For many designers one of the most difficult projects you can take is designing your own portfolio or company site. At Business Logs our redesign isn't going as smooth as possible mostly because we expect so much out of our own site and are working hard to get it right. I think though that at times we are trying too hard and in turn that makes things more complicated than they should be.
When doing your portfolio the content is the past work you've done. Should your design obscure the content or should it enhance it? I guess this depends on how well you value your work. I have seen many times where the portfolio site was many times better than the actual work that was done by the company. So which route do you take and which route will work best for your potential clients?
Here are two extreme examples (maybe not so extreme):
Now do you think there is a best approach to take? I love the design of both sites, but can't help and wonder if a potential client will see the twothirty site and move away from it because it doesn't offer enough flair. As designers we should all be able to see the complex beauty in that site and understand that minimalistic design doesn't mean a lack of design skills (unless you are talking about me ;-).
So I know I am asking a broad quesition here, but is there a best route to take when it comes to portfolio design? I have an answer that I will expel upon probably tomorrow in another entry, but I would love to hear what you think first.
Posted by Scrivs at March 23, 2005 12:57 PM
#1 | seth (http://thegeeklystandard.com)
I would say that the portfolio is all about the work, not the design of the portfolio itself.
Whether the portfolio is minimalist, highly stylized, etc. as long as it is clear and usable, I wouldn't go nuts trying to make it perfect. Let the work speak for itself.
This may be why most "big" agencies have crap sites.
#2 | Mike P. (http://www.fiftyfoureleven.com)
I'm not so sure that portfolio pages are *that* important for potential clients. Put another way, are you expecting to get clients via your portfolio page?
I suppose that the depth to which you build your portfolio would depend upon your pitch to new clients - maybe some images like 230, and a couple of case studies that happen to sing roughly the same song as your dog and pony show. inessence, something that will support your ideas.
In the end you're going to get most of your clients by word of mouth, so I wouldn't kill yourself over it.
#3 | Bryan (http://www.juicedthoughts.com)
This is an interesting discussion.
I personally prefer minimilistic portfolio sites that don't make you jump through hoops to see the work. 2 Advanced is a prime example of an incredible site and portfolio, but I would hate to go to that site all the time.
With my portfolio site, Absolute Bica, I wanted to go with a unique design, not your typical header, content, footer design. I mean, its not anything like you see at the Zen Garden, but its certainly a little different then what is actually in my portfolio (which is growing btw - there are some projects that haven't gotten added yet).
So I think your portfolio should demonstrate the way you design, your creative skills, but at the same time keeping things simple for the user, especially the client. I don't think the portfolio has to be your best work itself, but make it nice and comparable to your previous works.
In most cases, your portfolio will be better then your past works because we are always improving each day, so a design you did 6 months ago might suck to what your capable now.
The designs I am starting to come up with are 10 times better then what is in my current portfolio. Most of the designs in there were done over 1 year ago, and I am much better now. Just wait for Major Championships :), this is by far my most impressive design and site buildout.
#4 | Bryan (http://www.juicedthoughts.com)
whoops, wish there was an edit button
Absolute Bica - this link will work.
#5 | James Archer (http://www.jamesarcher.net)
It really comes down to your audience.
As designers, we understand the principle of using design to support content rather than overwhelm it. If I were designing my site to impress other designers, I'm sure I'd lean more toward the twothirty style.
However, clients typically aren't as discerning as designers when it comes to these things. As a client, I'm not going to sit there and stare at your portfolio as if I were in an art gallery. I'm only going to be long enough to say "Yeah, looks like these guys can do some cool design stuff." If I were designing a site to impress clients, I'd go more hi-fi at the expense of the art gallery environment.
Assume that a potential client is going to be looking at your portfolio page for 10 seconds. Design the site and the page however you need to in order to convince them, in 10 seconds or less, that you know your stuff.
#6 | Brian Andersen (http://www.brian-andersen.dk)
Trying to put myself in the clients shoes, if I had already talked with twothirty (for example), and was going to their site to check out their work - it would be absolute bliss. There's like 20 clickable portfolio links right on the frontpage that go straight to the actual site, and not some nonsense "case study" that sings high praises of the client and tries to justify the work.
I'm myself guilty of writing a bunch of bullshit on my own portfolio, which really makes no sense because it's purely there to provide some visual hints as to what kind of work I'll do.
I'll wager that 95% of clients have a more "down to earth" view of portfolio sites than we think, and as thus could care less about your "design philosophy". Spare me the crap.
#7 | Thomas Baekdal (http://www.baekdal.com)
Personally: Twothirty
It is clean and simple and get to the point. But, I would focus more on what you have to offer, how you do it, and what's in it for the client.
Portfolio's s like being told that we also sold a car to these people. That does not matter much to me. What does matter what the cars can do for me (good fuel efficiency, safe, comfortable, and appealing to my sense of style). I choose a car based on my needs, not what others did - and the same applies to portfolios.
#8 | Tom (http://www.dottom.co.uk)
My site is very simple, partly due to me not being a designer.
The websites section just includes a link and a short blurb on the site.
And Bryan, your sIFR is showing an ugly green background in OmniWeb but not Safari.
#9 | michael h
Carole Guevin did a helpful editorial on this a while back:
http://netdiver.net/x_editorials/portfoliocheck.php
#10 | Scrivs (http://9rules.com/)
I think some of you are missing how a LOT of people try to find web designers. I know many non-web people just go looking at portfolios to see what type of style they like best. It's easy for us to say well whatever design fits best, but 'normal' people don't necessarily view what's best for them, but what's coolest for them.
#11 | Scrivs (http://9rules.com/)
Oh and thanks for the link Michael. Very informative and straight to the point.
#12 | Kyle (http://www.warpspire.com)
I think it depends majorly on how you intend to use your portfolio.
1. Are you looking to attract clients from internet searches?
2. Are you looking to attract clients from business card referrals / word-of-mouth?
3. Are you looking to simply use your portfolio in face-to-face interviews, showing your work?
I'd say those are the three business-related goals for portfolios.
For option #1 - Focus on content, big headlines - short text. Make the user want to continue reading. They're just seconds from the back button... always remember that. These users are coming to your page with bad expectations. You have to actively pursue them to read the content.
For option #2 - Make it flashy, but not too flashy. Have a lot of content, headlines aren't so important - you can start making the text longer and more prominent. These people took the time to type in your address into the address bar - they're here to stay for a few minutes, and have a high likelyhood of actually reading your content. These users are coming to your page with good expectations. They have a reason for coming, and they're definately going to find out more.
For option #3 - Make it nothing but flash, pizzaz, glimmer and glamor. Content is of no relation here as no one's going to read it. They just want to see something cool looking, and examples of past sites. Thes users are coming to your site with no expectation whatsoever.They aren't even going to read any content. They're just going to give it the old once-over, initial impressions. Think book cover here.
There's 2 cents... for my portfolio (when I was still frelancing) I was going in between #1 and #2. My major purpose of my portfolio was from business card references and word of mouth, so mine's a big content heavy - but with enough flash to make people ooh when they first see it.
#13 | Johnnie Manzari (http://www.johnniemanzari.com)
You need to be true to yourself and your style. The portfolio needs to convey what you would design if you were cut free from the constraints imposed on you by others. There is no template or guidelines.
#14 | Zach Blume (http://www.emptysnow.com/)
I personally perfer minamilistic, but I think that you in particular could pull both off--I don't think one is better than the other nessescarily, either.
#15 | Tom (http://www.thedeplorableword.net/)
I like the design of weightshift, but there is a little too much information. I find two thirty provides too little information, its not just enough to show a screenshot "look at all these sites we designed", id like to know a bit more about the design, what you did etc
Im trying to construct my portfolio at the moment, im basing it a little from http://markboulton.co.uk/ and http://www.kingcosmonaut.de/output/ (i love how he used flash) and http://stopdesign.com/portfolio/
#16 | Mike P. (http://www.fiftyfoureleven.com)
Paul: "I think some of you are missing how a LOT of people try to find web designers."
So, with this then are you saying that you are trying to get clients with your portfolio page?
In my experience the best clients are word of mouth clients, pure web generated clients have always been the 'tough' jobs.
In the end though, this is marketing: Who is your target market and what do they want to see?
Knowing what we have discussed in the past, I would go the 37signals route (aim for the stars, because I know you are ;-). I know how you feel about clients, and I gather how they feel about their clients from SvN, and I would imagine that is the type of client you are after.
So in the end, your target market would be a word of mouth client, and chances are if they asked around and got your name, they got other names too. Prepare a portfolio that gives them a reason to call you and meet with you.
As an aside, I don't think you can compare yourselves with twothirty, 'they' are a different 'team' with different client objectives, imo.
(of course if I'm wrong about your market, then I'll just stick this post where you told me to stick those resources... ;-)
#17 | Peter Flaschner (http://www.peterflaschner.com)
One word: Personality. I think your portfolio should reflect your (or your company's) personality.
Let's face it: there are many excellent designers for clients to choose between. What differentiates designer a from designer b is not only the quality of the work, but the value added services (marketing, IA solutions, etc) and the client-designer relationship.
Are you 'fun', or are you 'serious'? Your portfolio should reflect your philosophy; it doesn't have to spell it out, but it should sum it up visually.
At the end of the day, you can't be all things to all people.
#18 | Chris K (http://www.whiteboxerdesign.com)
I'll second (and third) some of the points made already. I agree the focus should be on the user and that the work should be the centerpiece, not the design of the portfolio itself. It's mike a museum choosing a frame for a painting -- the attention should be on the painting, not the frame. It needs to be easy to navigate for the viewer, like all web pages -- clear in the wording and structure. I personally like simplier designs and let the work speak for itself.
#19 | paul from twothirty.com (http://twothirty.com)
first off, this is quite the interesting conversation about my company.
i'll give my 2c about my portfolio: i get 99.99% of new business from referrals and repeat clients. so my target audience is business' that already know who i am and who just want to see what i've done quickly.
i actually surveyed/interviewed quite a few people before i did this revision, so it's coming from a place of "what the client wants" or in this case, what the potential clients wants. i think a lot of companies in this industry get caught up in what they want to see or what they like or what they think the design community would like.
truth be told though, it is too plain. i'm just always too busy to put much forth for my own company site. i don't see this is a long-term site though, and i would like to spice it up a bit when i get a chance, without moving away from it's "here's a list of the work".
#20 | Tom (http://www.tomwoolley.com)
I prefer Weightshift. A portfolio should have only examples of your best work wrapped up in a distinctive style that'll make the viewer remember you. It should be really easy to find your work too.
Ian Main's site, e-lusion is a big inspiration for me - easy navigation, great portfolio and an extremely memorable design - totally different to anything else you see.
#21 | essive (http://www.webprofessionaltemplates.com)
Let's face it, the design world is changing. Your personal style may not be the right answer. Ask yourself this question: does your portfolio have substance to its style?
Now, what does that question really mean? Stylistic views of the world are changing rapidly. The meaning of style has become an important ingredient to all walks of life.
Take a look at Virginia Postrel's book The Substance of Style. It might be very enlightening.
#22 | r0ss
I was just offered a job building and designing sites for a pretty nice local web design agency.
They asked me to change my website so that I'm not selling my freelance services. Potentially, customers that I get could be theirs. I understand that but I wish I could still do freelance on the side. Which I may do for friends or clients I know my new employers wouldnt take.
Question is, I'm not really big into blogging but I still want a site of my own. Do you think I need to remove my portfolio all together? Does having my portfolio online constitute as me selling my freelance services? If I choose not to do a blog site what else could I do?
Thanks for any input.
#23 | Allan White (http://www.awhitespace.net/)
I'm preparing to overhaul my portfolio site, which is kinda scattered between a Flash portfolio and some blog-based case studies.
two-thirty's site is nice & clean, but offers no in-depth information. The other is very nice, but a bit much visually.
I've been looking at Mark Boulton's lately as a good balance. Clean, neat, organized.
#24 | wink (http://site-unseen.net/wink)
If Kyle is right and there are three different business-related goals for portfolios, each with their own style, then why not create three different style sheets for the same portfolio page a la CSS Zen Garden. Just use a default one for search engine results, a different style sheet on promotional materials and business cards, and a third one for presentations. Best of all worlds. (But three times as much design work.)
#25 | Allan White (http://www.awhitespace.net/)
A colleague and I were discussing this topic at lunch today. We were talking about the level of detail for a portfolio entry - how much to write about it? At what point is a case study warranted?
My client base, like Paul's, is almost entirely referral-based. If my audience is mostly referred clients, do you think clients read case studies? Or do they just scan and search for a "look" that might fit them?
Email information is not stored by us and is only used to send out the email.
« My Unadulterated SXSW Lowlights | Portfolio Design Kyle's Way »
©2003-06 9rules, Inc. | Thoughts Feed | Notes Feed
Amazon Stores: Powertools | Jewelry | Books | Health | Landscaping | Kitchen | Movies