Customer Reviews

Portfolio Design

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book will get you accepted in the best schools!!
I have read more than one book on portfolio design for architects, listened to many words of advice on the subject but Howard Linton's book was really the best resource I've ever had.
Other books are just vague and annoyingly general, they don't tell you how to organize yourself and your work and they don't discuss the many details you have to bear in mind and go through, or worse still have no lists of the dos and don'ts! On the other hand, Portfolio design by Mr. Linton does all that and much more.
I recommend it to all architecture students and professionals.

Once again, I am writing a review for this book and specifically the third edition. I have noticed that a few people seem to be confused about what this book provides, so I'll give you my take on the publication.

This book is about designing a professional portfolio to showcase your work. This is not a "How To" for Photoshop, InDesign or for ways to resize renderings, although I would like to think that you would be able to easily utilize the technology at an educational facility, if you indeed have access.(If you can use AutoCad you can figure out PS and if you can use PS surely you can accurately resize an image...right?) This book focuses on layout, spacing, planning sequences, visual weight and just about any other visual design element that one might embrace when producing a portfolio. The outcome of using this book as a resource ends in your portfolio being stylized in a personal yet extremely effective design. The most beneficial aspect of this book is learning how to compose the whole thing as a piece of literature. Your portfolio should tell a story. A story with an introduction, an exposition, plot, peaks, plateaus and an appropriate finish. THIS IS ABOUT PLANNING, CHOOSING CONTENT AND DESIGNING A FINISHED PRODUCT THAT YOU CAN HAND TO PROSPECT AND KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CAPTURED THEIR ATTENTION. Of course, this book will not make poor work/pieces look fabulous. Sorry, no magic tricks are included.

Also note information on digital portfolios.

I am a junior in architecture (IIT) and took the portfolio workshop earlier this year at Illinois Institute of Technology with visiting Professor Linton. I wanted to tell readers that this book and the workshop are exactly what i needed just to get going. Before the workshop, I was really affraid of what to do. I had 'no idea' of how to do my portfolio. Too many ideas maybe. We were pushed to design ten pages in 6 hrs at the workshop. Now I am looking forward to the second edition because I have much more understanding. Professor Linton said he will also add more ideas about computer portfolios to the next edition which will help alot with all my CAD and growing digital experience. This is a good book and a great workshop.

Simply put, it covers everything about potfolio DESIGN...it's just that. With excellent info. for layouts with creative styling. It's a fresh approach to building your portfolio with great illustrations to help you along the way. I would strongly suggest this book to anyone!

Remember this book is about the DESIGN aspect...you will not be disappointed if you keep this in mind.

Linton seems to believe that artistry is more important than a standard method. He writes a convincing approach to doing your portfolio from scratch instead of using those zippered cases which he does not believe reflect one's creative or design talents. He seems to think that the 'vision' of the portfolio comes from a thorough understanding of page structure and the creative potential of a well-rehearsed two-dimensional page layout - understanding negative space and how to use it effectively. I have had him as an instructor in one of his portfolio design workshop classes and he 'preaches' what he writes and it worked well for me. So i endorse the approach because i know its thorough and effective. He is also quite personable in his presentation and very good speaker - well organized and extremely thorough. Great Book!Looking forward to more stuff from him in the future possibly on computers and portfolios.

The best thing about this book is its mind-opening perspective ! It helped me set a new standard for myself and my portfolio by providing me with the best information and insight.

I immediately became inspired. I would recommend this book as a "must" for any creative person trying to communicate the body of their work.

Simply put, it covers everything about potfolio DESIGN...it's just that. With excellent info. for layouts with creative styling. It's a fresh approach to building your portfolio with great illustrations to help you along the way. I would strongly suggest this book to anyone!

Remember this book is about the DESIGN aspect...you will not be disappointed if you keep this in mind.

i took one of the workshops offered this year at Iowa State University with Professor Linton. He gave a general lecture on Friday evening and reviewed many ideas about collecting, organizing and designing your portfolio from scratch. The lecture was also a 'warm-up' for the all day Saturday workshop to follow. I worked hard during the workshop and found him to be wonderful and supportive and with me the whole time. He enjoys working with creative concepts and tries to push you in the direction of making your presentation very unique but extremely well-organized. I was amazed at the progress i made in six hours. After that we had a critique and we discussed the future direction, especially production and development. I have so much input now. I disagree with the comments from the student from Hawaii because this book is not a how-to - its a conceptual approach. I understand he is giving us tools to make us aware of creative direction, plenty of method and materials, and arriving at your own conclusions - making your own decisions. i don't want to be told how-to. i loved it. he also told us he is changing the digital chapter in the second edition next year which will be cool to see whats added and new portfolios will be added also. next year i'm off to grad school and so i hope he puts in more work from grad students.

Linton's "Portfolio Design" is a great start in the field of portfolio design information and instruction for architecture students. Unfortunatly, this book is far from being the difinitive and final word on the subject. The examples of student and professional portfolios are helpful for those of us starting to create our own portfolios. Considering that Mr. Linton teaches a class on the subject I had expected a deeper exploration of the actual "how to's and why's". The design and layout ideas in the book seem current and progressive; however, none of what is presented is earth shattering or currently cutting edge. One of the major problems that I have with the book itself is that the text is often refering to images several pages away. Clarity is sacrificed to the page layout. Linton states that as far as he knows this is the only text on portfolio design exclusivly for architects. I belive that he may be correct. I thank him for this first great stride and look forward to more works on the subject.

This book is clear and concise in its goal to help its reader develop and design a portfolio which best displays their work. The many pictures booth color and black and white, only futher exhibit the extreme knowlege of the author, when it comes to the portfolio design. All I can say is "where is Portfolio Design Part Two"!