Chapter 1: Introduction to Immersive Portfolios

Have I ever shared the story of how I landed my first design role in San Francisco? Probably not. At that time, I had zero design background and had committed to focusing solely on augmented reality. I reached out to 40 different design firms through calls and emails. With no portfolio, no knowledge of website creation, and no experience using Adobe Illustrator, I resorted to a tool called Prezi. I incorporated some Matlab code links and shared insights inspired by "Minority Report."

Chances are you may not have created a 3D model yet, and most of your design projects have likely revolved around traditional 2D interfaces. Hence, a dash of creativity is essential. Although my work was in 3D, all I possess today is an image from that design exploration.

The visuals you see here generally represent design principles derived from brain regions. This was an early hypothesis addressing the fundamental design mechanics between humans and machines. Typically, when assembling a portfolio project, the first step is to organize the components before perfecting them. So, let’s delve deeper:

Chapter 2: Creating Your 3D Model Portfolio

To get started, you should select 3D models that closely represent the work you did, ideally sourced from SketchFab. While you could navigate directly to SketchFab’s website, Spatial offers an integration that simplifies linking those models. However, remember to check the attribution rules.

Maintain a white or easily contrasting background to enhance the visibility of your content, much like a museum setting. Allow Google or Microsoft Integrations to handle your text and font formatting. Simply draft your presentation and upload it. Be cautious, as changes made after importing may not reflect in Spatial, so double-check your work before finalizing.

Next steps include asking friends and family to role-play as potential tech company evaluators while using the portfolio. If they struggle with tasks or take too long to complete them, it signals a need for redesign.

Consider providing an entry point to augmented reality within the metaverse through platforms like 8th Wall. I'll also plan to incorporate additional projects and brainstorm ways to navigate them without the need for extensive physical movement across the display.

For further insights, check out this video titled "How to Build Your Instructional Design Portfolio Without Any Experience" which provides valuable tips on portfolio creation.

Additionally, watch "Immersive Portfolio Part 1: Introduction" for a comprehensive overview of crafting immersive design portfolios.