yesterday i was talking to a friend who just got hired at a top local design firm. for his position there were literally hundreds of applications. he was hired not just for his portfolio, but for his experience. but how do you get experience? design students serious about working right out of school should do internships and create as much work as you can for the non-profit sector. this was his advice. such an effort helps future art directors (your boss) take you seriously. he then told me about AESTHETIC APPARATUS, who created a name for themselves by designing concert posters (for free) in the minneapolis area as a way to create their own buzz. good design should be something desirable as well as functional. anyway-great posters, great story. you can check them out online here.