The client evaluates the portfolio to see whether the artist's work is the
kind of thing they want. Artists invest a lot in the reel, sometimes taking
low-paying jobs that will give them better material for the reel, and so forth.
Portfolios are out there as part of collaborative work. Perhaps they are
what Leigh Star would call a boundary object, to help connect people in
appropriate ways, and to avoid inappropriate connections.
I just interviewed a visual designer to help me with some software
prototyping. The designer brought an extensive portfolio along, and we spend
an enjoyable hour watching videos and looking at paper graphics. I was
evaluating the material to see if the quality was what I'm looking for, and
to see if the general approach matches the needs of my group.
The portfolio represents the designer's accumulated work which has been
evaluated countless times in countless ways. Our use of the material was one
instantiation of its use an a means of communication and evaluation. The
designer was justifiably extremely proud of the portfolio.
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Bonnie A. Nardi
Research Scientist
AT&T Labs West
75 Willow Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 463-7064
nardi who-is-at research.att.com
fax:(650) 327-3796
www.best.com/~nardi/default.html