Top ten tips and guide to creating web designer portfolios
As a freelancer or just someone who wants to get noticed on the web, it is important to have a portfolio of your work. The common thinking at the moment is that a web portfolio should only be one page. The page should cover who you are, contact information, what you stand for and a selection of your work with reference to important clients. The information should be presented in an easily accessible way with everything at the viewers finger tips.
The important thing to remember is that a portfolio is a place to showcase your talents and your work. In order to do this people must be able to access your content with ease. There is no point having fancy coding showing off what you can do if it will not work on the most popular browsers and there is no point showing off your art work if people cant see it because the site is too fragmented.
Work out your objectives for creating the portfolio and find your audience. Find a simple way of displaying all the information easily and in an appropriate style for your target audience. If you're a graphic designer it should be highly graphical, if you aim to work for financial organisation it should be structured and professional. Think what you would want to see if you were them.
There is a famous phrase, a picture is worth a thousand words. That is true on portfolio sites. People will be drawn to images and not to huge amounts of text. Draw them to example images of your work and provide appropriate text if required but do not overwhelm the viewer.
It is essential that people can access everything they need to on your portfolio site. The navigation must be simple and intuitive. You should have clear access to your work, contact information and details about you. Make sure that they can examine your work, if its just a small image or a mock up of a site its not good enough. They need to see your work to its full potential, that means full size images and fully functioning web sites, including links.
In the modern era of the web, there is a focus on social networking. If you have a professional presents on any of the major sites make sure you provide access. As this can help people feel more like they know you.
Finally. Provide a downloadable version of your portfolio just in case people need to take it away with them. Only show the best pieces of your work. Builders don't show you the house that only just stands up. Above all show your personality if you don't like it no one else will.
Here is a recap of the 10 most important things to remember when designing a portfolio site:
Learn from the best, have a look at some of our favourites here http://www.onlinetektraining.com/best_freelance_one_page_web_portfolios.php [http://www.onlinetektraining.com/best_freelance_one_page_web_portfolios.php]
The important thing to remember is that a portfolio is a place to showcase your talents and your work. In order to do this people must be able to access your content with ease. There is no point having fancy coding showing off what you can do if it will not work on the most popular browsers and there is no point showing off your art work if people cant see it because the site is too fragmented.
Work out your objectives for creating the portfolio and find your audience. Find a simple way of displaying all the information easily and in an appropriate style for your target audience. If you're a graphic designer it should be highly graphical, if you aim to work for financial organisation it should be structured and professional. Think what you would want to see if you were them.
There is a famous phrase, a picture is worth a thousand words. That is true on portfolio sites. People will be drawn to images and not to huge amounts of text. Draw them to example images of your work and provide appropriate text if required but do not overwhelm the viewer.
It is essential that people can access everything they need to on your portfolio site. The navigation must be simple and intuitive. You should have clear access to your work, contact information and details about you. Make sure that they can examine your work, if its just a small image or a mock up of a site its not good enough. They need to see your work to its full potential, that means full size images and fully functioning web sites, including links.
In the modern era of the web, there is a focus on social networking. If you have a professional presents on any of the major sites make sure you provide access. As this can help people feel more like they know you.
Finally. Provide a downloadable version of your portfolio just in case people need to take it away with them. Only show the best pieces of your work. Builders don't show you the house that only just stands up. Above all show your personality if you don't like it no one else will.
Here is a recap of the 10 most important things to remember when designing a portfolio site:
1 Social networking is the big thing at the moment, include links to your pages
2 Allow for downloadable resume
3 Testimonials from clients
4 Only show your best work.
5 Aim at your target audience
6 Cover who you are and what you stand for but don't go on
7 Make it easy to contact you
8 Easy navigation
9 Emphasise your work
10 Keep to one page for your main content
Learn from the best, have a look at some of our favourites here http://www.onlinetektraining.com/best_freelance_one_page_web_portfolios.php [http://www.onlinetektraining.com/best_freelance_one_page_web_portfolios.php]
Source...