Portfolio

[mac 2005]

I'll assume you mean me with that comment - its quite simple really as there was no reference to age anywhere on the site I had to make an estimate at the op's age, as I posted the first impressions and about me gave me the idea that it was a younger person. As I'm sure you're aware work created upto 16-18 (high school/a-level) is completely different to that which is created during/after uni, different life experiences, teaching standards etc - hell I know mine was. So to judge the work of someone who has just come out of high school/a-levels and looking for a uni placement at the same level as someone looking for a job would be unfair because the requirements (atleast in my experience) are generally completely different.
I'm even harsher with my own work, you can't do things half heartedly these days.

But, atleast in my opinion, I have given fair feedback on the site with suggestions where necessary. There's no point beating around the bush if the work isn't upto the expected standard, universities and businesses are now cherry picking because they want the best due to there being both a recession and (atleast in the UK) good money in being a high end uni.

You can defend your approach all you like, but age simply plays no role here -- not in terms of the advice you could offer or the courtesy you should extend. Einstein developed the theory of relativity while working as a patent clerk. Were this forum available then, would you justify lashing out at him because he did not work for an accredited "uni"?

In any creative endeavor, there is no easy way to discern who has the "gift" beyond the work individuals produce. Based on the work I saw, the OP could just as easily be 16 as he could be 46; you don't know. Offer the feedback/critique people request; if your comments work for them, chances are they may come back to you for the advice you want to give.

 

[LeviG]

You can defend your approach all you like, but age simply plays no role here -- not in terms of the advice you could offer or the courtesy you should extend. Einstein developed the theory of relativity while working as a patent clerk. Were this forum available then, would you justify lashing out at him because he did not work for an accredited "uni"?

iirc einstein's theories were initially snubbed.
But as I said different advice is needed for a uni placement over a job, and if the site gives the impression that the person is still in their teens when they're not it isn't a good start if looking for a job is it

In any creative endeavor, there is no easy way to discern who has the "gift" beyond the work individuals produce. Based on the work I saw, the OP could just as easily be 16 as he could be 46; you don't know. Offer the feedback/critique people request; if your comments work for them, chances are they may come back to you for the advice you want to give.

My estimate on age was due to not just the work but the about me page, as I've already explained all my reasonings I'll leave it here - if you're not happy with my approach then fair enough but the op asked more questions in respect to my comments.
You could also argue that they don't have to take the advice if they don't like it.

 

[JasonElise1983]

well, i'll critique your site (and maybe some of your work)

Site Build:
is wonky at best. I don't really care if it's flash, html, or something i've never heard of. If it works, it works, and that's what matters at the end of the day. Right now, your site doesn't really work. From the home page i can click on "portfolio" and get a page that has one thing on it. if i click portfolio again, i ge 2 things, click it again there are 3 things, etc... Also, if i click on any of the other links i just get random pages. Sometimes it takes me to what i want, but mostly it takes me to some random page. Like i can click on Contact Us and get a big picture of Paul Rand. Work on that...it's a big problem. I'm using Safari 3.1.2 with the most current Flash player so, i don't think it's me.

Site Design:
I like the hand drawn stuff. It's pretty, but to me your site has no backbone, no cohesive idea. A good designers site is pretty and well put together. A great designers website has an idea or a concept behind it. Ok, back to design. I really don't like the boxyness of it. You've got this distructed edge on the whole thing. Maybe make that less subtle, and the color of the html background, so it looks as though the site is literally rough around the edges (which kind of plays into the hand done aspect). Play with the menu some more, i'm not sure it's right. I don't like the fact that it's not in the same place as the "splash screen"...and why do you need a splash screen? Maybe make the site more "interactive" by having better transitions between pages. Make it worth using flash if you are going to use it.

Work:
I think your work is good, needs a little polishing and refinement. Mostly, things are just too big and kind of random. I'd like to see you use a grid once and a while, just so you understand the premise, and it would help clean things up. Experiment with type and color a little more too. Try to use more of a hand done look and feel in your work, if that is really what you are into. Develop your style basically. The photomontages on the bottom are kind of weak. Look like you just through a bunch of images togther and between feathering, erasing, and blending modes, you managed to get something "cool". I don't really know what could make them better, but they need a lot of work in my opinion.

alright, that's all i got.

-je

 

[bntz313]

Thanks alot.

I'm going to keep working on it, and putting more samples and cleaning up the ones I have.

I'm using Safari 3.2.1 and the new flash player also. The links are kinda messed up at times, it's weird sometimes the work good and other times it don't.

 

[JasonElise1983]

I'm using Safari 3.2.1 and the new flash player also. The links are kinda messed up at times, it's weird sometimes the work good and other times it don't.

How is ur site built? Is it all on one timeline? Did you use scenes? I would consider calling external swfs instead, scenes are a little strange, and if something doesn't completely load, it will randomly pick where it needs to go. If you don't want to rebuild it, put preloaders at the front of each scene, it should keep it from doing that.

-je