot or photoshop, do include them
- Mostly, make it like a professional one, with kind of digital works (not mandatory, but it would be attractive)
- Show/state clearly why you are opting for that particular design stream (Prospect students said that interviewers are less concerned on portfolio compared to the concern that they showed on finding why the candidate chose that stream. So, be ready with the answer and prepare to speak at least 10 mins about this in front of the panel). This is very important I guess. Do practice in front of mirror :P, You can ping me your writeup for corrections or suggestions
3. Applying through CEED ?
- Concepts and Design ideas are more important for CEED
- Even though stream specific, you can show very few of other stream designs
- You may/may-not Include photographs or DIY/creative works, if you don't have them.
- If you've graphic designs, like those made from coroflot or photoshop, do include them
- Hand sketches are ok
- Be passionate during interview by showing your design interest
4. Applying to private institutes?
- You can consider including works of several design streams
- Photography, Sketches, DIY, prototype/model pics are all valid and welcome to include in folio
Some List of Softwares or online tools taht help you with Portfolio
(I will update this with more free/easy tools, if I found some later)
Softwares for digital designs of graphic designs, posters, logo's
- Canva (I usually use this)
- Gravit
- Microsoft Powerpoint
- Photoshops
- ms paint
Softwares of user interface design/interaction design (forwireframingg and mockups)
- Lumzy
- Mockup Builder
- Moqups - (free trail available)
- CogTool
- Denim
- Corel Painter (graphic desigs)
- in-vision
For digital sketching
- Photoshop
- Adobe illustrator
- Adobe Draw (App - I use this for my works)
- Adobe Sketch
- Corel Painter
- Particle Shop
- Art Rage
- (and numerous) - don't try these many, just try one or two and make yourself good in that.
CAD softwares
- Blender (free-opensource)
- Below are not free, but you can try one moth trail I guess
- AutoCAD
- Solidworks
- Maya
That's it for now, I will make a quick video guide on canva software later as my eyes are shutting and crows already started cawing. I will also try to make a video of how I grouped my portfolio. Again, All the above are just my suggestions, and what I would have done if I were in your place. It need to be perfect.
I recommend you to go through my explanations in this page before getting the downloadable pdf version of My portfolio
Good luck with your portfolio start :)
