Hi all,

 

I have been going round in circles for a while with regards to my portfolio...after much reading and research I am still very confused!

 

1) On one hand your portfolio should be very main stream looking and not very personal so that it appeals to many different clients. Minimal, slick, corporate and sterile.

 

2) On the other had your portfolio is a personal so it should show a bit of personality, and because you don't have any restrictions designers should use it to show off what they can do and how far they can go with regards to design skills - there are no limitations so the sky's the limit.

 

I have read both sides of the debate...but which way do you go?

 

I have thought about combining the two, or then also thought of splitting them into 2 sites?

 

What to do?

I think you should make it look professional but add a hint of your personality too it, or just do what I do and go straight for how I want it! lol

Its a good point that you raise mebo..

 

Just try and get the balance right I guess both sides of the debate are equally important imo. You don't want your site to look like a generic template (which many sites do at the moment) but at the same time you don't want to alienate potential clients.

 

Hope this helps.

On the one hand "minimal, slick, corporate and sterile" design can be personal. It's difficult but possible.

On other hand designer can show his unlimited creative talents and immense technical skills just in his works published in his portfolio.

Edited February 8, 201115 yr by Lev

humm...its so confusing,

 

I have some really wacky ideas for my site, but yes I am afraid it won't be everyone's cup of tea as it will be very personal. I want to use it as an online playground where the sky's the limit and I can test out my ideas.

 

On the other hand I am thinking of creating the slick modern type of site separately. The type people talk about "they don't want to be distracted with all the other fluff", they want to get right down to business and see your portfolio. One page site, bang...all the work done in front of you instantly and maybe contact details.

 

perhaps I could link the two saying on the more professional one...if you want to see more about the person and other skills...click here.

 

but then will there be an overlap of content? man! I been working on my content for the past 6 months. I made a decision I wanted to do the wacky personal type, but then just had a guy who's been in the corporate design industry for 17 years saying no no no!

 

I know your site should showcase the type of work you want to get into. I wanted to ask, the two camps being music type industry and corporate/professional design, is there anything in the middle. I have an art background so I would like to be in an industry where I can push the boat out a little further than the corporate professional stuff, is there anything other than the music industry I could do this for and make a decent living?

Edited February 8, 201115 yr by mebo

My advice: ignore those who say your website should be corporate and sterile. Unless you're a big, sterile corporation, it shouldn't. Don't be afraid to make your site personal if you're working as a freelancer. Clients will want to know they're dealing with a real person who has a real personality. I would however, avoid the temptation to make a heavily 'designed' site. By which I mean, a web designer's portfolio site is a very simple affair when you strip it down, offering really only a few examples of work, case studies, a little about the designer and services offered, with a contact form to finish. Dress it up too much and it will put people off. The site should be about your work and your services - if it becomes about its own graphical style, it risks failing. And one last thing: your site will never have that personal feel if your copy is sterile and boring. "Hi, my name's Gus and I'm a web designer from Tiverton" is not going to cut it!

Edited February 8, 201115 yr by notbanksy

And one last thing: your site will never have that personal feel if your copy is sterile and boring. "Hi, my name's Gus and I'm a web designer from Tiverton" is not going to cut it!

 

Ha ha, I haven't forgotten! I will get back to you! just trying to sus out which way to go.

Do what you feel is best, with my site I wanted to get away from the standard looking web designer / portfolio site designs and have something that stands out.

 

During the design process I did several survey with current clients to get a feel for the reactions, the feelings where very mixed. However I ignored the negativity and now the site is featured all over the net on show case site and designer blogs.

 

Hope this helps!

Do what you feel is best, with my site I wanted to get away from the standard looking web designer / portfolio site designs and have something that stands out.

 

During the design process I did several survey with current clients to get a feel for the reactions, the feelings where very mixed. However I ignored the negativity and now the site is featured all over the net on show case site and designer blogs.

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

yep, I agree! I really do like your site, it shows personality and does stand out from the crowd. let see, I may do 2 versions, each will please both camps. let see.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys!

It depends on what sort of client you're aiming it at.

 

If you're after the big corporate clients then a corporate looking site is what you'll need. Having an all encompassing site is neigh on impossible but if you really are looking at aiming at several different niches have you ever thought about numerous portfolios?

One could be corporate designed with corporate influences and under another name/domain you could have a quirkier more fun portfolio aimed at a separate niche.

 

Let's not also forget outside projects can play a significant part in building brand and portfolio awareness. You may have a corporate looking portfolio but if you have other projects and completed works out there that are more on the wacky/tech/fun side then people will see them and come from there.

 

All in all it's a hard trade of but i would say (as 'NotBanksy' hinted at) writing relevant interesting copy that will appeal to both sides is a whole 'nother worry my friend!

It depends on what sort of client you're aiming it at.

 

If you're after the big corporate clients then a corporate looking site is what you'll need. Having an all encompassing site is neigh on impossible but if you really are looking at aiming at several different niches have you ever thought about numerous portfolios?

One could be corporate designed with corporate influences and under another name/domain you could have a quirkier more fun portfolio aimed at a separate niche.

 

Let's not also forget outside projects can play a significant part in building brand and portfolio awareness. You may have a corporate looking portfolio but if you have other projects and completed works out there that are more on the wacky/tech/fun side then people will see them and come from there.

 

All in all it's a hard trade of but i would say (as 'NotBanksy' hinted at) writing relevant interesting copy that will appeal to both sides is a whole 'nother worry my friend!

 

 

yes I agree, splitting them into 2 portfolios seems the best solution rather than doing one and pulling my hair out while trying to achieve this impossible task!

yes I agree, splitting them into 2 portfolios seems the best solution rather than doing one and pulling my hair out while trying to achieve this impossible task!

 

It's never going to be a walk in the park either way though

 

 

 

It's never going to be a walk in the park either way though

 

haha, yes very true!

I'm just in the throws of putting together another portfolio site, with this it is a mix of personality (via photography) but also has quite a corporate feel to it.

The user interaction will be spiced up with a little jQuery.

 

Just remember no matter what you do, not everyone will like it or even get it.

Just remember no matter what you do, not everyone will like it or even get it.

 

plus one for that!

Edited February 8, 201115 yr by mebo

Works of high quality that speak for themselves — the best ornament of designer's portfolio.

Personally, I've read blog that have suggested to design a great website with an attractive landing page for impressions, but my discoveries have led me to go against them. It's actually about the interactions of your projects that clients enjoy the most haha.

Mebo, I have addressed this issue myself in the past and I have explored many different avenues... I have created decked out portfolio designs full of personality as well as a bareback portfolio. My issue is I grow bored of the design very quickly - I personally feel like i should create two separate portfolios based on the chance of trying to get a corporate job and more of a creative job - It's just doing it thats the hard part - naturally for us ideas come very quickly which isnt the problem, its sticking with ideas without coming up with a new one that is usually our issue.

If this name tells something...

Edited February 13, 201115 yr by Lev

I agree with Warren. The problem is sticking to an idea rather than coming up with an idea!

Portfolio site not being particularly corporate isn't such an issue for a freelancer.

 

Perfect example: Elliot Jay Stocks.

Edited February 13, 201115 yr by Renaissance-Design

Thanks for the replies,

 

Yes I am in the process of creating 2 different sites. Telling your brain to stop thinking of ideas, and follow through with the ones you have…yes its always an issue!

You're portfolio site should be a place to showcase your work.. simple