I'm going onto my third year of uni in the summer and thought i should get a protfolio together to show to clients etc.

Please could i have your thoughts and improvements.

 

Thanks

It's a good start, but it also looks very amateur. There's nothing in particular that stands out when you first glance at the design and that's a big problem in my opinion. It also looks as though everything has been thrown into the content area. You need to have a think about space management.

thanks, can anyone else give me their thoughts?

I agree with traxor, as well I think that you have to work on your Typo.

 

look at professional portfolios.

 

good luck!

It's Stephen Hawking not Hawkins (pet hate of mine).

 

I'll list some stuff off, I'm not being nasty just shouting it out quickly.

 

 

Typography is very weak, work on the fonts along with the space they occupy. It looks like you reset the inherit padding for a paragraph and forgot to add some back.

 

Logo is weak and pushed up against the side of the header container, doesn't look right.

 

What's with the syndicated news feeds from the BBC?

 

Those W3C icons are naff and there's no mention of standards on the site (unless I just missed them) meaning they're pretty useless.

It's Stephen Hawking not Hawkins (pet hate of mine).

 

I'll list some stuff off, I'm not being nasty just shouting it out quickly.

 

 

Typography is very weak, work on the fonts along with the space they occupy. It looks like you reset the inherit padding for a paragraph and forgot to add some back.

 

Logo is weak and pushed up against the side of the header container, doesn't look right.

 

What's with the syndicated news feeds from the BBC?

 

Those W3C icons are naff and there's no mention of standards on the site (unless I just missed them) meaning they're pretty useless.

 

Thank you for the pointers, I have included the w3c logos to show the page is validated, is this not a good idea to show that? also i know the logos are naff, any ideas where to get better ones? or do i have o create them?

 

I also added the rss feed using php to show what sort of stuff i can do, is this a bad idea?

 

Thanks for your comments i appreciate it, also what font would you use for heading text on a website? and body text?

None of it is a bad idea so long as the content is coherent and relevant. Someone who wants a website doesn't know anything about them so why do they care about those logos or the news feed *unless you talk about them on the site and explain what they are and their relevance.

 

Logos, best way is to learn illustrator and get creative.

Hi,

 

There is some ok work on the site, the hairdressers one is the best for me, and I'd use this on the homepage, although it still has many layout issues. The header feels squashed into the top of the page, there are numerous boxes with text not lined up properly, and why have that scrolling rugby shirt thing - much better to have the haircuts there surely????

 

I agree with what others have said here too, particlularly in the use of space.

 

You need a decent logo - there must be someone in your class who can do these?? Or find some willing to do it for you free for their portfolio (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

 

The light blue border is horrible - lose it or lose business

 

1) The muffin and sushi sites have a very similar, almost rehashed design about them and a bit 'templatey'

2) The pizza ad is exactly what I would expect if a pizza brochure was transferred to a website. So that suggests lack of design depth, and just going along with everything else done before.

3) Dre - really weak - check out his and other rap artist sites and do a drastic overhaul or don't include it.

4) Cinema - lose this too. It says you can't do graphics (it looks like something I'd do LOL)

 

In your position I'd take a look at what I was best at and make up your own projects and post them.

 

The whole problem with using a portfolio based on college work is that you should get better through the course, so any early stuff should be rubbish unless you were particularly gifted in the first place. Maybe keep redoing a couple of the sites to keep them up to date with your skills and abilities - don't leave them as they are poor adverts for you.

 

Sorry if I've been a bit harsh.

Thank you for your comments ive taken them all on board, I don't suppose you would like to design a logo/banner for me do you scifunk?

Also what colour scheme do you think is more appropiate?

Also a lot of you have said about space, can someone show me an example of what i'm doing wrong and how they would correct the example, that way i can get an understanding of what i need to fix.

 

Hi,

 

There is some ok work on the site, the hairdressers one is the best for me, and I'd use this on the homepage, although it still has many layout issues. The header feels squashed into the top of the page, there are numerous boxes with text not lined up properly, and why have that scrolling rugby shirt thing - much better to have the haircuts there surely????

 

I agree with what others have said here too, particlularly in the use of space.

 

You need a decent logo - there must be someone in your class who can do these?? Or find some willing to do it for you free for their portfolio (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

 

The light blue border is horrible - lose it or lose business

 

1) The muffin and sushi sites have a very similar, almost rehashed design about them and a bit 'templatey'

2) The pizza ad is exactly what I would expect if a pizza brochure was transferred to a website. So that suggests lack of design depth, and just going along with everything else done before.

3) Dre - really weak - check out his and other rap artist sites and do a drastic overhaul or don't include it.

4) Cinema - lose this too. It says you can't do graphics (it looks like something I'd do LOL)

 

In your position I'd take a look at what I was best at and make up your own projects and post them.

 

The whole problem with using a portfolio based on college work is that you should get better through the course, so any early stuff should be rubbish unless you were particularly gifted in the first place. Maybe keep redoing a couple of the sites to keep them up to date with your skills and abilities - don't leave them as they are poor adverts for you.

 

Sorry if I've been a bit harsh.

Glad you weren't too offended.

 

As for space, it's a hard one to explain. My experience comes from photography and magazine design, which transfers nicely to web design. What you are trying to achieve is for each element on the page to 'breathe' so that you can appreciate it for what it is. You don't want that element feeling squashed or squeezed into a space.

 

I'll try to do a quick PSD on part of one of you designs.

 

Can't get a screen shot of the hairdresser - sorry

 

Take the header of that site:

1) more space needed all around the logo - it should float on the dark grey background. Try an equal distance from the edge, top and bottom of the header area.

2) the address on the opposite side should be the same height as the logo and line up with the top and bottom of the logo, and be the same distance from the edge of the page

OR

2A) bring the nav into the header (lose the nav boxes - just have text), make the logo a bit bigger and just have the contact no (not the address) in the top right corner.

 

Here are a couple of rough guides for you, to help explain the above:

 

 

I can take criticism, it helps you improve Ok thank-you, hopefully it will be a lot better than mine With the spacing you trying to say not cram everything up and make it seem congested?

 

Glad you weren't too offended.

 

As for space, it's a hard one to explain. My experience comes from photography and magazine design, which transfers nicely to web design. What you are trying to achieve is for each element on the page to 'breathe' so that you can appreciate it for what it is. You don't want that element feeling squashed or squeezed into a space.

 

I'll try to do a quick PSD on part of one of you designs.

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yea i can see where your coming from, makes sence now you've pointed it out. thanks scifunk

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