The Portfolio is… dead!
Author of this post: Matthew T Grant | About Blog Authors »
The traditional design portfolio, of whatever standard or eccentric design, is literally “dead” - static, immobile, lifeless. Containing as it does “samples,” of our work, it is at best a showroom and, at worst, a graveyard.
At the risk of seeming naive, I assume that no one likes submitting a portfolio for review without being able to present its contents in person. We know that the “pieces” can’t really speak for themselves; they can’t portray the process of their own creation any more than they can they convey the extent of their effect. They need us, but we can’t always be there to support them.
For this reason, I see the blog totally eclipsing the portfolio. The blog allows you to create a context for your work: this was the problem; this was the inspiration; here is the solution. It also allows you to create a context for yourself.
If you are a creative professional and you don’t have a blog, I can only ask, “Why not?” It’s cheap. It’s easy. And a whole lot of people are already doing it.
