Everyone needs a portfolio

by Abby_The_IA

The best Portfolios...

1. Show pride, not Just proof

2. tell a story, not a catalog

3. illustrate Process, Not just passion

Step 1: Define Your Chronology

Now begins 7 minutes of silence...

Break the timeline of your story in chunks of context and start layering on important details.

Don’t forget: Personal Achievement, Volunteerism, education, promotions etc.

College First Job Promotion Second Job

Volunteered

Third Job

TaughtRan Marathon

Volunteered

Step 2: Tell Your Story + Highlight interest

College First Job Promotion Second Job

Volunteered

Third Job

TaughtRan Marathon

Each person has 5 minutes to tell their story. The rest of the team will take notes on that persons story.

5 minutes will then be given for the team to give them notes on what they found the most interesting and why.

Volunteered

4

2004 20112007 2008 2009 201020062005

First job as an Information Architect @ EMC Microsoft Practice.

Design Lead Information Architect on innnovation team for Fidelity Investments

Started information architecture practice in strategic healthcare agency.

Director of Strategic Planning + UX at Draftfcb

Senior UX Planner at DraftFCB

School of Visual Arts - Content Management System

American Society of Training - Intranet System

Medicare Pilot Program - Call Center Application

Bank of America - Talent Management Application

The Hartford Insurance - HR Self Service Application

Stratex Partners - HR Self Service Application

Pricewaterhouse Coopers - Marketing Site Redesign

Kraft Foods- On and Offline Engagement Program

Prismacolor - Marketing Site Redesign

Sharpie - Liquid Pencil Launch

Boston New Hampshire Chicago

Abby The IA: Career Timeline

JELL-O - Facebook

Managing Partner, TUG

Attended Northeastern Bachelors in Graphic Design

Sharpie.com

Herman Miller

JSTOR Personas

2012

New York City

IDEA 2010

IA Summit 2010

Consultant & Teacher

IA Summit 2010

Executive Producer for:

Project Highlights

Take 5 minutes of silence to come up with short, job title-less description of yourself.

Write each attempt on a note card.

Then quickly go around and share these for reaction from your team.

Step 3: Who are you?

What is common about what is interesting in your story?

About me:

I make the unclear, clear.

Next Steps toward a

great portfolio

Decide what you should (and can)

show

Show Process

Show Your Deliverables

Show The Story

Show The Result

12

Sharpie.com

Lead in redesign that brought together Sharpie’s very popular social community properties with the more standard catalog functionality

About this effort:

Good Example of:

Sharpie.com

Results: Sharpie was written up in the NY times on site launch day. They also received the TED Ads Worth Spreading Award in 2012.

If ever possible, Show The Numbers

7

Prismacolor.com | Summer 2009

Lead on full site redesign including a rich social community of artists sharing their work online.

Results: Redesign resulted in a 400% improvement in engagement as measured through site traffic, time on site and uploads, comments and views of the member gallery.

About this effort:

Good Example of:

Prismacolor.com

Good Examples

http://www.ralphmillard.com/

http://dbushell.com/

http://www.chrislackey.com/

http://barthendrix.com/

Before you go..

Trade Cards

thank you!

Twitter: @Abby_The_IAEmail: abbycovert@gmail.comWebsite: www.AbbytheIA.com

Slides: Slideshare.com/abbycovert