A Checklist Conclusion (Part 2)
If you didn’t read part one, click here for things to make slightly more sense. Read it? Great. Here’s the second part:
First, the promised portfolio.
This was the second pdf design of the semester, and they both thoroughly reminded me why I am NOT a graphic designer. Everything was aggravating. With sculpture, I most often enjoy the process and the result. With graphic design, I tend to despise the process and only like the result if I push through an extraordinary amount of frustration. Web design is a bit of a happy medium, since a site is more interactive than an immovable pdf. Alas, there was a requirement to be met, so I met it as I was able.
It looks fine… I just wasn’t proud of it. So I was ecstatic when a moment of inspiration hit me in the shower the morning after.
If you’re here on purpose, and not just reading over somebody’s shoulder, you know that I love cardboard. In fact, I make a lot of cubes out of the stuff and have business cards made from cereal boxes… so why not a cardboard portfolio?
Picture this: artists from all over are wanting a position at some fancy firm, and come from all corners of the world with a massive canvas portfolio or fancily formatted website, all nothing you haven’t seen before. All until a guy hands you a 12” by 12” cube.
On this cube is his work, with one face introducing him as an artist, and the other five showing work and process photos to give you just a couple sides of his art. (I think this is genius…) The cube could even fold out, (as Prof Soderstrom suggested) containing more images of work, or even a sculpture custom-made for the application recipient. Maybe I apply for a furniture company, and inside this cube is a little living room all made from cardboard. If I apply for a desk position, it could be a cubicle. Like opening a music box from a piano applicant. Of course, jobs that are requesting portfolios of work are art-related positions, but the cube would certainly stand out in any application process. As of this moment I have yet to design one (as again, it would be at least 6 faces of graphic design work, even if I take it in a sculptural direction), but I certainly plan to if and when I apply for creative positions down the road.
As for the feedback I received during the conversation, sadly there was little. But it’s because I was so prepared! He was running a bit behind that morning, so I let him know I had already written at length all of my responses to the questions, and sent him the link to the part 1 post per his request. (I also delivered to him a copy of “Christina Katerina and the Box” by Patricia Lee Gauch which may have taken upwards of 5 of the 15 minutes to explain.) The next few minutes were spent excitedly chattering about the idea of a cube portfolio, as detailed above, and my dilemma with pdf graphic design. He thanked me for the preparation and grace allowing him to get back on schedule for his next meeting, but did not leave without discussion of the last question: What are your goals for next semester in the studio? As the first post explained, I will not be occupying an IWU studio the 2025 spring semester, as I am no longer a Studio Arts Major. Professor Soderstrom has introduced me to potential careers in “Design Thinking” (basically, creative-based HR), various firms, and other art jobs with the hopes I pursue a creative career. He seems convinced I would make a fantastic designer, and I can’t beg to differ. In the meantime though, I plan to complete my college degree and find opportunities on the weekends and over breaks to experience the worlds of art, education, HR, and business a bit more before launching into a full-time position following graduation.
Even so, those plans seem far off compared to the fast-approaching return to college and the 2025 Spring Semester. So what’s next? I’ll give you a hint…
I think it’s gonna be Wonderful.
