I walked away from this year's Reality Check scratching my head, wondering if students understand the impact a good online portfolio can make. A book may be sufficient for print designers, but not for interactive designers.

I thought it might be helpful to write down a few thoughts in response to the online portfolios I saw. I feel like the majority of them missed the mark.

AIGA Seattle Reality Check is an event where design professionals gather for the sole purpose of critiquing student portfolios. Students from around the state travel to Seattle to receive real world feedback and the event sells out every year.

When designing and building your online portfolio, consider these recommendations from a guy who's reviewed hundreds of them over the years.

1. Think of Yourself as a Brand

If you dream of working at an interactive agency, you need a website that represents you and your work. Your online portfolio is a tool, and its purpose is to help you get a job. Think of yourself as a brand you want me to buy, and show me why I should pick you.

2. Know Your Audience

Your audience is made up of busy design professionals looking for creative talent. We're visual thinkers. Make it easy for us to be interested in you.

3. Grab My Attention

"When I get a resume in my inbox, I scan for an url and go. At that point, you have a few seconds to grab my attention." I tell that to students and they seem surprised, but they shouldn't be. Your online portfolio is the first step in a process of elimination. Give me a reason not to close my browser.

4. Show Me You Thought About It

Me browsing your online portfolio is a user experience, and you want me to have a good user experience. Is your navigation clear and consistent? Is your content appropriately organized? Is it easy to click-through your work? Can I get back to the homepage? Your site can be clever and wildly creative, but it should be usable and make sense.

5. Put Your Best Work Up Front

I want to see your best work more than anything, don't bury it behind a firewall of intros and clicks. Hit me with it up front. Remember, I don't know anything about you, and you might be preventing me from finding out.

6. Not Happy With It? Don't Show It

Many students try a little of this and a little of that, which is great, but it will dilute my perception of you if you pad your portfolio with the kitchen sink. Pick and choose carefully. Be selective. Show me five successful projects you were passionate about, and omit the ones that don't cut it.

7. Consider Your Content

Let's say you did a project in poor taste, but you're proud of it despite its lewd content. Now put yourself in my shoes and look at it again from a different perspective. Is it worth losing an opportunity over?

8. If You Suck at Flash, Do Not Make a Flash Site

Nothing, and I mean nothing, makes me close my browser faster than a poorly designed and/or executed flash portfolio site. If you have the skills and can pull it off, I want to see what you're capable of. If you've had a class in flash and think this is your chance to stand out, a clean HTML site will certainly serve you better.

9. If You Get an Interview - Be Prepared to Talk About Your Work

In an interview you'll likely be asked to walk through a favorite project. Do yourself a favor and have something more to say than you thought it looked good. Talking about your inspiration, the challenges you faced, and the decisions you made along the way will do wonders to elevate your opportunities.

10. Work Hard to Do Great Work

None of this matters if you're not willing to work for it. Be passionate about design, maintain a positive attitude, and always give every project your all. Makes sense, right?

In Summary

Do great work. Create a smart showcase for your great work. Be able to speak to your great work. Those three things may not be easy to do, but do them right and you'll be positioned for a bright future.

I attended the prestigious Seattle Show Awards a few weeks ago and I'm pleased to write that POP took home three awards in the digital category; one each for gold, silver, and merit.

A great many people contributed to these projects and I thank them for their efforts and congratulate them on this recognition of excellence.

And the winners are...

Gold - Interactive Business
Seattle International Film Festival

Silver - Information Design
Melbourne Theatre Company

Merit - Interactive Entertainment
Mario Super Sluggers

POP has a new home, a home built on the foundation of collaboration and inspiration. Our new workspace is clean and crisp, inviting and open. Individual workstations are unimpeded and only five offices exist. Pods, partially enclosed areas with white board walls, ceiling mounted projectors, and bench seating, have been thoughtfully placed throughout the office for impromptu meetings and quick critiques. Conference rooms, named after artists, come in a variety of sizes and Rauschenberg is equipped with stadium seating, creating a more casual environment.

When I first set foot in the space in late December of 2007, I knew an opportunity to create something truly special had presented itself. The building was a mess, I remember nonsensical piles of doorknobs, but it felt right. A little over a year later and I couldn't be happier with the results. Everyone involved, from the top-notch SKB Architects to all the POPsters who pitched in, did an amazing job in making our new home an exceptional workspace where no detail was too small to be ignored.

POP is located on the top floor of the historic Skinner Building, above the 5th Avenue Theater, at 1326 5th Ave in Seattle.

Looking South through POP's Design Team

Lichtenstein Conference Room