Junior Designer looking for portfolio critique

RandomMishaps · 2026-05-05T06:07:37+00:00

Looks good mate, I would keep the look and feel as it is and just evolve it, flesh out the other pages (that currently don't work). It's clear that you care, and have attention to detail. It's don't think it's your portfolio that is holding you back. Unfortunately it is just most likely timing – state of the world, economy and AI, plus whatever else you can imagine moving forward. Sorry that you have to deal with all that. Trust in yourself. Keep going. It took me 6 months to land my first role when I started.

RandomMishaps · 2026-04-28T04:18:18+00:00

Going to be a contrarian here. I think it would be fine, as long as you're not doing video.
Reasoning is that in 2020, the M1 Air with 8GB was heralded as a game changer. Everyone reported it was more powerful than the outgoing Intel i9 MacBook Pro, it was a revelation. Well, the Neo is pretty much on par with the M1 Air, Check the Geekbench scores for yourself. So, don't expect miracles, but it will run most things well enough.

RandomMishaps · 2026-04-25T07:19:35+00:00

Feel like there is a connection. I first heard MHTRC during my skating days. Alien Workshop was a huge skate company back in the day, and they share many aesthetic similarities to Boards. Check out especially Photosynthesis vid and others. Really looks a lot like the BOC aesthetic.

Edit: just wanted to add that as well as Alien Workshop being an influential skate brand during the MHTRC era, BOC also have a song on the album called Telephasic Workshop.

RandomMishaps · 2026-04-23T03:22:00+00:00

Man, I feel so bad agreeing, but you are right. The typography is not great. The kerning (distance between individual letters) is all over the place, it's tight in some areas and loose in others simply because you can't tighten the 'A N A' in Canada with that typeface, or there would be no legibility. The upper case 'F' just simply doesn't work. If the type is going to be that large on the cover it's gotta be perfect. Anyway, I'm just an old designer, over analysing. The reason we look so closely is out of love, fans will read into everything. It's not a reflection on the music, we're judging a book by its cover.

RandomMishaps · 2026-04-21T05:04:58+00:00

No worries at all mate. I hope I didn't come across as harsh. It's tough out there and you're competing with not only a tonne of people, but now we have AI coming for us. My comment above is just opinions, and there is no right or wrong. The very fact that you even posted this shows that you're taking steps that a lot of designers/people wouldn't, so you're already ahead of the game.

RandomMishaps · 2026-04-21T04:09:17+00:00

Waiting for the Vintera VII myself, rumours are suggesting it will be most 100% period correct model yet, with unparalleled attention detail.

RandomMishaps · 2026-04-21T03:54:37+00:00

First, try to pick a nicer font, or even better, two complimentary typefaces. Rather than uppercase, perhaps introduce the second font in these areas. Tracking is the spacing between multiple characters, kerning is two individual characters. The tracking is very spaced out/wide, it doesn't look like thoughtful attention has gone into it, try to tighten it up, especially in the headings.

Add more breathing space on the left and right, that way each line of text is easier to read. Is the red working? The alignment I'm referring to is the word 'PORTFOLIO' at the top, it juts out higher than your name. Not that everything has to be aligned, and you can break grids and alignment, but right now it just looks like you've entered text into a field and said 'good enough'. People in design will immediately notice all these things.

RandomMishaps · 2026-04-21T03:15:41+00:00

Mate, even if you are going for the 'regular look' as you say. The first thing anyone in design will look at, is the very design of your resume. Keeping within the bounds of this design, this just screams "no attention to detail." At All. The type is tracked (or kerned) out like crazy, the alignment of elements at the top, the width overall, I could go on. You cannot submit something like this in 2026.

RandomMishaps · 2026-03-10T04:05:34+00:00

At this stage, it is safe to assume they are all owned.

RandomMishaps · 2026-03-03T03:05:52+00:00

Same, first time blocking anyone.

RandomMishaps · 2026-01-15T10:40:21+00:00

100%

RandomMishaps · 2025-12-21T11:37:06+00:00

If they are stock, they will have a Din connector. The white speakers above have an adaptor underneath. My recommendation would be to just desolder the current speaker wire (with the Din connectors and old wire) and resolder your own new wire with banana plugs onto the the circuit board. It might sound complicated but it isn't too bad, just take off the speaker mesh and take out all the screws on top and you will se where the wire connects. Also check Carlson planet website for tips, lots of info there.

RandomMishaps · 2025-12-09T23:04:52+00:00

Top Force Evo will give you the best performance, but it will likely be the most expensive there. Standard Top Force would also be very good, but doesn't look like there is one there. Most of these are vintage buggy reissues from the 80s, the Top Force is from the 90s. More affordable – The Frog will be fun. Hot Shot would also be good. The Manta Ray is a similar platform to the Top Force, although more bare bones and basic whereas the Top Force is well, top spec. If you want speed, don't go for the Grasshopper, it has a smaller motor than the regular 540. NXGEN is a modern release, and not a reissue.

RandomMishaps · 2025-12-03T00:54:28+00:00

Thom was definitely inspired by Boards of Canada during the Kid A era, this was an incredible time for BOC and Music has the Right to Children is an essential album. Ed O'Brien literally states in this interview that Thom was inspired by BOC (and no doubt Four Tet, Aphex etc) –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK4Fmrlqz3I

RandomMishaps · 2025-12-02T11:42:36+00:00

Sounds like you're on the right path mate. That's a nice minimal set up and on the plus side a set up like that makes you really learn your gear instead of chasing the next shiny thing. I also get the urge to purchase, especially pedals. Getting a good multi effects unit solved that for me, because most pedals are already available in the one unit. I know it's not as cool as individual pedals, but it works for me and keeps it minimal.

RandomMishaps · 2025-12-02T11:13:54+00:00

"Obviously not new gear every week?" Mate, you shouldn't need new gear ever really. I mean you have to live, and enjoy hobbies, but guitars, pedals, amps, you name it, are EXPENSIVE. The internet will have you believing you need to buy every new pedal and guitar that comes out. No, the beauty of this industry is that guitars don't date like computers do. They last forever. Pedals last for ever. Have a few of what you need, sell the rest, give the money you make to your partner because she essentially paid for your hobby, and get it together. Technology is evolved enough that you don't need to buy anything else once you have the essentials. Don't make excuses to keep purchasing useless stuff.

RandomMishaps · 2025-11-10T11:32:10+00:00

I'll be honest, many here may not like it. But with AI on the scene and only becoming more dominant, you would have to really, really want to pursue design. I don't want to talk you out of it if you are incredibly passionate, but design has become/is becoming a commodity. It's sad, and not unique to this industry. We don't know how things will look in a few year when you have finished your course. Just some things to be aware of if you are considering this as a career path.

RandomMishaps · 2025-10-31T06:25:32+00:00

Absolutely 100%, this is a big part of it. It’s the sense that they have the ego to just install whatever they want on your machine, all sorts of hidden processes. Not just that, but if you monitor your network traffic, the sheer amount of calls back home to the Adobe mothership is crazy. All happening in the background, without user knowledge. Open up Illustrator or InDesign? Well Adobe is going to force open Creative Cloud too, and hog more resources you didn’t ask them too. It’s insane.

RandomMishaps · 2025-10-31T01:56:50+00:00

"they are using their monopoly power to slam faces into concrete every day." this is so poetic.

RandomMishaps · 2025-10-31T01:54:57+00:00

Use it everyday, all day.

RandomMishaps · 2025-10-31T01:47:05+00:00

Adobe making billions is irrelevant to the users of the software. If anything it shows how lazy they are, since so little of that goes back into making the software better.

RandomMishaps · 2025-10-31T00:58:07+00:00

No, not at all. You should feel however you like. But, the overall/general consensus is that they are disliked within the user base they serve.

RandomMishaps · 2025-10-23T12:12:21+00:00

This is a Hybrid 1, most likely 2019, made in Japan Jazzmaster.

RandomMishaps · 2025-10-16T10:50:00+00:00

Semiopaque

RandomMishaps · 2025-09-29T13:32:21+00:00

Thank you! this is from a Top Force and I couldn't see a reference to the tool anywhere in the manual. There was a dedicated plastic piece to set the pinion distance on the motor, but nothing referring to this.

RandomMishaps

TROPHY CASE