Breaking in: Over 100 Product Designers Reveal How to Build a Portfolio That Will Get You Hired

Rarely have I seen a book aimed at young designers wanting to 'Break in' to the design profession. This book has 100 interviews with successful/prominent designers on the hows and whys of what is needed in one's portfolio and in general to acquire that coveted design position. The book is a great tool for soon to graduate Industrial Designers on tips and opinions on what is required to gain the attention of those doing the hiring for potential design positions. The candid responses are both informative and enlightening. Kudos to the author for assembling this wealth of knowledge. I will be making the book mandatory reading for my Senior Design class at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit,MI.

Bought this book for my boyfriend and he said it has really useful info in it in regards to building your portfolio. I'm not sure it's a "must-buy" book however as I'd doubt you'd need to read it more than once. So if you can pick it up at the library I would do that.

I have been a designer and professor in the design industry for nearly a decade now. This book is essential for those in and entering the design field. This is one of those books I wish I had as a student and will be sure to make it required reading for all of my design students. Never before have I seen such a insight into understanding what the world’s top designers look for in portfolios. Not only is this informational about the designers’ portfolio preferences but you get a understanding of their design philosophy as well as a history of how they entered the industry. I cannot recommend this more, not just if you’re building a portfolio but also a design professional. “Breaking In” includes insight into the top designers the world, responsible for the products you’re using at this very moment. Nothing like this to my knowledge can be found anywhere else, the Chris Bangle interview is worth the price of the book itself!

This appears to be an effort to help aspiring design job seekers by getting inside the heads of the top dogs in the industry. In that regard, the layout and consistency are excellent and the book accomplishes its goal. If one just wants to know about a single business, that's great. If one is trying to get a broad feel for what a portfolio should or should not be, or what sparks interest in an interview to help set you apart, this information is much more difficult to figure out. Had I seen the layout, I would have been reluctant to pay full price for this book, which is a recommended text for class. So it depends on what you are looking for - it is either a gold mine or just shiny metal.

Very useful book for those seeking to enter into any design industry. My only wishes is that they included details of the companies that the interviewees work for, so i wouldn't have to look it up myself every page. It would also be cool to have some images to help break up the text and paint a better picture of the companies and their products that are being discussed.

Awesome book! I wish this book had come out years ago; when I was a design student. It's nice to read different perspectives on the design industry, what directors look for in potential candidates (especially before applying to their agencies/companies) and insights on how they all got their foot in the door. Also lots of gems on what to avoid doing; if you want to succeed at getting your own foot in the door.

Really helped me get into the mind of the people hiring for the companies I’d like to work for.

A very inspiring book, really glad I bought it!

love it

Not that good for portfolio preparation as it contains lots of general advice from many great people.

Amazing book!

Could do with illustrations or photos. For graphic, industrial or product designers, the visual aid of the How-To, of putting the portfolio together is of far more benefit that a narrative about it

9/10