In my last blog post I discussed some differences between what makes a good resume and a bad resume. This time around, I will be talking about portfolios and what makes an effective portfolio. There are three important things to keep in mind when creating your portfolio site.
1. Navigation - Can the viewer navigate your site easily? Can they find what they're looking for? Keep your navigation clean and simple so that visitors to your site do not have to search for it.
2. Work - Obviously you will need a page to display your work. You want to keep the gallery portion of your project page very clean and simple too. If you want to separate your pieces such as print and web, certainly do so but don't get confusing with it. You want clear titles so that the viewer knows what they are looking at.
3. About You - This is your portfolio, include some information about yourself. You can also include your resume on the site so that potential employers who find your site have easy access to it. Keep the about you section short and concise. There is no need to ramble on about your childhood, simply talk about how you got to where you are today, what inspires you, and where you hope to go.
Now for the examples of portfolio sites!
Foundry Collective
I think this site is a really great example of a portfolio site. Now, this isn't a personal website but still take note! The navigation is really easy to see and easy to understand. There is a fantastic use of a grid which makes the web page look very organized and clean. The page is not too simple that the viewer would become bored but rather entices the eye with large, interesting images. This is the perfect balance between image and text.
Buffalo
Another great example of using the grid system but in a new and interesting way. The site uses a great sense of symmetry to create a clean, site. The color scheme really pops against the light background and the design uses the black logo and type to create hierarchy. The navigation of course is also easy to see and neatly organized. Each image takes the viewer to a page where they can learn more about the project. Remember, when creating a website, you want to emphasize your work above all.
As you can see from the above examples, they kept their portfolio pieces the main priority. Keeping a clear grid structure will always make the design look clean and sharp. Remember to keep plenty of white space around your images and text and use big thumbnails.
This is also my last blog at this LACD internship. It's been really fun to be able to write about myself and things that interest me and inspire me. I hope I've peaked your interest and kept you entertained. If you want to keep reading my blogs you can read them at http://sjeanmurray.wordpress.com/
Remember to always follow your dreams, no matter what and BOILER UP.
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