Last week, I had the honor to appear in front of many eager students and designers at the Art Institute to discuss Portfolio Do’s & Don’ts. The Jacksonville AIGA put together a very diverse panel for their Design After Dark Lecture Series that included both print and web design professionals. Each professional brought their own experience to the table and gave some great advice for anyone showing their work. I even picked up a few pointers myself!

In our ever-evolving design world, I was not surprised to hear many questions regarding digital portfolios. This was a marked changed from last year, though. I guess it is true the balance has finally shifted. I was happy to hear that regardless of what shape your portfolio takes, employers are looking for strong concepts and beautiful work. We strongly believe that at Brown Dog. I also enjoyed hearing the other professionals’ take on initial contact and follow through. I believe many designers don’t realize the competitive nature of interviewing and how the smallest effort can pay off immensely! A “thank you” note is the easiest way to gain or lose ground. So why risk it? Send one.