Hi guys,

 

was just wondering what everyone thinks is the best way to display your portfolio on your website:

 

Is a setup of thumbnails?

or a automated slideshow?

or one with 2 arrows, so you choose to to go to next or previous?

or something completely different?

 

thanks

 

Reaper

there is no right or wrong way or no best or worst way. Design your portfolio so that it can show off your work to its best potential.

Because everyone gets caught up with focusing on showing the designs (which of course is of prime importance) - I'd just say have a real think about some accompanying text... your portfolio page is where you can do a lot of selling and it's important you make sure the visitor knows why the design is so good, what amazing things you did, why it's different, how it pleased the client, how other designer's can't do it, etc. etc.

Really, even visual things are sold through words - ever been to an art gallery? The programme will give you plenty of spiel and so will the art dealers/ artist - there's a reason (no-one would know an unmade bed was art and worth a fortune if they weren't told!).

I think thumbnails with a short text/description is not a bad idea.

I use accompanying text at http://www.zigpress.com/portfolio.php. There are a series of thumbnails, when you click they expand into an info panel with a slightly bigger image, some information, and a URL if possible.

 

If JavaScript is disabled users are asked to turn it on (yes, yes, I know, I'm working on that!) but search engines still see all the info. Users would also see all the info if they turned off CSS.

For displaying the actual photos, I use thumbnails and lightbox because it uses the space well. ZigPresses link is a pretty cool variation of that. Definitely cool for portfolios. I especially like how the urls are in the windows.

 

I agree with wizely to an extent, but I also don't think you want to go into overkill with the info because I always question how much of it people actually read. Again, I think ZigPress's example is a perfect balance.

Aw shucks, people say the nicest things... well, I guess I'm still quite pleased with that page, even though I've neglected the site a bit, and haven't posted any new content for ages.

 

My ultimate plan is to rebuild the site in Wordpress, creating the template from scratch based on the existing design - whether the portfolio approach will change at that point is anybody's guess

Definitely a vote for using thumbnails and lightbox, not only is it a good use of space it's still new enough (or at least not yet widely enough used) that it gives a really good impact.

Not that I'm saying this is the right way but I used quite a large image and then a brief amount of text....

http://www.retroedgewebdesign.co.uk/retro_...b_portfolio.php

It's really good tips here for display portfolio

i really like what youve done their oneeyedpauly. im probably going to go with something abit similar, but it may change slightly, who knows......

 

Im thinking of having portfolio done in 2 ways.

 

1) a mini portfolio on the frontpage, with left and right arrows to switch between them

2) a bigger fuller portfolio on portfolio page, where you scrolldown to see all that we've done.

 

 

Reaper