ABNY11 Week3 - Profile

A Brand New You:

Profile & Portfolio
“Luck is what happens when
preparation meets opportunity”
- Seneca quotes
(Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)

© Jade Tang | Term Two, Semester Two | Week 3

A Brand New You: The importance of Profile/Portfolio
Bachelor of Design | Year Two Elective
http://abny2011.tumblr.com/

--
Luck = Opportunity + Preparation
http://www.idea-sandbox.com/blog/2009/06/seneca-luck-opportunity-preparation/



Expert Advice:
How can students and young designers make
themselves more valuable to potential employers?

--
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/17/group-interview-advice-for-students-and-new-designers/



Expert Advice:

“Start building a Web presence as early as possible, even before
seeking a junior position. Buy a personal domain and set up a
simple portfolio, with an “About” page that gives a snapshot of your
personality and talents.”
- Darren Hoyt

--
http://www.darrenhoyt.com/



Expert Advice:

“Be concise. Employers and human resource people are like
anyone else: they are busy and have short attention spans. Don’t
make them dig to find out who you are.”
- Darren Hoyt

--



Expert Advice:

“Also, don’t exaggerate the facts when presenting yourself. Our
lives are way too public these days to bother. More important than
bragging or dazzling anyone with half-truths is finding a team whose
needs and interests align with your own. If you get hired under false
pretences, you will have wasted everyone’s time.”
- Darren Hoyt

--



Expert Advice:

“As I mentioned before, I’m a huge fan of the interdisciplinary
approach. At most companies, you are unlikely to work exclusively in
a single field.
- Wolfgang Bartelme

--
http://www.bartelme.at/



Expert Advice:

“Just being a nice person and easy to work with is pretty huge.

Other random advice: become really good at one thing. You’ll be a lot more
valuable as the guy or girl who knows that one thing really well than as a jack of
all trades. Being well-rounded is awesome, but having a spike of talent in one
particular area will serve you well.”
- Chris Coyier

--
http://chriscoyier.net/



A personal portfolio
website is all about
promoting you.
You are a brand, and your name is a brand name. No one is going to know
about your brand unless you get it out there; and for creative professionals, it’s
essential that you have a “good portfolio website”.



So, what makes for
a good personal
portfolio website?
[ BRAINSTORM ]



So, what makes for
a good personal
portfolio website?
[ Top10 tips ]



Top10 tips: #1 Logo
What makes for a good personal portfolio website?

Your logo (Brand ID) is usually the first thing a user sees. In the Western world,
we read from left to right, top to bottom, so it makes sense to put your logo in the top
left of your website so that users can immediately identify who owns the website.



Top10 tips: #2 Tagline

Once the user sees who owns the website, they’ll want to know what it is you do. This is where
you explain what you do with a tagline. Your tagline (Brand Statement) should be short and
snappy, summarizing what you do.



Top10 tips: #3 Portfolio

This is a personal portfolio website after all, so your portfolio will determine whether the
website is interesting or not. People will want to see your previous work to decide whether
you’re good or not and for general interest, to see what you’ve been up to in the past.



Top10 tips: #4 Services

Make it clear, and break it down: Web design, development, video, copywriting, branding, etc.
You may want to be even more specific: corporate branding, church website design, Flash banner
ads and so on. You can’t expect potential clients to guess what you do based on your portfolio,
and you don’t want to leave them wondering whether you offer a particular service or not.



Top10 tips: #5 About

It’s all about you. Let people see the man or woman behind the mask (i.e. website). Share your
background, where you came from, how many years you’ve been in the business, etc. The more
details you give, the better your users can form a bond and build trust with you.



Top10 tips: #6 Contact

This is one of the most important elements of a portfolio website but is often hidden or even
neglected. A potential client has browsed your website, is impressed with your portfolio and can
see who you are. Now they want to hire you. Your contact information should be obvious
and easy to access.



Top10 tips: #7 Blog

A blog is always a good idea. Blog about your area of expertise; show you know what you’re
talking about. It will help promote you and prevent your website from lying static.



Top10 tips: #8 Call-Action

Ask yourself what you want to get out of your personal portfolio website. Do you want to be hired?
Attract more blog readers? Maybe you just want people to know who you are.
Each page should have a call to action, a “Next step.”



Top10 tips: #9 Be Social

Now that people have an interest in you and your work, encourage them to follow you on other
websites. Make it clear that they can follow you on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, etc.
Make the most of social networks and have a group of friends to call on if needed.



Top10 tips: #10 Tone

From language to communication tone, how you conduct yourself is important. Remember, it’s a
personal portfolio website, so be personal. You don’t need to sound like a corporate brand with no
emotion. Be friendly and personal, but also clear and precise; don’t ramble.

NB: Once you write all the text for your website, read it again and see if you can cut it in half.



Common mistakes
designers make in
their portfolios

[ BRAINSTORM ]



Pitfall: #1 Obfuscation
Common mistakes designers make in their portfolios
Clarity and focus should
permeate your portfolio.
With language don’t use twenty
words when seven will do.
Push your best content to the
front. When possible place
your important content above
the fold. Avoid meandering in
your language or paths in your
website. Keep your portfolio
to the minimum of levels deep,
while still accomplishing your
goals.



Pitfall: #2 Info Cramming
There is an issue of wanting to
say too much in too little space
when creating your portfolio.
There is a balance that needs
to be achieved with how many
pages deep you have users
clicking for more information
and how much information
you try to fit on a page. This is
an issue to be aware of when
constructing your portfolio.

--
Grid and Column Designs
http://www.webdesignerwall.com/trends/grid-and-column-designs/



Pitfall: #3: Overdoing It

You’re less likely to go wrong if you keep things simple and organized.
You can apply this mindset to all areas of your portfolio. Less is more.
The more you try to do in your portfolio the more chances there are for
things to go wrong.



Pitfall: #4 ‘Unique’ Nav
Designers have an urge to
stand out as unique. The
last place to follow this urge is
in your site’s navigation. It’s a
matter of numbers. If a large
number of people coming to
see your portfolio will have
difficulty navigating through it,
your portfolio will fail to meet its
goals.

--
This article presents some excellent examples of navigation choices to avoid.
http://astheria.com/design/my-last-portfolio-sucked-yours-might-too/



Pitfall: #5 Visual Clutter
Common mistakes designers make in their portfolio
Consider the purpose of any
decorative element you bring
to your portfolio. If they fit your
goals and compliment your
work that’s great. Otherwise
remove them. White space
helps to give a professional feel
to your portfolio. The more
visual elements you try to
push into an area the more
difficult it will be to maintain a
feeling of professionalism.
--
Visible Narratives: Understanding Visual Organization
http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/visible_narratives_
understanding_visual_organization



A Brand New You:

Profile & Portfolio

[ Tools ]



Tools:
Set up Domain Name URL
(Universal username)

(.com) http://www.godaddy.com/
(.co.nz) http://www.freeparking.co.nz/
(e-mail) http://www.registerdirect.co.nz/



Tools:
Set up Profile
(Blogs, Online Visual Diary, Virtual Scrapbook, etc)

Blogs Micro-blogs
• Wordpress • Tumblr
• Blogger/Blogspot • Posterous



Tools:
Set up Portfolio (Multiple online platforms)

• Behance http://www.behance.net/
• CarbonMade http://carbonmade.com/
• CargoCollective http://cargocollective.com/
• Coroflot http://www.coroflot.com/
• Deviant Art http://www.deviantart.com/
• Dribble http://dribbble.com/



A Brand New You:

Profile & Portfolio

[ Examples ]



Examples:
Single-serving Tumblr blogs:
http://mashable.com/2010/02/09/single-serving-tumblr-blogs/



Examples:
Personal Portfolio Tumblr blogs:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-free-tumblr-themes-create-portfolio/



Examples:
Professional Media Tumblr blogs:
http://mashable.com/2010/10/03/news-media-tumblrs/



Examples:
Tumblr customisations:
http://designinformer.com/impressive-tumblr-customizations/



A Brand New You:

Content & Character

[ Exercises ]
© Jade Tang | Term Two, Semester Two | Week 3: 12th October 2010

A Brand New You: The importance of Profile & Portfolio
http://groups.google.co.nz/group/abrandnewyou2010

Exercises:
1. Set up Personal (Tumblr) Blog
2. Integrate Brand ID/Avatar
3. Integrate Brand Statement
4. Write Introduction Post
5. Upload Portfolio* Pieces
6. Customise Theme

*Or relevant material for blog



Tumblr: Intro

[ VIDEO ] Tumblr: http://vimeo.com/2841524



Tumblr: Intro
The Vimeo Blog:
http://vimeo.tumblr.com/



Tumblr: Background
Tumblelogs are the self-proclaimed “easiest way to express
yourself.” Tumblr makes it effortless to share text, photos, quotes,
links, music, and videos, from your browser, phone, desktop, email,
or wherever you happen to be.

--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumblr



Why Tumblr?
Tumblr v/s WordPress

WordPress is more powerful but more bulky;
Tumblr is more simple but more limited.

--
http://nargaque.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/tumblr-vs-wordpress-simplicity-vs-power/



Why Tumblr?
Tumblr v/s Posterous

One of the more interesting startup battles in recent times has been Tumblr vs.
Posterous, two light blogging services that make it easy for anyone to publish
‘found’ things very quickly and at the click of a button.

--
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/tumblr_leaves_posterous_in_the_dust.php



Why Tumblr?
Why Tumblr Is Kicking Posterous’s Ass

The answer is as easy as it is counter-intuitive:
Tumblr is a New York company and
Posterous is a Silicon Valley company.

Or, to put it another way:
Posterous is an engineered product, while
Tumblr is a designed product. More simple but more limited.

--
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-tumblr-is-kicking-posterous-ass-2010-1#ixzz120JLNxzi



References:
• http://www.digital-web.com/articles/the_perfect_portfolio/
• http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/26/10-steps-to-the-perfect-portfolio-website/
• http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/04/creating-a-successful-online-portfolio/
• http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-free-tumblr-themes-create-portfolio/
• http://www.heavy-backpack.com/archives/articles/top-10-best-tumblr-designs-themes
• http://web.appstorm.net/roundups/self-publishing/the-top-twelve-tumblr-themes/
• http://web.appstorm.net/roundups/the-best-premium-tumblr-themes/
• http://www.tumblr.com/directory/designers
• http://www.escapeintolife.com/showcase/25-recommended-art-and-design-tumblrs/
• http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2010/03/top_20_tumblr_blogs_you_should_be_following.html
• http://mashable.com/2010/10/03/news-media-tumblrs/



A Brand New You:

Profile & Portfolio
[ Questions ]



ABNY11 Week3 - Profile

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (6)

Similar to ABNY11 Week3 - Profile

Similar to ABNY11 Week3 - Profile (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

ABNY11 Week3 - Profile