Flaunt is design network UnderConsideration’s first self-published book. It will officially be released February 22, and is currently available for pre-order.

Authors Bryony Gomez-Palacio and Armin Vit interviewed, photographed, designed and produced the book. It’s objective is to provide a resource for inspiration in conjunction with a reference for those creating a physical design portfolio and entering job interviews. It contains over 40 case studies, almost 20 interviews and over 800 interviewers’ and applicants’ survey responses. The information gathered with these methods have been consolidated in an organized and concise manner. Gomez-Palacio and Vit created useful info-graphics and prepared exhaustive photo-documentation of each portfolio without sacrificing room for descriptions. Some of the information they include regarding individual portfolios are: the dimensions; typefaces used; type of paper; retail stores visited to collect materials; printer used; production time, and, of course; production cost.

The standard layout for portfolio specimens throughout the book

Before continuing, Flaunt begs the question: are physical portfolios becoming obsolete with the burgeoning of the web? Many would argue they are not; I reside on this end of the spectrum as I appreciate these physical specimens. Countless hours are spent in constructing what many consider to be their personal masterpieces. Gomez-Palacio and Vit bypass the obsolescence argument with this assertion:

…[The portfolio] manages to communicate the subjective subtleties of who we are as both designers and individuals. The portfolio irrevocably becomes an object brimming with potential, yet burdened with hope; it acts as intermediary between our work, personality, and the possible, always uncertain, future.

Cover press check

The book provides a successful offering of information to young designers. It is refreshing to see skilled and respected artists creating useful tools like this, especially for students. I have grown tired of the continually circulating blog articles with magical step-by-step guides to ‘getting your foot in the door’ and offering nothing I would consider particularly useful outside of optimistic speculation. Because of Flaunt, college graduates now know what to expect of employers. On the flip-side, it reveals to the employer what applicants are bringing to the table.

Flaunt is available in print or a down-loadable PDF. The book retails for $20 and the PDF is just $15. Flaunt contains 136 pages and is printed on Endurance Velvet 100 lb. cover and 70 lb. text. A multiple-user license may be purchased for the PDF version in increments of 5 users. UC documented the print production of the cover on their Flickr account (the ink looks beautiful, check it out).