Ludlow Kingsley

What do you look for in a great portfolio?

CS: I kind of wish we could actually look at a physical portfolio, where a person walks through our door, sets their portfolio down on the table and takes us through it. Oh well! Things have become transient in the ever-evolving digital age. We receive 3-5 unsolicited emails a day from aspiring designers who would like us to consider them for a job. Half of them are merely copy-pasted messages and a link to their website where their work is jammed into whatever template they quickly chose from one of the many portfolio do-it-yourself platforms. Presentation is everything. So an honest, first person message that is written directly to us and communicates why they are interested in us specifically is the first sign that we may like this person. Next, we just want to see who they are and what they do. Once in a blue moon we get snail-mail with something hand made for us. This is nice, but it’s not going to make the difference if we don’t resonate with their work. When we click a link into a designer’s portfolio there are things we like to see, and things we don’t like to see. _ We like to see:  1) You. To read a short but genuine bit about who you are and what your philosophy as a designer is. 2) Only your BEST work. If you have 5 or 10 or 20 great pieces, then stop there. A so-so piece in your portfolio can make is seem like you don’t know how to edit yourself and that maybe it wasn’t all that long ago that you figured out who you are.  We don’t like to see:  _1) Derivative work. Be yourself and show us work from your point of view. If you worship someone else as a designer, then let that be an influence. Please don’t show us your version of someone else's work. 2) School work. If that’s all you have, then find some friends with a band, or a dream business, or make something up, but don’t show us a project that doesn't means something to you, like a school assignment. 3) Private stuff. Journaling is an invaluable practice, but just as no one really wants to hear about your dream last night, no one wants to read or see doodles from your journal.

We like to see:

CS: I kind of wish we could actually look at a physical portfolio, where a person walks through our door, sets their portfolio down on the table and takes us through it. Oh well! Things have become transient in the ever-evolving digital age. We receive 3-5 unsolicited emails a day from aspiring designers who would like us to consider them for a job. Half of them are merely copy-pasted messages and a link to their website where their work is jammed into whatever template they quickly chose from one of the many portfolio do-it-yourself platforms. Presentation is everything. So an honest, first person message that is written directly to us and communicates why they are interested in us specifically is the first sign that we may like this person. Next, we just want to see who they are and what they do. Once in a blue moon we get snail-mail with something hand made for us. This is nice, but it’s not going to make the difference if we don’t resonate with their work. When we click a link into a designer’s portfolio there are things we like to see, and things we don’t like to see. _  1) You. To read a short but genuine bit about who you are and what your philosophy as a designer is. 2) Only your BEST work. If you have 5 or 10 or 20 great pieces, then stop there. A so-so piece in your portfolio can make is seem like you don’t know how to edit yourself and that maybe it wasn’t all that long ago that you figured out who you are.  We don’t like to see:  _1) Derivative work. Be yourself and show us work from your point of view. If you worship someone else as a designer, then let that be an influence. Please don’t show us your version of someone else's work. 2) School work. If that’s all you have, then find some friends with a band, or a dream business, or make something up, but don’t show us a project that doesn't means something to you, like a school assignment. 3) Private stuff. Journaling is an invaluable practice, but just as no one really wants to hear about your dream last night, no one wants to read or see doodles from your journal.

We don’t like to see:

CS: I kind of wish we could actually look at a physical portfolio, where a person walks through our door, sets their portfolio down on the table and takes us through it. Oh well! Things have become transient in the ever-evolving digital age. We receive 3-5 unsolicited emails a day from aspiring designers who would like us to consider them for a job. Half of them are merely copy-pasted messages and a link to their website where their work is jammed into whatever template they quickly chose from one of the many portfolio do-it-yourself platforms. Presentation is everything. So an honest, first person message that is written directly to us and communicates why they are interested in us specifically is the first sign that we may like this person. Next, we just want to see who they are and what they do. Once in a blue moon we get snail-mail with something hand made for us. This is nice, but it’s not going to make the difference if we don’t resonate with their work. When we click a link into a designer’s portfolio there are things we like to see, and things we don’t like to see. _  1) You. To read a short but genuine bit about who you are and what your philosophy as a designer is. 2) Only your BEST work. If you have 5 or 10 or 20 great pieces, then stop there. A so-so piece in your portfolio can make is seem like you don’t know how to edit yourself and that maybe it wasn’t all that long ago that you figured out who you are.   _1) Derivative work. Be yourself and show us work from your point of view. If you worship someone else as a designer, then let that be an influence. Please don’t show us your version of someone else's work. 2) School work. If that’s all you have, then find some friends with a band, or a dream business, or make something up, but don’t show us a project that doesn't means something to you, like a school assignment. 3) Private stuff. Journaling is an invaluable practice, but just as no one really wants to hear about your dream last night, no one wants to read or see doodles from your journal.

RD: I know Clark has said a lot about this topic but I have one little thing to add. We absolutely love seeing new talent and work, but one of the most important things for me is the first impression. If you have a grid of images, make sure you crop those images in the most beautiful way possible, or present them however you need to entice us to click in further and explore more of your work.  It sounds crazy, but it’s a big deal when you’re looking at so many different portfolios. What it does is really show us how you use your “designer's eye" with all that you do.

Whats your take on internships?

CS: We love taking on interns. It’s mutually beneficial and can turn into a long-lasting relationship. Half of our staff started as interns. We have a policy of paying our interns a livable wage. Hopefully, this is a widespread trend. In particular, if an intern is performing work that is being sold through to the client, then it’s only fair to pay them well.