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General Design: Portfolio Layout - Emptiness

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  1.  permalink
    I recently bought a program called SWiSH (like Flash) which I've been trying to create my site like a maniac on. The address is: http://www.thecurbside.net/portfolio

    Yes, I know, a lotta people think Flash is bad, but I -- on the contrary -- don't.

    The problem:
    My portfolio site seems a bit 'empty' so to speak. I've never really settled on a good layout. What can I change to attract visitors more, and basically change it up into a portfolio site?

    Any suggestions?
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      CommentAuthormringlein
    • CommentTimeJul 31st 2006
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    If you want to "fill" out the site and be more attractive -- add thumbnails!! Everyone loves previews. Start making stuff, don't let your whole experience be summed up with two active links. Even if what you make is non-commissioned (or paid) -- make more stuff. You've got some good creative stuff in your flickr, show that on the site to fill it out more. It doesn’t matter that your primary concern is showcasing "web" work -- what you are demonstrating here is that you live and breathe creativity!!!

    I'd also start by renaming your portfolio to "portfolio" -- "services" is misleading; very sales oriented. I've got to jump on the anti-flash bandwagon, your SEO is going to keep you from "attracting visitors" (remember, metatags aren't going to help you too much these days). While SWiSH might make it fast and easy to put together a "website" -- you might not attract many people interested in semantic webstandards "web 2.0" work (perhaps the everyday joe won't even notice).

    I love your blog man -- go back to that style and work with it. A portfolio on the web these days is more about identity than a small showcase of work. Again, through your blog you are demonstrating your passion. I love the "My Rules" icon -- perfectly put!!!
  3.  permalink
    Thanks a lot for all of the advice. That sounds like a good idea -- thumbnails :D. That makes sense to showcase everyone, rather than just web oriented stuff.

    That's a nice idea to change the link from services to portfolio. Never really thought of that :-p. I should probably go ahead and use CSS and whatnot to make the site, rather than the whole thing as flash. I was thinking about that. Though, I am going to make a Flash image slideshow of my (dum dum duuuuum) THUMBNAILS. haha.

    Thanks for the comments about my blog :D.
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      CommentAuthorJohnRiv
    • CommentTimeJul 31st 2006
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    I'm here to smack martin off the "Flash is Bad for SEO" bandwagon :P

    If anyone thinks Flash is bad for SEO, read this:

    http://blog.deconcept.com/2006/03/13/modern-approach-flash-seo/

    nice site btw Joshua, although the sound that's played when you click a link scared the crap out of me (it's late and quiet and my computer speakers were turned up :P)
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      CommentAuthormringlein
    • CommentTimeAug 1st 2006
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    I hate JohnRiv. And... also... I agree that flash and SEO can be friendly -- but not in the basic (typical SWiSH) implimentation. If you are going to keep it all flash, I definitly suggest keeping with the suggestions in deconcept's article. Right now, all google will index on the portfolio site is "You need to have Flash to view this site. And obviously you don't. So go away." And P.S. I love Flash!
  6.  permalink
    Mister Bubbles!

    I don't see any reason to use Flash in this particular layout.
    All this stuff can be done without using Flash.
    I don't hate Flash or Love it but most time I just don't care about it much.
    I admit a lot Flash sites are very annoying and hard to navigate through.

    But it's just me!
  7.  permalink
    I already took a bit of mringlein's advice, and I'm actually turning it into a CSS and actual xhtml site. Though, as I said earlier, I'm still going to use a bit-o-flash for the thumbnail stuff. And maybe I'll still use it for the logo (if you notice, the little kid blinks).

    JohnRiv -
    Haha, it scared the crap outta you? Sweet, that's what I was shootin' for :D.

    Thanks for the suggestions and compliments guys :D
  8.  permalink
    Here's my advice (disregard at will): You need to focus on a style/brand - what I mean is, you've got the 50s style illustration of a kid (which I like), but it doesn't really go with the photo in the background (which I also like). Your typography is all over the place; it looks like there are at least 4 different font faces on a single page.

    The portfolio shows me nothing. There are no thumbnails to make me want to take a closer look - only a text description which doesn't do much for me. Secondly, when I do click on a link to see more the popup window you're trying to launch is blocked by my Firefox browser.

    I absolutely hate the sound effect on the navigation links. I literally don't want to click on them because I am so averse to the noise.

    I don't understand the point of building this with Flash or SWiSH. I am a big proponent of Flash when it's used correctly (this is usually a very dynamic site pulling in XML and using heavy ActionScripting), but this doesn't need to be Flash.

    Did I mention how much I hate that noise?
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    Haha, okay, fine, you hate the noise. I think I got that :-p.

    I was second guessing the background image at first; I can't really figure out what type of image I can use. I want it to be one of my own photographs though, to represent me.

    Thanks for the critique.

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