1 00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:03,700 Hello and welcome to episode 45 of design. 2 00:00:03,700 --> 00:00:07,700 Curious podcast, I'm your host and Mentor Rebecca Ward. 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,100 Today on the podcast, I'll be talking to you about how to get 4 00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:14,400 your portfolio started. If you're just starting out in 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,900 the career and you don't have one already. 6 00:00:17,300 --> 00:00:21,200 So there's a few tips and tricks you can learn in today's episode 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,600 and as I mentioned in the episode you will find that a 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,800 portfolio of review is one of the things that I offer. 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,700 ER in my design Mentor. So if that's something that 10 00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:35,300 you're looking for a professional to review your 11 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:39,100 portfolio, then go ahead and click on the links to join my 12 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:42,400 design Mentor today and get started on the right path to 13 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,700 your career. All right, let's get into the 14 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:51,100 episode. You're now listening to design, 15 00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:55,200 curious a place where you creative one are here to learn 16 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,300 about what it really is. Like, to be an interior designer 17 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:02,900 and I'm your host and Mentor Rebecca, Ward, if you're worried 18 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:06,600 about how to succeed in a creative career, if you're ready 19 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,700 to learn your next steps to become an Interior Designer. 20 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,900 And if you want the satisfaction of doing something, you love 21 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,900 every day, you are in the right place. 22 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,500 Grab a coffee, a notebook. Let's dig into today's episode. 23 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,200 So, when you're starting out as an interior designer, one of the 24 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:31,500 most challenging things is to develop a portfolio that you are 25 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,500 proud of and that you can show off to your clients and get them 26 00:01:34,500 --> 00:01:37,700 to hire you. There's a couple Avenues to 27 00:01:37,700 --> 00:01:39,200 this. So if you're coming out of 28 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:44,800 school you will definitely have some projects that you worked on 29 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,700 in school that are going to look decent enough that you can put 30 00:01:48,700 --> 00:01:53,600 them in your portfolio because of the 3D during that you do, 31 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,000 that looks fairly photo realistic. 32 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:01,600 Those are great for showing what your capability is of developing 33 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,100 a design and finding design Solutions. 34 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,100 So if you haven't gone to school and you're coming into the 35 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:13,500 career from maybe another career, one of the other avenues 36 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:19,100 you can take is to start taking those classes in CAD drafting 37 00:02:19,100 --> 00:02:23,200 and 3D rendering so that you can develop those types of Projects 38 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,700 of floor plans and some renderings of some interior 39 00:02:26,700 --> 00:02:30,400 spaces so that you can have something to show people. 40 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,900 Aside from that though, the other thing you can do is use 41 00:02:34,900 --> 00:02:41,400 your own home as a template for creating vignettes and scenarios 42 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,900 and redesigned. You don't have to do a whole 43 00:02:43,900 --> 00:02:47,800 kitchen remodel because that is, as we know quite expensive, but 44 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:53,200 you can decorate the house and make changes that could ssibly 45 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,400 be like having a design client and sometimes you can do it for 46 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,700 friends or family and have them volunteer their homes that you 47 00:03:00,700 --> 00:03:04,100 can maybe they'll give you a five thousand dollar budget and 48 00:03:04,108 --> 00:03:08,100 you can go and redecorate their living room or refresh their 49 00:03:08,100 --> 00:03:11,400 kitchen or something like that. So there's always an option out 50 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,200 there that you can take. I will tell you that when you 51 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:18,100 are working on your own home or even maybe the home that you 52 00:03:18,100 --> 00:03:22,400 grew up in it's really challenging to see past what is 53 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:24,700 already. Exist because you're very 54 00:03:24,700 --> 00:03:27,300 familiar with this space and things are where they've always 55 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:28,900 been and that's just the way it is. 56 00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:32,500 And so you don't necessarily pick up on all the different 57 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:35,900 things that could be changed or could be developed because it is 58 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:37,600 something that you see all the time. 59 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,200 One time a few years ago, when I was working on that pilot for 60 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:46,800 HGTV, we used my parents home as an example of a client's house, 61 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:50,000 just to give a scenario for the pilot. 62 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,100 And it was really interesting to To think about it from the 63 00:03:54,100 --> 00:03:57,700 perspective of a designer who doesn't know the house coming in 64 00:03:57,700 --> 00:04:00,600 there and saying, like, oh, this kitchen is really dated, it 65 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,800 needs to be updated. And here we take a wall out here 66 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,700 and we'd change these finishes and add a window or something, 67 00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:12,100 you know, and coming to it from that perspective, I was actually 68 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:15,600 able to see it but otherwise, when I go into the house that I 69 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,300 grew up and it was so familiar to me, there's like, this is 70 00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:22,300 just the way it is and like, I was able to help my parents 71 00:04:22,300 --> 00:04:23,700 update. Over the years. 72 00:04:23,700 --> 00:04:28,900 But definitely wasn't seen major changes that were obvious that 73 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:32,000 need to happen. But I guess one way to get 74 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,800 around that mindset is to think like, okay. 75 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:39,800 You're going to be entertaining, 50 interior designers that are 76 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,800 season and are going to come over to your house and they're 77 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,100 going to because of their natural tendencies. 78 00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:49,600 Look at your house and see the areas that might need 79 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,600 Improvement. So walk in the front door and 80 00:04:52,700 --> 00:04:55,700 Look at your house from that angle and see like, oh maybe I 81 00:04:55,700 --> 00:04:59,100 can rearrange this furniture to open up the traffic flow or 82 00:04:59,300 --> 00:05:04,100 different things like that and then document it and take some 83 00:05:04,100 --> 00:05:07,800 great photography, I mean even iPhones Daddy's can takes such 84 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,100 great photos if that's all he can do or you can even hire a 85 00:05:11,108 --> 00:05:15,500 professional to take photos of your home and the better the 86 00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:18,600 photography, the better, it sells to a client or to a 87 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,100 prospective employer. So it is worth paying For a 88 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:25,600 professional to do it. Now you want to have a 89 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:31,200 professional who has the eye for editorial photos and not real 90 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,000 estate photos. Real estate photos are entirely 91 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,600 different ballgame because they use a lot of wide angle, the 92 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,400 trying to make the space, look bright and spacious. 93 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,800 But with editorial photos, they want it to be realistic. 94 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,600 They are coming from a lower eye level, they'll drop the camera 95 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,100 lower. They usually have no lights on 96 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:51,600 when they're taking photos because they only want the 97 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,200 natural light to come through. Through and they take it with 98 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,300 several different shutter speeds and then overlay it. 99 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,600 And so, it really gives a professional and full-depth 100 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:05,600 photo, and I say it's 100% worth the investment to get 101 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,300 professional photos. If you have a space that is 102 00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:10,900 worth documenting. The other thing you're going to 103 00:06:10,900 --> 00:06:14,700 want to include with your portfolio, is a brief scenario 104 00:06:14,700 --> 00:06:16,900 of the project that you're showing. 105 00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:23,300 So as an employer or as someone who works with interns a lot, I 106 00:06:23,300 --> 00:06:26,600 look through student portfolios, a lot and you know it's nice to 107 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,400 see their projects and if they're coming from the same 108 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,800 school over the years, I see the same projects again and again. 109 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,500 And so I kind of know what the scenario is what their teacher 110 00:06:35,500 --> 00:06:37,800 had them do. But it'd be great to have a 111 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,100 blurb there to see like oh what was the obstacle here? 112 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:43,800 Or what was the challenge that you had with this project or 113 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,200 what was the thing that you actually did to the space? 114 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,700 Because perhaps all the walls in the paint color and the flooring 115 00:06:49,700 --> 00:06:53,100 was there and you just added the furniture or the The furniture 116 00:06:53,100 --> 00:06:55,900 was existing and then you changed the walls and the 117 00:06:55,900 --> 00:07:00,400 artwork and the flooring. And so being able to know what 118 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,900 part of it, your hands were on and what kind of change that you 119 00:07:03,900 --> 00:07:07,100 made to this base? Really tells a future employer 120 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:10,700 or a client, what kind of talent that you have. 121 00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:14,000 And so you're trying to use a picture to capture your 122 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,900 experience, your talent so that you can repeat it into their 123 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:24,200 project another way to Your portfolio, if you're starting 124 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,800 now and if you have worked for someone else, would be to ask 125 00:07:28,100 --> 00:07:32,000 your employer. If you can feature any of the 126 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,600 photos of the projects that you worked on with that employer 127 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,300 while you are working there. So normally if the employer 128 00:07:39,300 --> 00:07:44,300 allows this to be used as promotion for you, even though 129 00:07:44,300 --> 00:07:47,600 it was done under their supervision and under their 130 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:52,500 firm, you will have to give credit for that original firm. 131 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,500 As work. And then you can say that this 132 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:59,800 was a project that you worked on as a junior designer while 133 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:04,200 working for Rebecca Ward design. So that people looking at that 134 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:07,900 photo know that that's not actually fully your work but 135 00:08:07,900 --> 00:08:10,700 that you are a part of it and that full credit goes to the 136 00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:13,900 original firm. And that's just one way to 137 00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:16,700 bolster your portfolio, if you don't have a lot starting out. 138 00:08:16,700 --> 00:08:19,800 And if you have an employer who's very supportive then they 139 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,300 will, you know, usually let you do this. 140 00:08:22,700 --> 00:08:25,600 Sometimes they will not do because they're using those 141 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:29,000 images for their own promotion as well for their own clients 142 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,900 and they would be a conflict if it's in both places at the same 143 00:08:32,900 --> 00:08:36,600 time sometimes. So there's another Avenue you 144 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,100 can approach. You've been working for someone 145 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:43,000 else and you're going out on your own but it is a delicate 146 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,500 matter and don't always expect that person to say yes because 147 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:51,600 those photos actually belong to the original design firm, bottom 148 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,900 line, I'd say if Nothing else and you have a lot of time on 149 00:08:54,900 --> 00:08:59,700 your hands yet not a lot of projects then dabble around with 150 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:02,900 the 3D renderings. Because I think those are really 151 00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:06,600 where you can be fully creative. You're not actually working with 152 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,100 a literal budget so that you can kind of do some fanciful 153 00:09:10,100 --> 00:09:12,500 designs. If you want, if you want to do a 154 00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:14,800 whole bunch of contemporary designs or you want to do a 155 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,800 bunch of Farmhouse designs and kind of build a portfolio that 156 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:22,000 is in the style of the projects that you're helping to work on 157 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,600 or one that you Really good at working within. 158 00:09:24,700 --> 00:09:29,200 So that would probably where I would spend some time working on 159 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,500 my portfolio if I were starting out nowadays, whereas, when I 160 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:37,000 was starting out, we kind of did a lot of 100 during which does 161 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,900 not come across as professional. I think as if the photo 162 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:42,900 realistic 3D, renderings nowadays. 163 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,900 So that is an advantage of starting out. 164 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:49,800 Now, one of the things that I offer in my design Mentor is a 165 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,500 portfolio review for people in this. 166 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,500 Situation. So, I can look over your 167 00:09:55,500 --> 00:09:59,200 portfolio and tell you which projects look good and what 168 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:04,200 projects I want to get more information about and what would 169 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:08,000 be the best pieces to put your best foot forward? 170 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,500 Show on your website or even just in a document that you can 171 00:10:11,500 --> 00:10:14,700 send out to people who are interested in your services, or 172 00:10:14,700 --> 00:10:19,700 even a prospective employer, because the only some kind of 173 00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:22,400 portfolio as well to show a perspective. 174 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,000 Employer that you have some design experience in that you 175 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,200 have the ability to put designs together. 176 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,600 Yeah. So, besides the resume, which I 177 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:35,400 also offer reviews for in my design Mentor, the portfolio is 178 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:39,100 going to be your next tool to show the employer, what you're 179 00:10:39,100 --> 00:10:41,700 capable of or prospective client. 180 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,500 You can use all of these things from your portfolio, on your 181 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:48,400 website. That you create as well as in a 182 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,500 presentation that you might show to a perspective. 183 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,900 Employer or client. So those are the tips and tricks 184 00:10:55,900 --> 00:11:00,800 for a portfolio a picture is worth a thousand words so you 185 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:05,000 want to get your pictures looking good and it might take a 186 00:11:05,008 --> 00:11:10,000 little extra hard work, a little extra prep and time but is 187 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,900 definitely worth it to have a portfolio. 188 00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:15,100 You can present. Oh and one last tip I would say 189 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:20,400 also include a photo of yourself maybe in the space or doing some 190 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,500 design work, I think that's really important. 191 00:11:22,700 --> 00:11:28,200 That the client or the employer can see what kind of Vibes you 192 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,900 send through your Photography in the photo of you. 193 00:11:32,700 --> 00:11:35,700 So, yeah, include a photo of yourself in your resume to. 194 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,500 So those are my few tips on trying to develop your 195 00:11:40,500 --> 00:11:43,400 portfolio. It is important to have. 196 00:11:43,500 --> 00:11:47,100 And but then again, we also remember, there's so much more 197 00:11:47,100 --> 00:11:51,400 that goes into a client hiring you or an employer hiring you 198 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,300 besides your Leo. This is just a piece of the 199 00:11:54,300 --> 00:11:55,500 puzzle. So you want to make sure it's 200 00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:59,400 polished, it looks great, that it answers all the questions, 201 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,200 but it's just a part of what you're offering is because it's 202 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:07,400 more than just what the designs you produce, is how you produce 203 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:11,200 them, and how you work with clients, and your personality, 204 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,800 and everything like that, all comes together in the decision, 205 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:25,000 to hire you. So a few quick tips to getting 206 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,900 your portfolio started and don't forget that, if you're looking 207 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:32,300 for more help with how to get started in the career, you can 208 00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:38,300 join my design Mentor today and get one-on-one feedback from me 209 00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:42,800 and other students in the group to help develop your skills to 210 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:47,200 make you marketable to a future employer, or even for going out 211 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,000 on your own and getting your own. 212 00:12:49,100 --> 00:12:51,900 Own clients. You will also want to download 213 00:12:51,900 --> 00:12:53,800 the three things. I wish I had known when I 214 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,500 started my career in interior design and the roadmap to 215 00:12:57,500 --> 00:12:59,500 Interior Design. So if you want either of those 216 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:04,100 you can find them in the show notes or on the website podcast 217 00:13:04,100 --> 00:13:08,000 page. And stay tuned for next week, we 218 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,900 have in our summer series, three consecutive interviews over the 219 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:15,300 next three weeks that you're just going to love. 220 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,000 So stay tuned. And until then, stay. 221 00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:22,500 A creative. Thanks for listening. 222 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:25,300 If you loved this episode, please leave a rating and a 223 00:13:25,308 --> 00:13:27,200 review. This helps me reach other 224 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:28,300 curious. Creatives. 225 00:13:28,300 --> 00:13:31,900 Like you, if you have a topic request or would like to contact 226 00:13:31,900 --> 00:13:36,700 me, simply head over to my website, our Ward design.com or 227 00:13:36,700 --> 00:13:40,700 email me at podcast at our Ward design.com.