Recently I let another designer, whom I respect, look over my first portfolio in a critical review type setting. As soon as he took the box up into his hand I began to speak. “Now this is the first one I …” He cut me off promptly, and told me that he knows I can ‘sell the desert to a camel,’ but that I am not allowed to talk in this exercise.
I am glad I didn’t because his comments were more than generous, and the portfolio alone fared much higher than I would have thought.
The portfolio itself is a series of bi-folded sheets tucked into a spray-paint adorned cardboard box. Each sheet speaks to a different skill that I was selling. Identity & Logo, World Wide Web, and Packaging Design are some of the categories the viewer would find — all under the three main titles “In Sight, Insight, Incite.” In Sight were the commissions I had completed at that point. Insight covered the works I had done in school or my own studies. Finally, Incite was a resumé and call to action. Clever I thought — still do actually.
The problem was that for all these words (this was a copy heavy piece) and themes, the portfolio really said nothing. Similar to a document I sometimes get from a client to place into a layout that has every other word emboldened or italicized, this portfolio — which was the voice of my skill, and my call for work — had nothing emphasized. In short, if everything is bold — nothing is bold.
I said in my first portfolio “I can do anything you need!” But it read instead “I don’t know what I am good at!” This was an indicator of a larger problem: when I first began to solicit my services as a creative, I really had no idea who I was as a designer.
The good news is that I love designing, and for the moment, that was good enough. Overtime I learned my strengths and how to emphasize those as the product that I was selling. Narrowing down the particular field of design that I work in is a step toward becoming a specialist, and therefore a sought after commodity.
From an early age Travis could be found with a sketch pad trying to capture the beauty and structure in the world around him. This desire to engage and create stayed with him. In his Adolescence he was able to find solid footing for his childhood passion by creating posters, flyers, web sites, t-shirts and album covers for his and other local bands. It was during this time that Travis decided on the direction of his life’s work.
As a Creative Director, Travis has been recognized by the American Federation of Advertisers, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Association of American Marketing. His designs have been featured in national magazines, branding textbooks and influential design websites. In his role at BRAINtrust Marketing he is responsible for all design and creative direction for the client portfolios. From websites and advertisements to annual reports and brochures, Travis brings his creativity and fine eye for design to produce world-class commercial art.
He is married to the love of his life, and in his spare time he tells jokes that are only moderately funny.
Name: Travis Neilson
Email: travisneilson@gmail.com
URL: www.travisneilson.com
AIM: travishappy
Behance: Profile / Portfolio
Twitter: travisneilson
Facebook: Profile
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