How to get a Thumbs Up from Michael Solow
Michael Solow, VP Creative Services, AGENCY.COM

1. What elements do you look for in a design portfolio?

What I look for, what I hope for, is -- above all -- to be charmed and delighted and impressed. Like any other creative director, I want to be blown away. I want to see surprising design and compelling concepts. I love it when creative people take chances, with adventurous pieces that go over the edge. After all, it's easier to rein someone in than be faced with a dry, lifeless design.

It's also important for the design to be grounded. Grounded in solid design principles, and in business problem-solving. All commercial design work is purposeful; and interactive creative is the most action-oriented design of all time. The design needs to demonstrate an understanding and respect and responsiveness to a user's interests and needs.

Finally, I love to see an ingenious use of front-end technologies like Flash and DHTML. Today's designer needs to be a hybrid technologist/artist. Both left and right brained. Because if you want to create an optimal experience, you need to know what the medium can do. And we want people who are capable of leading us, of taking us further.

Two major ones, I think.

The first has to do with intensity level. There has to be a commitment to excellence. A passion for the design. Someone who walks in with a detached attitude and lack of ability to articulate the how's and why's of their work won't get the job.

The second has to do with cultural fit, which is very important for us. Niceness rules. Egos need to be checked at the door. A positive, can-do, upbeat attitude is what we look for. Who wants to be around a whiner and complainer?

3. How do career related degrees compare to real world experience?

The great thing about working in this relatively new medium is that it's leveled the playing field. A talented interactive designer right out of school can jump in and make important contributions very quickly.

On the other hand, there's nothing like experience to help one cope a with difficult client, an overbearing account person, or -- for that matter - a finicky creative director.