The TC Maker Project Portfolio Book
Members of TC Maker are currently developing our common portfolio “book” which will include samples of member projects. The end product will be a binder that can be displayed in the Hack Factory space, and also brought to various events. Interested parties can flip through to get a sense of the broad range of material being made by our members.
Originally initiated by Rigger, the group currently working on this project welcome input from all members. Members interested in helping with the development of the various aspects of this book should join the forum discussion titled Time to work on our "book" in the Group Projects section, or join in on one of the irregular Wednesday night ad hoc committee meetings in the space.
What's in this Book?
Each page of the book will be a standard letter-sized page, single sided, and placed in a ring-binder sheet protector. Each page will feature a completed project, with reference to the maker(s) involved, a few photos or drawings, and a relatively brief description of the function and/or process for the project. Certain, larger or more involved projects can be represented on a two-page spread, if the scope or complexity merits it. These portfolio pages can be created entirely by the maker if desired, though a semi-automated template system is being developed as part of this overall project. This template system will accept text and photo entry, and create a useful electronic output file (PDF, SVG, etc.) to print or otherwise distribute.
Maker Provided Content
The specific text content and photos should, in most cases, be provided by the maker whose project is being represented. An electronic interface (ideally secure and web-friendly) will be created where each maker need only type in the information, and upload their selected photos and the system will then generate PDF output, displaying it to the user for their approval, and then storing the result to be printed and/or downloaded by the maker.
The Questionnaire
| Item | Max. # of Characters | Question / Prompt | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Title | 64 | What is the title of this project? Try to be somewhat descriptive, but fun or attention getting titles are encouraged. | |
| Maker Name(s) | TBD | Please enter the name of the makers who developed this project. | Link to member database? |
| Maker Biography | TBD | In one or two sentences, please include some biographical information for the project's maker(s) | Presented in a smaller font |
| Completion Date | TBD | Enter the date this project was completed (mm/dd/yyyy) | |
| Materials Used | TBD | In list form, enter the key components, resources and/or materials used in this project | Presented in a smaller font |
| Process / Function | TBD | Please enter a brief description of your project here. You might consider including an explanation of the impetus for this project and whether it satisfies the intended purpose. You may also want to describe the various functions and capabilities or key processes in its development. Remember, the TC Maker Project Portfolio Book is intended to be a showpiece. This is your opportunity to show and tell—to point out the cool stuff. Make your description brief, and give just enough information to satisfy the big questions a viewer might have, but not every question. | |
| Key Project Photo | 000 pixels x 000 pixels / 0000 kB | Please upload the primary project photo. This should be a “wow” image that shows off your project at its best. | |
| Accent Photo #1 | 000 pixels x 000 pixels / 0000 kB | Please upload your second project photo, this should show off a different feature from the primary image (lights are lit, door is open, etc.). Here you may consider including a schematic or diagram of the project, or perhaps a detail view showing a key element or a portion of the project you are particularly proud of. | Optional |
| Accent Photo #2 | 000 pixels x 000 pixels / 0000 kB | Please upload your second project photo, this should show off a different feature from the previous images. | Optional |
| Accent Photo #3 | 000 pixels x 000 pixels / 0000 kB | Please upload your second project photo, this should show off a different feature from the previous images. | Optional |
Automated Page Creation
A PHP application is being created to accept input from a maker through a web form and automatically generate a vector graphic with the appropriate layout.
