I seem to have started posting quite some messages in here. Maybe I’ll make it a good habit

Anyway .. back to the task at hand. I just started a topic in the forums about ways people present sites in their online portfolios. To quote my list:

1. each site has his own page in the portfolio, some description, clickable link to it and a snapshot (that’s how dojodesign.ro will have them in few days when I have the time to finish redesigning it)

2. a list with information and clickable links

3. just a list of links

4. just images

Which do you find better?

I like the first idea and as I already mentioned I will use it for the dojodesign.ro revamp. I want to offer a small screenshot of the page, information about the site and the technologies used plus MOST IMPORTANT the link to the actual project.

I have listed my options in the descending order of their “value”. I consider just a screenshot to be useless and makes me think WHY there’s no actual link to that site? Does that really exist? Is it deleted?

I just saw another portfolio today with 300 px wide images of the sites. Now how can I manage to see how this site looks if I have a quarter of the actual size (or half), a small graphic, pixelated and unclear? How does that designer think he’ll get clients when no one can actually see how that site looks?

From all these I can think about some NOT TO DO things when presenting a portfolio.

1. Don’t offer a clickable link to the sites.

Any normal person who’s looking at a web design portfolio knows a web designer makes sites. And the weird thing is that’s exactly WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE. A site. Even if the designer places just a clickable link and no screenshots and description in the portfolio is still better than not giving that link.

2. Throw in some links and .. that’s all

It’s better than just getting a screenshot, but still I would expect some more from this. Just some links there are not content and some description might actualy make the site rank better because of some more content. Not to mention that people would like to read more about the projects.

3. Throw an animation and that’s the site

I cannot understand why I despise Flash that much. No, it’s not that “sour grapes” thing, it’s just that most of the time I don’t see its use. Many people use Flash because it’s “cool” but have no skills to make that site look more than just another site that could be HTML as far as the actions are concerned. If the designer still likes this that much … he / she should at least try to accomplish some effects that would really make it worth the effort. And also work a bit on optimizing the entire thing since Google is yet not that pleased with animations’ code to be able to index the content fast.

4. Have a bad design

I know that not all the so called designers can actually make a site that looks OK colour-wise, but at least in the portfolio’s case they should make an exception. I have seen so many horrible portfolios that claim professionalism that it just makes me leave the business. And the best thing is when they do have a bad coloured ugly image site with those insane yellow buttons (valid XML code and so on). Do you really think your client gives a damn about the fact your site validates. They don’t even know what that means. But they do have eyes to see it’s ugly. That should make some people think more …

5. Put Google Adsense and other ads.

I refused a link exchange with a similar site yesterday. I don’t promote ANYTHING else than my own creations in my portfolio. No Adsense, Clicksor, no affiliates. Just the sites created by Dojo Design and those in the network (all created by DD too, of course). My portfolio is my own place to brag about my skills and show off. Not to earn 20 cents from Adsense or promote another designer.

As I mentioned Dojo Design is on the verge of a re-design. The mockup design is almost done, but I am still trying to get some time to actually finish it. I have some clients at the moment and their paid work is more important right now.

But when I’ll finish I hope it will be a good one. With more information about the services, projects and even awards we got. It’s important to show all the information and give that visitors more to see. Who knows, after this, they might actually contact the designer

Filed under: Web business by ramona