Building a Graphics Design portfolio?

TwoSaints · 5 May 2009 at 16:57

The hosting seems fine for a personal/portfolio site, I think it's more than what I have for photography which will use a similar amount of space/bandwidth.

As for what you can install on it, that is limitless so long as your server meets the requirements (i.e. has the right software installed [php/mysql etc]) and you have enough space left to put it there.

Do they supply a domain or have you registered your own? If not, there's your next step

if you have the domain, your host should tell you where to point it, if they are supplying it they will do that, then you start uploading!

CliffyBiro · 5 May 2009 at 17:01

The fee's include the domain which will be registered under my name.

http://www.hardlightmedia.net

ATM, I'm having problems incorporating a free flash photo gallery into the site.

Dup · 5 May 2009 at 17:11

Stuff like this:

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A178gn/2008Portfolio/

A good range of media is a good start, but don't get too hung up over trying to cover all bases. Work that has been used is always preffered, but there's nothing wrong with fictional work to practice company branding and other concepts from websites to business cards.

Take on a project, do some sketches/concepts either on paper or in digital then take them to a final product. You could then collate this into one stylised image to show the thought process, that could be interesting. Like you get with car concepts.

I'm not a graphic designer but I do have half the skills to take it somewhere. I'm just hopeless at being inspired and motivated

having dabbled in Photoshop to 3D studio max. I've done a CD cover that went on sale on a small scale and have done a couple of websites but its not much to show. What most compnaies do is compile a book of their best work but I wouldn't look at the bigger picture just yet, just get into a groove and get some ink to paper

tsinc80697 · 5 May 2009 at 17:26

Expression Engine is great, just redone my site using it, links in my signature but it costs $250/license for the full version. Well worth it in my eyes but not at this point for you if you're on a budget!

If you want a CMS then try a free one, pixie or Wordpress maybe? Depends how blog orientated you want the site or more like a content management system!

If you need any help with xHTML/CSS/jQuery/CMS then just mail me via my site, happy to help out a forum member as I have some spare time at the moment!

CliffyBiro · 5 May 2009 at 17:37

tsinc80697 said:
Expression Engine is great, just redone my site using it, links in my signature but it costs $250/license for the full version. Well worth it in my eyes but not at this point for you if you're on a budget!

If you want a CMS then try a free one, pixie or Wordpress maybe? Depends how blog orientated you want the site or more like a content management system!

If you need any help with xHTML/CSS/jQuery/CMS then just mail me via my site, happy to help out a forum member as I have some spare time at the moment!

I'll most likely take you up on that.

Thanks.

valve90210 · 6 May 2009 at 14:55

skippi90 said:
OK so I've just funded up my bank account to buy the One.com package today.

Web space - 3000 MB
Unlimited transfer
Unlimited e-mail accounts
Virus- and spam filter
Photo GalleryNEW!
WebEditor
Blog - 3 clicks
FTP-login - Statistics
PHP5 - MySQL
Daily backup
FREE - Google Adwords coupon
FREE - Live Help 24/7

Does that seem decent enough?

Is there a limit to what I can install on it? I've been advised to implement this:
http://expressionengine.com/

Once I have purchased the package, what's the next step?

Where did you find the info about the one.com package, I can't find any info about each of the different packages...

CliffyBiro · 6 May 2009 at 15:25

valve90210 said:
Where did you find the info about the one.com package, I can't find any info about each of the different packages...

It's on their front page. Pretty much the only difference between the packages is how much storage you are given.

CliffyBiro · 6 May 2009 at 15:45

The site is now live but I'm still working on it and there a few adjustments to be made.

http://www.hardlightmedia.net/

The banner and the photo gallery are two things I need to sort out first.

There isn't much content on it yet but I wanted to see how it would work.

valve90210 · 6 May 2009 at 15:48

skippi90 said:
It's on their front page. Pretty much the only difference between the packages is how much storage you are given.

Lol, how on earth did I miss that??? I just clicked on the packages on the far right.

Doh

Valve

CliffyBiro · 6 May 2009 at 16:41

Portfolio also now live.

Have just uploaded logos from the recent competition to test it for now.

katie279 · 6 May 2009 at 17:00

great work Skippi - if you are going to show this as a portfolio site for html/web design, make sure you validate everything:

http://validator.w3.org/check?verbose=1&uri=http://www.hardlightmedia.net/

http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/...&warning=0&uri=http://www.hardlightmedia.net/

All web design companies looking to employ you will code validate and also pick through your code in some detail - keep developing it! (maybe a touch of jquery/ajax for the menu if you're feeling adventurous!)

Make sure you mail me if you're stuck on anything!

CliffyBiro · 6 May 2009 at 17:02

katie279 said:
great work Skippi - if you are going to show this as a portfolio site for html/web design, make sure you validate everything:

http://validator.w3.org/check?verbose=1&uri=http://www.hardlightmedia.net/

http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/...&warning=0&uri=http://www.hardlightmedia.net/

All web design companies looking to employ you will code validate and also pick through your code in some detail - keep developing it! (maybe a touch of jquery/ajax for the menu if you're feeling adventurous!)

Make sure you mail me if you're stuck on anything!

Cheers for that. Will do.

TwoSaints · 6 May 2009 at 18:02

it's a good idea to put these links into the footer of your page:

HTML: http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=referer

CSS: http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/check/referer

Then anyone can check that your work is valid from any page by just 1 click - done that at the bottom of my site so you can get the idea on there if you like

valve90210 · 6 May 2009 at 22:08

Good work on the site Skippi, it looks good.

Anyone use finalcrit? I'm trying to get a portfolio setup but the site is quite possibly the slowest site I've ever used, anyone else find this?

Valve

CliffyBiro · 6 May 2009 at 22:15

valve90210 said:
Good work on the site Skippi, it looks good.

Anyone use finalcrit? I'm trying to get a portfolio setup but the site is quite possibly the slowest site I've ever used, anyone else find this?

Valve

Thanks.

Yeah I signed up but it is unbearably slow.

valve90210 · 6 May 2009 at 22:18

Glad it's not just me, thought my internet connection was playing up.

jongeeone · 6 May 2009 at 22:38

Boo you bought hosting somewhere else!

CliffyBiro · 6 May 2009 at 22:48

jongeeone said:
Boo you bought hosting somewhere else!

I know, sorry.

It was just too good an offer! £9 for the first year including all the space I need, domain, unlimited email accounts etc.

I've been out of work for coming up to 6 months so every penny is golden.

CliffyBiro · 6 May 2009 at 22:49

Oh, and I've sorted the annoying banner.

After advice from Katie, I've done away with it altogether and instead just gone with a simple logo in the top left corner.

TwoSaints · 6 May 2009 at 23:41

You have made the right choice, looks nice now

Also fixed width is much better.

btw - there is a problem with your da link in your sig