Recommendations to build a Type Design Portfolio (?)

ce.jota
ce.jota Posts: 1
in Type Design Critiques
Hi there! This is my first post on Typedrawers :smile:

I'm Carlos Ávila a graphic designer from Colombia who is trying to begin a typeface designer career after finishing my master's degree in Typography. I'm here to ask you some advices about how to build a type design portfolio. Here's some background about:

For some time now I've been building my portfolio as a Type Designer. I've tried sending applications to a few foundries and agencies. Sometimes they respond and sometimes they don't, but when I've heard back from them, I've received many praises that are not usually reflected in work collaborations. For hybrid calls I understand that I'm at Sudamérica, and a local candidate may be more attractive for the position and I'm sure that we the remote candidates have to extra-stands out with our work (and that's what I'm trying to).

As a beginner Type Designer I think I don't have the experience or confidende enough to build a website. Currently my portfolio is a 22 pages PDF showing both personal (mainly WIP's) and professional work which are around three projects. I'm letting 2 pages by project, even the real work ones with only one exception (the biggest project I've worked on so far. This one have only 3 pages long). The number of pages per project is trying to keep the file from being too extensive.

The selection of works is the one I think is the best for it, I put there those projects where I know I show my best drawing skills and own vision about type design. But there's something I know is a lack in my portfolio: showing process, handmade sketches or early stages of the letters. The reason of it I think is the fear to not show some well finished and add more pages to the PDF file :c

I'd like to receive some advices out of your experiences both when you begun and now as professionals or even if you are recruiters in foundries or agencies.
  • What do you take into account selecting/looking for type designers?
  • What do you take into account when you work with type designers?
  • How did you do at the beginning of your type design career?

Thanks in advance, I'll appreciate all your takes about this issue very important to me on this days.

Bests from Colombia!

PD: Here's my IG if you want to keep in touch:
https://www.instagram.com/ce.jota/







Tagged:

Answers

Categories