Hi guys, i'm trying to come up with ideas for my new portfolio site, and trying to use some new image techniques i've been playing around with. This is only an image of a template idea i created tonight, but would like to know what you guys think?

 

obvious links in the bottom left, and shaded areas are to include content. thinking of using a bit of javascript for page changes with some smooth sliding effects, having the content areas slide in and out from the central stem (so top slides left and bottom slides right) as well as a carousel portfolio page.

 

i originally designed for 800x600 (still being the standard?) but have also included a 1024 version aswell to compare because i'm not sure if 800x600 will be too small for this style template.

 

all comments welcome, thanks!

 

Dean

 

800x600 version

1024 version

the grunge font is too difficult to read as there's not much contrast between the background colour and the font colour. I would use a more readble font for navigation and maybe increase the size of your logo and darken it a little to get away with using the grunge font on that. As for the text positioning. If you're going to put text within those tiny boxes how are you going to accomodate the fact that text size needs to be scaleable to each users needs. I would ditch the two small boxes and go for one large text area - easier to manage and allows more space.

The font is really difficult to read, think of making it bigger or changing it to some other font. Though, your design looks great! I liked it a lot! I think you could build an impressive site if you use this image for your header.

Hi Dean

 

The template does not sell the eye - so it won't buy the client/customer.

 

Whatever market you are chasing - look at what is on display and use that as their sole guide.

 

Just like when you do the shopping, and you select what appeals to your eye.

 

If your word presentation is not clear to the immediate eye – you lose!

 

That’s simply my humble opinion and I hope it helps.

 

Crack a bottle of wine and come back with a corker.

Well I'm not too sure about selling eyes and buying customers but I do agree with the rest.

 

In this business you seem to have a choice.

 

Design for yourself.

Design for you target market.

 

If you're amazing, like Vault49 amazing then you can probably design for yourself and you'll be good enough to be hired on spec.

 

For everyone else we need to tame the beast that lies within and sell out a little. This often means holding back on the edgy, urban, grungetastic designer within in order to appeal to the guy down the road who sells furniture, or the lady who sells flowers or whatever it is.

 

So, my advice would be - if you're very good, and you can sell yourself to big clients then go for it..

 

Otherwise, choose some new fonts and follow the advice above. It's not a criticism of your work, it's a criticism of your marketing.

 

And if you think you're alone, you're not - my first portfolio was grossly lost under a sea of self-indulgence.