Here you'll find answers to the most commonly asked questions that people have about The Portfolio Shop. If you have another question, send us an email. We’ll try to get back to you within 24 hours.
They are fun. They are hard work. They are easy. They are interactive. They are unexpected. A combination of lecture (not a lot of that) and in-class exercises, brainstorms, and creative homework assignments every week (lots and lots of that). This is definitely a learn-by-doing school. We'll also have the occasional visit from other creative directors, just to shake things up critique-wise.
No. This is not a technical school. If you choose to become an art director, you'll need to learn Adobe Creative Suite products (PhotoShop, Illustrator and InDesign) elsewhere, such as in the online tutorials at www.lynda.com.
The best thing to do is
send us an email about your class experience. We'll get back to you to discuss permission to enter Concepting II.
Unless you are a magician, no, you won't. Learning this craft takes time. You should expect to work on your portfolio for a minimum of a year and a half, and it wouldn't be unusual for the process to take two years. It does for most people, because you need time to develop your craft through constant, rigorous practice and because a finished portfolio needs to be really polished. And if you have a life, like a day job or other responsibilities, you have to allow that it will take you two years.
Each workshop costs $895. You pay for them one at a time (there is no long term commitment). As you can see from the workshop descriptions, the classes build upon one another. Expect to enroll in four to six workshops over the course of two years in order to finish your portfolio. So on average, you can expect to make an investment of about $4500 over a two-year period. This is substantially less than is required by full-time graduate school programs.
The Portfolio Shop does not (and cannot) guarantee anyone employment. Getting a job is up to you and your portfolio. We'll help you make sure your portfolio is ready. We'll give you professional advice as to how to present yourself and your work to creative directors. Also, creative directors and recruiters will be invited to review advanced student work on an annual basis. But remember, your portfolio is the key. It is what will open doors for you for the rest of your working life.