Presentation adapted from Shelby Rosiak, 47 th STC Conference Portfolios: Marketing Yourself Online Presentation adapted from Shelby Rosiak, 47 th STC Conference

What is an online portfolio? A showcase of your interactive, print or written work delivered in an online format.

Why an online portfolios? Presents current and past work Showcases your top work Asked for by potential employers Access to distance jobs or freelance work

Why compile a portfolio? Showcase accomplishments and successes Control the direction and content of an interview Evidence of proficiencies: your individual talents, skills, and professionalism As evidence of your level of skill in communicating. To help focus on your areas of expertise Allows you to say “Yes” when an employer asks if you samples of specific type of work

Why compile a portfolio? Displays projects in the medium for which they were created –Web pages, Flash applications and interfaces lose their effectiveness when presented as a hardcopy. –If it was created for online delivery, it should be delivered online.

Online Portfolios Organization Creation Distribution

Organization Collect projects & samples Select your best work Show only your best work Create a client list Write a synopsis of the project or work Be creative

What do I choose? What type of job are you applying for Choose projects that reflect your proficiencies and accomplishments Choose projects that show the breadth of your work Choose only a sample of your best work

Essential elements Name and contact information Resume Synopsis for each entry (optional) –Project Name –Explanation of the project or motivation –Screenshot and link to project imm.sheridanc.on.ca/imm2003/kasmara

Sample entries Web sites and pages Layout or design projects Print work Logo design Usability questionnaires Professional Accomplishments Information Architecture Wireframes Professional articles and white papers User’s guides Project Management documents Awards Style guides Technical Writing Instruction Design Samples

Legal Issues for your Portfolio Get permission to use logins to Intranets, or secure areas Get permission to use client names Make proprietary information generic Be careful not to break confidentiality or non-compete agreements.

Portfolio Creation Design an interface Create content Link and manage

Design interface Select a theme –color scheme –icons –navigation Optimize for online readability –Choose readable font types and sizes –Choose standard fonts unless you know for sure that your fonts will be imbedded Follow interface design guidelines

Create content Screenshots of websites or cdroms Scans of photographs or print work PDF version of your resume Make backup copies of everything

Create content, cont. Create portfolio and implement theme Edit each document carefully Edit for theme consistency SPELL CHECK!!! Edit again Have someone else edit

Link Link all of your components Make sure there are no dead ends Test for broken links Check that all buttons, mouse-overs, pop-ups, loaders, streaming movies, and any other linked documents work

Test your portfolio Test your portfolio on as many computers with as many profiles as you can –Windows 98, NT, 2000 –Netscape, Internet Explorer compatible –Opera? –Mac

Test your portfolio, cont. Set up a usability test for users with a wide variety of skill levels –Peers or willing coworkers –Friends, family, neighbors –A kindergartner Test for negative transfer –Are you using standard conventions differently?

Create CD or web page Burn a preliminary CD –Buy a 50 or 100 disk CD spindle to cut costs Upload files to web server and implement page

Test your preliminary portfolio Test, test, test! Test on different computers Conduct a usability test among your friends, family, and neighbors

Design and print cover art Use the theme from your portfolio for a coherent whole Print jewel case inserts or CD envelopes Fold, glue, stick, etc.

Before you send it out Make multiple copies of your portfolio –Don’t get caught without a backup file Print out color copies of your portfolio just in case Test it one last time Thank your testers

Other Distribution Issues Include a cover letter Include a paper copy of your resume Include any requirements or troubleshooting needed to run your portfolio Send it out to potential employers

Presentation adapted from Shelby Rosiak 47 th STC Conference