Design students will have the opportunity to show off their portfolio skills to their friends, family and potential employers.
The Annual Portfolio Show is a yearly event that gives Design students the chance to present their portfolios to evaluators.
“Sinclair’s Design Department Portfolio Show is an event that is recognized by community colleges throughout the nation, as an exemplary event that showcases intensive design development and cumulative assessment through the participation of local professionals in graphic design and interior design,” said Jeanine Kincheloe, an assistant Design professor who worked directly with the students involved in the portfolio show.
According to Amanda Romero, the chair of the Design Department, the event lets students show their hard work of the year.
“It’s almost like a closure, for even faculty, like our little graduating ceremony of sorts, because it’s the one time we can see our students show off their stuff,” Romero said.
“This is a true-to-life design competition where concepts are formed, developed, presented, discussed, and either considered less, more or most successful,” Kincheloe said.
The theme this year is Magnum Opus, which means “a great work: the greatest achievement of an artist or writer.”
Students design the invitations, the name cards and the table placards. Four groups of Design students presented their ideas to the Design advisory board. The winning team originally consisted of 2, but they then added a third after winning.
The winners, Charlotte Shields, Sarah Vaughn and Kinsey Galvin, spent a lot of time developing the logo for the year.
“This term, like last term, logo development took over six weeks, with multiple meetings each week and many emails showing each further change,” Kincheloe said.
The teams who competed, according Kincheloe, benefitted from the experience of what real designers do.
“All students who participate by forming teams and collaborating in a theme and its development, participate for the first time in a truly competitive experience that no longer is grade-centered, but success-centered.”
The Annual Portfolio Show requires work and dedication and Romero says that it’s tough and the students must work very hard.
“We have high expectations and so we really hit them hard from day one. Everything you learn in this class you can take to this class. It’s tough,” Romero said.
According to Kincheloe, each student benefits from the criticism they receive. “The pressure builds throughout this process, and each person on the team benefits by becoming more efficient, more detail oriented, and by learning to be pro-active by expecting criticism from their portfolio faculty,” she said.
However, according to Romero, it all the hard work will pay off in the end. The sweat, the tears, and the pain is worth every moment of the Annual Portfolio Show.
“As busy as it is, as we work on it all spring term, it’s worth every minute because it’s the end. You know their portfolios are done and so it’s the end of the term. It’s a wrap. They’re ready to walk out the doors with their portfolio in hand.”
According to Romero, the Annual Portfolio Show gives students the experience that they need in the real world.
“They’re working on a real timeline, on a real budget, with real clients, which would be us,” Romero said.
There are 62 graduating students this year and the Design Department has chosen 62 professionals to evaluate the student designs.
“Each interviewer [professional] reviews two graduate portfolios and each graduate is responsible for their presentation, both oral and visual. Each student, along with the Design Department, receives a copy of the formal evaluation. The department later reviews all evaluations and uses this information for future guidance towards revisions in curriculum development,” Kincheloe said.
All students spend a lot of time and effort on their portfolios and, according to Romero and Kincheloe, they invest a lot financially as well to make sure their portfolio is the best it can be.
“Each student invests financially in either purchasing or making a portfolio according to design standards and many times, students spend hundreds of dollars in portfolio expenses,” Kincheloe said.
The event is not just for the students and the faculty. According to Romero, the Annual Portfolio Show is a chance for family members to see what their students have been doing.
“It’s the one time I think the parents can actually see what their kids are doing… This is an opportunity to show off to their families,” Romero said.
This year, visitors to the show will see a lot more print and interactive designs; reflective of the technology era Sinclair students live in.
“It is truly an exceptional experience for all and the transition into an efficient, proactive and productive, confident designer is evident to all faculty,” Kincheloe said.
The Annual Portfolio Show will take place on April 28 in the Great Hall. Students, faculty, and family members are welcome to attend from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Laina Yost
Intern