on the model

Some things you cannot avoid. So when asked to create a representation of your work in 2,5 hours with primitive means it’s quite a challenge. It came as no surprise that most of us followed the most acquainted path of architecture. Many proposals resembled constructions, real buildings that have or could have been built.
It’s hard to be comprehensive and remain simple. A gathering of one’s efforts should respect their uniqueness, however when it comes to producing a portfolio it is essential to establish a unity, a frame within which each past or future moment can find its place.
The choice not to use any specific previous material – the so-called content – was a deliberate one. In what way can actually a single project represent my work or a nice photograph of a car my love for cars (or photography..)?
The structure of the model suggests alteration between subjects, which vary in significance and at the same time a core keeps everything together.
Although the structure seems quite strict, a red square blinks to the user. A style – some call it mood - appears the very same moment you start creating something and is not a final addition or a software trick.

portfolio questionnaire

answered by Micha de Haas
ABBINK X DE HAAS architectures, Amsterdam
www.abbinkdehaas.nl

Questions:

1. Is it preferred, in your company, to have a portfolio added to a job application? yes
If yes, continue to 2.
If no, is it required later?
If yes, continue to 2.
If no, why not and how do you judge the skills of a job applicant?

2. What is your job function or position within the organization? owner
b. What is your role in hiring people?
First and final selection (together with partner)

3. What is the preferred media for the portfolio: paper or digital? digital
b. Do you prefer to have it send by mail or e-mail? E-mail

4. What is the most important thing you are looking for in a portfolio? Design talent, graphic skills, consequence quality, analytical capacity
b. How do you usually find this? By a quick look through it

5. What is the maximum time you spend on reviewing a portfolio? 5 min (first selection)
b. How does the time you spend relate to the interest in the portfolio? directly

6. Besides the content, what other aspects are relevant to you when examining a
portfolio? (graphic design, lay-out, personal information, …) good info about skills, attention to dedails in layout and graphics, well written, non standard text and/or letter.

7. Do you only prefer the end result of a project or does the design process add
information for you? Depend on the project

8. Would you like to see the skills represented within the portfolio in a list or by the
content? list

a different user story

X: 30 year old working girl, who wishes to buy a car. Before starting looking at all the offered portfolios, X tried to figure out what she considers to be important and set her needs

Of course, all those parameters are not of the same significance, therefore X has to set her priorities and limit down her range of choices.
Safety is a high rank issue. X knows there is a financial barrier, which also increases the need for durability. An overall low price, special offers, alternative ways of payment but also the maintenance costs would affect her choice significantly. X’s needs determine what type of car she should buy, in terms of size and specifications. X wants to like her car so she will try to combine all the above prequisites with a satisfying design.
At the same time she will take into account all the additional information offered by the different portfolios. Among those she will receive information that outline the profile of the company and create its style. Thus, the webdesign and the priorities given regarding the content, provide a complete image of the company and specify its target group. For example, a brand of very expensive cars would not focus on offers or finacial facilitations but on the elegance of its design.
She has decided to check the available websites that will help her sort out the most interesting options and then visit the respective retailers.

Among others she is visiting the Opel website (Vauxhall in UK).
According to the homepage she realises that she is probably within the company’s target group. The content is clear and there is information that covers almost all her inquiries. The structure is straightforward but also serious and a bit sober. X wonders if the style of the cars is like that as well. Advertisements and links about offers and alternative ways of payment are positively visible and furthermore there is a possibility of interaction with the website to help her choose the appropriate model, according to a number of key questions. Creditability, organisational skills and environmental sensitivity are also highlighted as the company’s characteristics.
X is always doubtful with large companies and their purposes, however she would probably pay a visit to an Opel retailer. It’s too bad that she lives in Holland and the Dutch Opel website does not have an english version.

http://www.ksicardo.com/

http://www.cyb.gr/index.php/Clients:Flash-Portfolio/2/43

it's interesting, and i'll come back to that later!

www.facebook.com

Well, i guess it is a giant, constantly changing portfolio of people. The user can be literally anyone with internet access, which of course creates a vast range of differently motivated groups of people. Social, professional, personal, political reasons prompt individuals to join facebook. The website also gives limited permission to unregistered users to browse its database.

Apart from the website's predetermined layout for each user and some specific personal information he/she may decide to share, the rest of the content is modulated by the users. Interaction is again a key word regarding the content of the website.

The homepage is simple, plain regarding its design choices and it reflects a confidence that the visitor/user knows what facebook is about. No information is given regarding the website and its function and its main objective is to persuade visitors to register.

The signed-in users are bombed with information and options about many different things. They might be asked to support a campaign against childrens' abuse or a war, while at the same time join a group dedicated to their favourite chocolate bar or play a game of tetris.

Both the content and the overall character are rather controversial and the user's choices regarding received and sent informationt are not always clear.

I have doubts about this one, but it's interesting even as a simple post.

tvxs (television without frontiers) is the first greek internet tv channel. In terms of content, this means that it has a wide range of choices. News-categorised in many different ways-documentaries, films, competitions, shows etc can be found through the homepage www.tvxs.gr
In a first level, the user of this site is every greek-spoken person with internet access (unfortunately, an english version is not yet available), however one gets to choose to be informed through this weird channel and not through their TV set. Motives are required to make this choice, and in this case they are content-related and interaction-related. It is profound that this choice limits down the number of users.
The most important aspect i would like to point out is the interaction between the user and the information. The user can upload, comment, vote and the most important, select what they want to watch. Of course, this interactive activity is directly related to the content and not to the character or the layout of the website. It would be interesting to see applications of interaction in portfolios
The character of the website is quite explicit, aiming to communicate the information and there is no obvious focus on the web design.