In a situation like this, make it up. I don't mean lie -- I mean create a few projects that are very much "like" the ones you've worked on in the past with your IP locked down, and present your solutions for the non-existent but very possible ACME Widget Inc. Like Uday said, it's going to be very time consuming, but it would not only showcase your talents in terms of the solutions you are capable of producing, but any future employer couldn't help but recognize your initiative if you've presented your portfolio as a completely fictitious combination of mockups in lieu of breaking (and therefore respecting) your existing IP shackle.
On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 3:58 PM, Mark Ahlenius <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > Hi, > > Here's a question for you all along those lines. What's a good way to > create a new portfolio, when all your past work was company confidential? > (i.e. I cannot use any of it) > > Can you suggest some projects to do on the side perhaps, which are > meaningful (i.e. useful), but can then be shown as portfolio experience? > Perhaps this will take too much time to do, not sure. > > thanks > > mark > > > Robert Reimann wrote: > >> Hi Bob, >> >> I'll echo Fred's advice: How is your portfolio? Most design firms and >> internal IxD departments put a lot of weight on this, not only as a way of >> seeing your work product, but also as a means of ascertaining whether you >> can competently tell a story (visually *and* narratively in the case of >> IxD) >> about your users, your processes, and your design output. Unfortunately, I >> think there is a bit of pigeonholing in the industry about Psych/HCI PhD = >> academic- or usability-focused as opposed to design-focused candidates, so >> you need to go to some extra trouble to go against stereotype. Figure out >> how to best tell your story in a compelling (style + substance) fashion, >> and >> half your battle will hopefully be won! >> >> Good luck, >> >> Robert. >> >> Robert Reimann >> IxDA Seattle >> >> Associate Creative Director >> frog design >> Seattle, WA >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 12:36 PM, Bob Dickson <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >wrote: >> >> >> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> A couple of questions to put to the readers here. >>> >>> I have a degree in psych and a PhD in HCI both from good universities >>> and want to get a steady position in this field. I've done industrial >>> work (human factors multi-company collaboration into commercial >>> aircraft cockpit design - assessment and some design) and commercial >>> work (workflow apps both desktop & web-based, scientific desktop app, >>> oil exploration app - design, assessment, development) and educational >>> (commercial VLE - assessment). This last one was a 3 year project >>> though it also involved research into other professional learning >>> issues (CPD etc) which was a good learning experience. The scientific >>> app's project lasted for about 5 months, the aircraft for about 2-3 >>> and the rest were for a few weeks each. It's not a vast deal of work, >>> but it's varied and I think I have learned a lot more than if I just >>> did e-commerce webapps. Besides, I took this work because I really >>> enjoy working in this field and want to gain as much experience as >>> possible. >>> >>> But when ever I apply for a regular job, I am always told that I am >>> too academic and am turned down for interviews. IMHO, only my degree >>> and phd are academic (and then the phd was applied research). The rest >>> have all been for profit-making organisations except for a participant >>> in the aircraft project (a government organisation). >>> >>> What am I doing wrong? In IxD, is being seen as "too academic" a kiss >>> of death for an applicant? If so, the only experience I can get are >>> projects like these so what's the best way to break out and get >>> something substantial to prove that I can do this job well? I can't >>> afford to retrain and go back and take a masters. >>> >>> All the best, >>> >>> Bob Dickson >>> ________________________________________________________________ >>> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! >>> To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe >>> List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines >>> List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help >>> >>> >>> >> ________________________________________________________________ >> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! >> To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe >> List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines >> List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help >> >> >> > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
