Hey All

 

I have decided that I would like to redesign my portfolio site again (I am not sure if its just me but I seem to never be happy with my designs for my own website)

 

I have an issue and the best way to describe it is that I have the web designer's equivalent of writer's block.

 

Please can you have a look at what I have so far, and if possible give me some feedback/further guidance on where I should go as I have not got a clue where I am going with this design.

 

I have redesigned or slightly altered my design for my logo. I also have an idea to have have a responsive jquery slider with some marketing information to make my services much more visible on the home page.

 

I am open to ideas, and take all feedback on board and I promise this time I wont have a tantrum when people say stuff which I dont quite like.

 

Cheers

Chris

 

 

I have decided that I would like to redesign my portfolio site again (I am not sure if its just me but I seem to never be happy with my designs for my own website)

 

Definitely not just you

 

There's not much going on at the moment with your site so a little difficult to review it. One thing I would recommend is about removing the line about SEO and WP. Totally understand what you're doing but it doesn't come across as a selling point as people will see you as inexperienced (despite being honest). Think of if as advertising yourself as a lifeguard - you sell yourself as a strong swimmer but mention that you are currently working towards your first aid qualifications. Ok, extreme and poor example but I'm sure you get the point.

 

Clients want to see your stuff. They seldom read about pages unless they are brief or catch their attention. One way to grab them is showing what you can do. You're already going to implement a slider to showcase your work which will be a good start. I suggest you 'tease' your clients as to what you can do. Show them a bit of thigh on your front page and then have a call to action to another page that will further motivate them to stay on your site looking at your skills. If you don't have a large portfolio (quality is important though), allocate some time to creating some mock ideas, icon sets, etc.. to exhibit your abilities. You could always implement a blog sharing your knowledge of the industry and also for a chance for them to get to know you. At the end of the day, you need to sell yourself

 

Well, it is Friday so you can take the analogies with a pinch of salt

Ha ha, welcome to our world

I redesign my portfolio every year I would redesign it even more often if I had the time.

 

I am not sure if I have said that already - but you need to define your target market first.

For example if you want to work for a company or if you want to be employed, promote your skills. Imagine you are looking to employ a designer/dev and think what you are looking for in them, then highlight exactly that on your site.

 

If you want to work directly with clients, highlight how their business will improve if they have a website designed/build by you. As 4li4s said, clients are not looking for skills, they are interested in return on investment.

 

Are you building it straight in the browser? Maybe will be better if you go with Photoshop (or any other software you use) first.

Define how you want to present yourself to your audience - reliable, trustworthy, modern, etc, etc. Have a list of keywords and then create an overall look and feel based on them.

Colours, fonts, textures, patterns, images, icons, illustrations - they will help you achieve that look and feel.

 

Why not have a look at other's portfolios to get an idea of how they have presented themselves?

 

Hope that helps

Definitely point your goals and target.

 

That will make it much easier for you to fit customer needs.

I have now added a jquery slider with a few images.

 

I have added a live site in a subdirectory of my website

 

http://www.chrisparishaines.co.uk/test/

 

Please can i have some feedback.

 

Also if anyone knows of a better jquery slider to use i would much appreciate so advice

 

Also if anyone knows of a better jquery slider to use i would much appreciate so advice

 

I love this slider http://tympanus.net/codrops/2011/11/21/elastic-image-slideshow-with-thumbnail-preview/

I love this slider http://tympanus.net/codrops/2011/11/21/elastic-image-slideshow-with-thumbnail-preview/

 

Think I might have to use this one myself - love the pin up images! Talking of pin ups, see you've changed your avatar again, Teodora (not as good as mine though )

Think I might have to use this one myself - love the pin up images! Talking of pin ups, see you've changed your avatar again, Teodora (not as good as mine though )

 

No, not as good

 

I have used this slider a few times, I love the thumbnail transitions.

No, not as good

 

I have used this slider a few times, I love the thumbnail transitions.

 

 

Absolutely! I'm not a fan of sliders, but this is one of the best I've seen. Yes - the thumbnail transitions are great