An old co-worker of mine once frequently used the term “Junkolio”. He would often say, in a voice not dissimilar to Jack Burton, from Big Trouble in Little China, “Yeeeeep. Well, just gonna finish this up real quick and file it in the íol Junkolio.”
I bring this up today as Junkolio has much been on my mind. In conversations with other designers and in conversations with myself. For Junkolio actually refers to all that work that never makes it into your portfolio. The work that never sees the light of the day. The work that pays for your ham and cheese sandwich and your ability to use running water and electricity. Yep. You guessed it. Itís the work that was largely unglamorous but did the job and allows you to practice in this special profession we know all to well called graphic design. However these days, Iíve noticed an alarming increase in the Junkolio. I am myself guilty of this. There are some things I look back after a few months/year and cringe/shudder and carefully slide back under the rug. But I have noticed a great many folks who I meet and chat with are in under the same quandary. What to show? Does one take heed in the age old saying of showing only the type of work one wants to work with? Can one survive following such a mantra? Physically? Financially?
Iím becoming increasingly interested these days in what makes it into the Junkolio? It’s funny. In a day when print is becoming increasingly more difficult to survive with, I’ve found that many a website, big or small, makes their way to the Junkolio. I’ve seen portfolios with a broad section of ‘work’ and then a whole other section simply labeled ‘web’. As if to say, yep, we sweep this under the carpet as well. Hopefully nobody notices. Iím not sure where I’m going with this other than to wonder, who is making use of the Junkolio these days and what goes in it? Is anybody Junkolio free? Is anybody showing everything in the entire year they worked on?
The other reason I bring up Junkolio, is what appears to be the ever maddening state of design. For I’ve noticed in numerous conversations, that everything that ever did make it into the ‘work’ section of a portfolio had practically zero budget. A ‘fun portfolio piece’ or a project for a buddy that was zero in funds but allowed for some creative freedom. The sad fact is, that it appears that designers can not live from what they show? It is the Junkolio that makes that peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But poor Junkolio never sees the sun. I guess I’m curious if anybody else is making use of the ’ol Junkolio? And if so, what ’cha got in there? Can I trade ya for my PB&J?
An old co-worker of mine once frequently used the term ìJunkolioî. He would often say, in a voice not dissimilar to Jack Burton, from Big Trouble in Little China, ìYep. Well, just gonna finish this up and file that one in the íol Junkolio.î
I bring this up today as Junkolio has much been on my mind. In conversations with other designers and in conversations with myself. For Junkolio actually refers to all that work that never makes it into your portfolio. The work that never sees the light of the day. The work that pays for your ham and cheese sandwich and your ability to use running water and electricity. Yep. You guessed it. Itís the work that was largely unglamorous but did the job and allows you to practice in this special profession we know all to well called graphic design.
However these days, Iíve noticed an alarming increase in the Junkolio. I am myself guilty of this. There are some things I look back after a few months/year and cringe/shudder and carefully slide back under the rug. But I have noticed a great many folks who I meet and chat with are in under the same quandary. What to show? Does one take heed in the age old saying of showing only the type of work one wants to work with? Can one survive following such a mantra? Physically? Financially?
Iím becoming increasingly interested these days in what makes it into the Junkolio? Itís funny. In a day when print is becoming increasingly more difficult to survive with, Iíve found that many a website, big or small, makes their way to the Junkolio. Iíve seen portfolios with a broad section of ëworkí and then a whole other section simply labeled ëwebí. As if to say, yep, we sweep this under the carpet as well. Hopefully nobody notices.
Iím not sure where Iím going with this other than to wonder, who is making use of the Junkolio these days and what goes in it? Is anybody Junkolio free? Is anybody showing everything in the entire year they worked on? The other reason I bring up Junkolio, is what appears to be the ever maddening state of design. For Iíve noticed in numerous conversations, that everything that ever did make it into the ëworkí section of a portfolio had practically zero budget. A ëfun portfolio pieceí or a project for a buddy that was zero in funds but allowed for some creative freedom. The sad fact is, that it appears that designers can not live from what they show? It is the Junkolio that makes that peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But poor Junkolio never sees the sun.
I guess Iím curious if anybody else is making use of Junkolio? And if so, what are your thoughts on it?
Published on
November 17, 2009 – 1:34 am |