Question about a concept art portfolio

[Undefeated]

I'm curious about portfolios for concept art and graphic design. Hope some of you can find the time to give me your opinions and share your knowledge.

A lot of companies now seem to accept digital attachments to e-mailed resumes - do you still stick with the old 10-12 rule, or would you squeeze in more assuming you're not sending an overly huge file?

Do you put "rough" concept sketches - the kind you often see used professionally - or for your portfolio, should you only include very neat, polished, finished work?

Outside of experience, what kind of questions can you expect to hear on an interview? Will they try to stump you with oddball questions about color theory, or do they generally talk about more practical stuff like what kind of programs you're familiar with and how you can handle deadlines? (I pulled the color theory thing out of my ass, couldn't think of a good example.)

Thanks again, hope to hear from you.

[IanE]

From the people hiring and accetping new students, they've all said that seeing rough sketches and construction lines is a great way for them to see how you go from a rough idea, to a concept, to a finished piece.

Other than that, not sure what else to tell ya.

Ian

[Elwell]

A lot of companies now seem to accept digital attachments to e-mailed resumes
Not the companies I'm familiar with, at least not on unsolicited e-mails. Pretty much every art director I've heard talk about this looks on attachments as spam, and hates them. Plus, a lot of corporate e-mail systems' spam and virus blockers won't even let them through. Set up a web page and put in a link instead.

[Undefeated]

IanE, do you mean that the rough sketch will do, or that they want to see the rough AND the finished version of the piece?

And Elwell, I would assume you're right as to unsolicited resumes, but I've seen a few on job boards that request .jpg or .pdf attachments. Kind of surprised me, when if you can work digitally, its just as easy to post your work on a website and provide a link..but I guess links aren't necessarily safe, either.

[Mr. Pale]

One thing I'd suggest, just show your best work. Leave your life drawings from class out of it. Art directors don't want to see those.

I've never had an art director say to me, "Hey these are great pictures of spaceships and all, but how are your scribbly pictures of naked people?"

Basically try to target your portfolio to your client. I know that's hard at first when you don't have many pieces.

[Undefeated]

Good advice, and I definitely intend to fill my portfolio mostly with finished, polished work. What I'm wondering is if a company looking for concept artists also wants to see a few rougher pieces - not life sketches, but as in being able to show them what you can do if you were given 20 minutes to bang out a few concept sketches.

I agree about it being a good idea to have as large a portfolio as possible, then send a trimmed, targetted portfolio to an employer. Wish I'd thought of that sooner. Common sense not being so common, and all that.

[Irene Gallo]

Not the companies I'm familiar with, at least not on unsolicited e-mails. Pretty much every art director I've heard talk about this looks on attachments as spam, and hates them. Plus, a lot of corporate e-mail systems' spam and virus blockers won't even let them through. Set up a web page and put in a link instead.
Hi Tristan,

That is VERY true of unsolicited emails. But I'm in the process of hiring a graphic designer and it does seem to help to be able to see a few samples up front. Interviewing is time consuming and stressful for both parties - best to weed out the ones you know you don't right away. The real trick is getting samples through an HR department. Since I rely on them to collect the resumes, they are handing me black and white prints from there machines.

Remember first impressions. The one thing that makes me call someone in for in interview is a simple, clean , and efficient resume. Save the bells and whistles for your work. Make the resume present yourself in the serious manner you wish to be taken.

Note: I'm in a publishing company, I'm sure things work very differently in a design studio

[Undefeated]

All the replies here are greatly appreciated. Just wanted to give it a little bump and see if anyone has anything else to add.