Expert: Sean Trapani - 6/2/2007

Question
Hi Sean,

I'm a Copywriting graduate student who is trying to physically put my book
together.  Most of my campaigns are integrated and include either direct mail
pieces, handouts (i.e a booklet, postcard, etc) or print ads that encourage
interactivity (i.e. have stickers, etc). What is the best way to show these in my
book?  I have comped these pieces and photographed them being held/used
but am worried about a CD being able to read the copy (because I am a
copywriter).  Is there a general format for showing this type of work?  Any
suggestion/tips? I am having a hard time visualizing how they should appear
in my book.  

Thanks!
Laurel

Answer
Hi, Laurel

Most of our grads now post their work on an individual website or, at least, provide links to an ftp site. There, you simply save your work at a large enough resolution that the CD, or whoever is reviewing the work, can click thru to a higher image size.

When you're showing your book in person, you can either cut acetate sheets and black-tape them to a large piece of black board to create pockets (to create a master board with several pockets showcasing your IMC). Or, you can simply have "copy windows," which would be close-up photographs of the copywriting elements positioned near photographs of your entire IMC photographed "en mass."

I've seen both of these approaches work - I'm partial to a big porfolio, large black boards with acetate windows, though. It looks very "finished" and makes a nice, hands-on presentation.

Good luck!

Sean