Thoughts on my portfolio template?

[bluetooth]

Working on updating my Portfolio. I have two layouts. The first has a side bar with info - there was a portfolio on here with a similiar sidebar that gave me some inspiration for that concept.

The second is a lot simpler and just has my logo with Client and Media.

I think I am leaning towards the latter as it is nice and clean and simple but wanted some opinions on how it looks or any suggestions.

The website was just a piece I pulled from my portfolio - the majority will be print media (flyers/posters/brochures/banners etc.)

Cool.

 

[tominated]

no sidebar. It uses too much real estate on a piddly little screen like the laptop that I am typing from.

 

[LeviG]

personally I like the simplicity of the all white one but I also think its too simple, a user has to be able to figure out how to work the site, ie moving to the next example page, something clearly defined by the two triangles on the grey edged one.

 

[oscuh]

Initially I was like "what sidebar?" and then I saw it hiding off to the right there. So, therefore, no sidebar gets my vote!

 

[bluetooth]

personally I like the simplicity of the all white one but I also think its too simple, a user has to be able to figure out how to work the site, ie moving to the next example page, something clearly defined by the two triangles on the grey edged one.

Yes, good point. I am planning on having a row of thumbs above the page of all work in that category. I am also thinking of having a larger triangle on the right side of the page pop up when you move your mouse over the right side of the page. And a "back" triangle pop up when you move your mouse over the left side of the page.

 

[LeviG]

Yes, good point. I am planning on having a row of thumbs above the page of all work in that category. I am also thinking of having a larger triangle on the right side of the page pop up when you move your mouse over the right side of the page. And a "back" triangle pop up when you move your mouse over the left side of the page.

think about the user experience, the design can come second, someone who isnt tech savvy will probably just close the window down if they have to go hunting for bits.

Also wouldnt it affect the design having the menu over the top anyways so it might be worth knocking up a quick photoshop of the overall design with the top menu, you might not like the design overall

 

[bluetooth]

I attached a couple of the layouts to give you a clearer idea...let me know what you think.

thanks.

 

[LeviG]

Yeah not too bad, maybe consider lightening the top images till you run a mouse over or something, just so they're not so distracting if you have a darker page.

Also in my opinion the arrows are too dark and distract from the rest of the page, maybe look at reversing the colours so the arrow is grey and the surround is white or going for a paler shade, similar to the menu bar design in the first group.

 

[bluetooth]

ok thanks for the feedback.

 

[chaos86]

the smallest inner measurments of any browser on any platform at 800x600 is 755x400. I think it was IE5 on windows with all the toolbars and crap on.

If you want to design a website that will fit in everyones browsers (including the less tech-savvy office workers and who have low res screens and the startbar showing and google toolbars etc), then it must fit into those dimensions.

11% still use 800x600 or less. (http://www.thecounter.com/stats/2007/June/browser.php)