The first chapter of Cynthia Baron’s Designing a Digital Portfolio, challenges the reader to question who they are in the creative world. According to Baron the design industry is made of many different classifications. How we classify ourselves will help to determine how the rest of the creative community views us and in turn the job opportunities that are presented for us. The format for our portfolio is also dependent upon this same classification. So then how should a person in the creative world define themselves?
Baron analyzes the creative world, dividing the various creative professions into six categories; art, 2D graphics, design, freelance or full-time production, motion graphics and performance. The first category, Art, is further divided in to two subcategories, the student and the fine artist. The student is the artist working towards furthering their education in the subject while the fine artist has mastered their craft and looks to present themselves to the world. The category of 2D graphics represents photographers, such as Jamey Stillings, and graphic artist, such as Michael Bartalo’s, who have both chosen to represent their portfolios digitally using their personal websites. The design category covers a wide array of designers including architects, industrial designers, graphic designers and multimedia designers. For creative professions working in the design category, both digital and print portfolios can be beneficial to achieving their desired job. For professionals in the motion graphics industry, such as videographers or animators, digital portfolios are a must. In the final category of performance professionals digital portfolios are also desirable. According to Baron, “a digital portfolio offers the opportunity for a performer to establish credibility and to provide a more professional presentation.”
So where do I classify myself in the creative world? After this week’s reading I have determined that I am a graphic designer. Although I enjoy working with other mediums such as photography, I find that my true interests lie in the fields of print media and web design. Through out my Quinnipiac University education I have been required to take a wide array of courses to fill requirements however the classes I became most comfortable in and believe I have done my best in are those geared towards print design and web. Although I still have a lot to learn, I hope that I can transition from being a student of print and web to being a professional working with them everyday.
