[deadalvs]

i'm thinking about making my portfolio soon and i'd like to get some advice.

i'm just finishing my studies in architecture, thus my work would be mainly in arch-viz stills or construction details. but i'd like to make it more special, not so standardized.

i'm thinking of a demo-reel with a filmish flair with some sound and pictures appearing and disappearing.

actually in my near future i'll probably work in cg / arch viz to earn some money, so this portfolio would not need to be «super-professional», just to convince people to give me some freelance-work or a job on a temporary basis.

what would You people recommend ?

(i know industry standard portfolio reels are around 3 mins, not more.)

[michaelplogue]

Personally, I would go with both. There may be times when you will meet potential clients face to face, and a computer will not be handy (like in a restaurant or coffee shop). In situations like this, a nicely done notebook comes in very handy. Have some letter-size matte prints made (I highly recommend Shutterfly.com), and put them in a high quality notebook (using document protectors). If you really want to go all-out, you can have a really nicely nice, leather-bound book of your images made (Shutterfly does these as well http://www.shutterfly.com/shop/product_ ... hoto_Books ).

I would also have an electronic version - probably done in Flash - that you could burn onto those small, business card CDs that you can hand out as well.

Keep the portfolio and a handful of the CD cards with you at all times: You never know when you might meet a potential client.

[deadalvs]

ah, that's sweet music...

those small cds... i almost forgot about them... they're cool, indeed. but many cd drives have slots that suck in the cd and those small ones don't work there... guess if You'll get the job when the boss blocks its drive...

* * *

flash/director is certainly an option. though i'd like it more cinematic with a contemplative ambiance and some camera moves. maybe i'll do some small animation parts too...

[jdp]

Last year I got the same problem, and I decided for an hard copy and it paid.
my personal experience and believe is that an hardcopy is always better.

then if you wanna add some extra digital content go for it. but keep in mind that usually who's gonna look at your portfolio has a really short time to go through it: a book can be skimmed in 100 different ways and split in different times, a video just linearly.
Also for an interview scenario a booklet is always a good starting point to discuss your works.

If you really want I strongly suggest to prepare a presentation along with it, to show during the interview. you cannot show a demoreel and sit silently while you have an interview.

If you applies to architecture firms, keep in mind that what matters is what you put in your portfolio and how you present synthetically your works. Unless you don't want to apply to movie industry companies, then it's a complete different story.

edit: sorry, I replied too fast, for a cg/archviz scenario, a demoreel is probably needed. but still don't make it too long. You should consider also if we are talking about clients or potential job opportunity....

[deadalvs]

i did a printed portfolio some time ago and it looked pretty nice. layouted in inDesign.

it is indeed the question if i'd like to apply for «classic architecture» or for film... i'll have to decide that ...

* * *

by the way.

i am strongly interested in digital filmsets. what could be recommended as to get deeper into it? mainly i'd like to focus on real/abstrace cityscape modeling as seen in starwars, LOTR and so on. because i heard there are a lot of cool designers that are deeply professional in modeling available, but people with the «eye of an architect», with the sense for gravity and tectonics are wanted. (as for example Eric Hanson stated)
where could i go to to learn how such a pipeline works? 3d is a rather small business in europe, esp. switzerland, so i'd have to go abroad.

but i definitively want to take a few courses at http://www.gnomon3d.com/
they seem to have the contacts.