A Space for Graphic Designers.
Hello, I’m Mark.
I’m a creative consultant with more than twenty years of experience in graphic design.
I’ve lead creative for Walmart, Groupon, Starbucks, and Samsung; and I’ve partnered with sponsors of Lollapalooza and Chicago Pride to lead their creative in 2018 and 2019.
I’ve also freelanced for brands like Crystal Head Vodka, Last Call Beverages, la Michoacana, and about a dozen small businesses and startups.
Over the years I’ve looked at hundreds of portfolios and have interviewed scores of designers. I’ve seen what succeeds—and what fails—when it comes to getting hired.
Why do I do this?
Hopeful, but anxious. Does this describe how you feel when hunting for clients or in-house work?
Or maybe you’ve been to sites like Dribbble or WNW and felt overwhelmed by the power of other people’s portfolios?
The truth is that 99.9% of Graphic Designers are not influencers or “ninjas.” Most of us are regular people engaged in modest work.
I built The Port Review to help you.
If you feel dissatisfied with how your portfolio looks, or you are questioning the choices you made in project selection, or you simply need someone other than a friend or colleague to provide honest, constructive, and actionable feedback, sign up for a review. It is an investment in the impression you make professionally, and will leave you feeling more confident.
Give me the costs / benefits.
.Every review comes with a satisfaction guarantee.
What you receive is a careful analysis of your designer value proposition—your portfolio—and a personalized review packet that includes actionable feedback and an update roadmap so you can start making positive change right away.
If you’re unhappy with your portfolio and are unsure how to update it, if you’ve been running into walls on your job search, if you built your portfolio in isolation, if you’ve been in-house for years with the same employer and lack project diversity, or if you just want some help shaping and defining your personal brand, The Port Review can help.
What you receive is a careful analysis of your designer value proposition—your portfolio—and a personalized review packet that includes actionable feedback and an update roadmap so you can start making positive change right away.
If you’re unhappy with your portfolio and are unsure how to update it, if you’ve been running into walls on your job search, if you built your portfolio in isolation, if you’ve been in-house for years with the same employer and lack project diversity, or if you just want some help shaping and defining your personal brand, The Port Review can help.
How is my portfolio evaluated?
Your portfolio strength is measured using four critical factors that trend toward success in employement selection.
Your review packet will go into greater detail about these, and how to align your portfolio with your career goals. View a sample review packet.
- Presentation
- Content
- Demonstration of skill
- Power of personal branding
Your review packet will go into greater detail about these, and how to align your portfolio with your career goals. View a sample review packet.
Aren’t your reviews totally subjective?
There is no such thing as an empirically objective review. But I am striving for something close.
In the interviews I’ve conducted or otherwise been a party to, the same core issues came up routinely when a decisions were made to either pursue or drop a candidate: presentation, content, demonstration of skill, and personal branding. The exact language may vary, but the themes always remain the same.
In the interviews I’ve conducted or otherwise been a party to, the same core issues came up routinely when a decisions were made to either pursue or drop a candidate: presentation, content, demonstration of skill, and personal branding. The exact language may vary, but the themes always remain the same.
What kind of feedback can I expect?
An honest, but friendly evaluation of whether or not your portfolio in its current state is helping you achieve your career goals.
This can include guidance on project hierarchy, the ratio of work types, the impact of the potfolio as a whole, and many other things.
What you will not receive is feedback along the lines of “I don’t like that color, and I wish you used different photography.”
You may view a sample feedback packet here.
This can include guidance on project hierarchy, the ratio of work types, the impact of the potfolio as a whole, and many other things.
What you will not receive is feedback along the lines of “I don’t like that color, and I wish you used different photography.”
You may view a sample feedback packet here.
Is this really legit?
Yes. Here is my LinkedIn.
The Port Review was created to give designers a resource to receive honest, constructive feedback from a third party with no competing interests when it comes to you and your career. My only objective is to help you put your best foot forward.
If you want more detail, or just need to see the living person behind this, shoot me an email.
The Port Review was created to give designers a resource to receive honest, constructive feedback from a third party with no competing interests when it comes to you and your career. My only objective is to help you put your best foot forward.
If you want more detail, or just need to see the living person behind this, shoot me an email.