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Dear Senior,
My choice is the former - everyone's book should be online these days. It's no longer something that only the early adopters do. If you don't have a book online, you're not in the game.
Why do I (and most Creative Directors) prefer an online portfolio?
1) It allows you to showcase all your work, print, film, web, packaging in one place. No more running down the hall to screen the reel.
2) It doesn't require an Executive Assistant's time to manage and track and find and hunt down and return and leave on reception for a week. A buttoned down Creative Director can save them all in one file and review them once a week.
3) It demonstrates your ability to develop your own brand. And if you aren't able to develop your own brand, why would a Creative Director believe you can develop, steer or manage a client's brands?
4) It's less restrictive than the traditional leather-bound portfolio - you can have all the fun you like!
Why will you prefer having an online portfolio?
1) It's 1000% confidential. Only the person you are sending it to sees it. You can even password protect it, but why would you? Share! Having an online portfolio doesn't mean you're looking, it means you're ready.
2) It's much easier to keep current. You already have all your work on your desktop somewhere don't you? Build your site and upload it!
3) It can't be lost.
4) It makes you look current, prepared and professional.
5) All formats work ~ you can even shoot a video describing your portfolio to go along with your work! Anything goes!
6) You don't have to bug your friends for a favour and then be at their mercy for three months while waiting for them to get around to doing your 'free' assignment.
Some hints:
1) Make sure your copy is legible. No point in demonstrating your copywriting abilities on a site that no one can read.
2) Don't post YouTube quality work to show your film reel - in fact don't post from YouTube. Start with as close to an original as you can.
3) Get to the point - make the navigation simple, make it easy to find what I'm looking for. Don't make me hunt around - most people will get frustrated and leave.
4) Don't make the site about the site - make the site about the work.
5) Stay away from blogging sites. Use a site you have to pay for. You're a professional, get the proper tools to showcase your work.
6) Have fun!
Love to see yours when you're done!
~ heidi
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