My Portfolio - C&C Appreciated

Kent · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:35

Hey, I'm 16 and have started developing my Portfolio. I wanted a stylish look but at the same time very simple and to the point. I think I have achieved that but I would like some more comments/suggestions as to how I can improve it, both graphically and textually.

My previous work will be up soon, I'm either going to place thumbnails across the top of the page or below the text in the content box.

Also, is it worth putting a price guide up or should I just let them contact me for a quote, which is more effective?

Thanks.

www.kentmayne.com

I am looking for comments on the site, not the previous work.

kitten_caboodle · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:48

I can't give you too much advice about the site but what a cool name you have there!!

The_KiD · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:49

WOW!!!!

there's nothing there but a coming soon page, plus it looks all cockeyed (using FF here) the top 2 lines are not centred with the rest.

Kent · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:53

The_KiD said:
WOW!!!!

there's nothing there but a coming soon page, plus it looks all cockeyed (using FF here) the top 2 lines are not centred with the rest.

It isn't the top two lines that arn't centered, it's just that the 'FOR HIRE' text has an image next to it, making it (and the line above) look off-centered. I've fixed it now anyway.

And it isn't a coming soon page, the only thing left to be added is previous work.

crystaline · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:54

all i can see is a coming soon holding page?

where should i click?

Raymond Lin · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:55

I don't see any portfolio... :confused:

YoungBlood · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:59

So you are going to add some websites that you have created in the past? Examples of your work......
There realy is'nt much to comment on right now but im sure when your samples are up you will get some good constructive critisism.

Kent · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:59

Raymond Lin said:
I don't see any portfolio...

OP said:
My previous work will be up soon,

Hopefully you've realised that it isn't finished and that I did state that there was no work up yet, and as you are commenting on the site, not the work, it is therefore unneccasary.

all i can see is a coming soon holding page?

Like I also said in the initial post, I wanted to keep it simple and to the point. Thus, no sub pages when one page gives you all the info you need.

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2006 at 15:59

sorry to be harsh, but what a load of rubbish.
You have nothing there. Why would people use you to make websites for them. When you don't even have a website yourself. ALso taht big green for high bit looks tacky and out of place.

Where's a phone number, address. Something which makes you real and thus safe to hand over cash. the skill set is hardly impressive iether. Although without portfolio we can't make many suggestions.

Samtheman1k · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:02

AcidHell2 said:
sorry to be harsh, but what a load of rubbish.
You have nothing there. Why would people use you to make websites for them. When you dont even have a website yourself.

Where's a phone number, address. Something which makes you real and thus safe to hand over cash. the skill set is hardly impressive iether. Although without portfolio we can't make many suggestions.

That's what I think. At the moment, I still dont' know if you are able to design websites.

Kent · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:02

AcidHell2 said:
sorry to be harsh, but what a load of rubbish.
You have nothing there. Why would people use you to make websites for them. When you dont even have a website yourself.

Where's a phone number, address. Something which makes you real and thus safe to hand over cash. the skill set is hardly impressive iether. Although without portfolio we can't make many suggestions.

I deal with my clients via the Internet, not offline communications.

You say my skillset isn't impressive, so what more do you expect from a web designer? The ability to juggle?

That's what I think. At the moment, I still dont' know if you are able to design websites.

Like I seem to have said a million times, the thread was made for people to comment on the site, not my portfolio. There will be one up and when there is then you will be able to decide.

YoungBlood · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:02

AcidHell2 said:
sorry to be harsh, but what a load of rubbish.
You have nothing there. Why would people use you to make websites for them. When you dont even have a website yourself.

Where's a phone number, address. Something which makes you real and thus safe to hand over cash. the skill set is hardly impressive iether. Although without portfolio we can't make many suggestions.

Well he is only 16, lets give him a chance and not kick him in the shins, im sure examples of what he can do will follow. He has to start somewhere.

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:05

Kent said:
I deal with my clients via the Internet, not offline communications.

You say my skillset isn't impressive, so what more do you expect from a web designer? The ability to juggle?

by that site it looks like you're making small static content web pages. there's no suggestion of database or other usefully tools. No e-commerce integration. But as I said its hard to advise without seeing previous work, as that affects what you need. But I know I wouldn't touch that website. I wouldn't even give it a 2nd glance. There's nothing to it.

YoungBlood said:
Well he is only 16, lets give him a chance and not kick him in the shins, im sure examples of what he can do will follow. He has to start somewhere.

I'm sure he can do it, but with that current website he's not going to get any business. Unfortnatley without the portfolio it's hard to advise on what to change/add.

But a telephone number is almost essential..

crystaline · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:07

I see what youre saying and you make good points about it being simple... but I think people need to see a bit more before they can comment.
It is just one page.
And yes.. the coming soon does imply that the majority of the content is missing.

As someone who employs webdesigners, I wouldn't be able to tell what level you could design at just by looking at that page.

The_KiD · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:08

As already pointed out, you will have a hard time getting people who dont already know you to use you.

A lack of phone number and address makes people edgy. Think about it, they email you and setup a job, you say £X for the job, they agree and send part payment, you disapear and stop answering their emails. then what do they do?

I personally would get yourself registered on somewhere like www.getafreelancer.com and earn cash that way, is much simpler.

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:15

this is a nice webpage

http://www.finerdesign.com/

It talks about the company, looks proffesional, its complicated enough to give a good impressions, then has a decent size portfolio.

this is a rubbish one.
http://www.eazy-web.co.uk/website_design_help.html
the content is ok, but the design makes it look cluttered and is hard to read.

The best thing is just type in web design in google and browse and see who you would buy from and why.

Kent · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:20

AcidHell2 said:
by that site it looks like you're making small static content web pages. there's no suggestion of database or other usefully tools. No e-commerce integration. But as I said its hard to advise without seeing previous work, as that affects what you need. But I know I wouldn't touch that website. I wouldn't even give it a 2nd glance. There's nothing to it.

How can my Portfolio site fully reflect my capabilities and experience?

e-commerce integration? www.pursuitsfreak.com (all the content was produced by the site owner, so I take no responsibility for that, I only designed the template & graphics and intergrated a system into it. The cluttered source code isn't me either, it's generated by the system.)

as for database programming, I am currently learning MySQL, thus, it is not on the skillset.

The_KiD · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:29

I have our company web designer stood next to me and I showed him your site and asked what he thought, he thinks you should find a new career.

Seriously though, there is nothing to comment on at that site, it looks like something you could knock up in about 20 mins in FrontPage or even MS word.

It is a coloured backgroudn with a white box and with very basic text.

Sorry but you asked for comments and critique and thats what you got.

Wake up and smell the coffee, you need to put a lot more work into your designs.

dont let us put you off though, this should make you more determined to prove us wrong, if it is just upsetting you and you think we are all wrong, then just remember we are joe public!

nin9abadga · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:31

wrong forum too i think bro, should be in the HTML programming one I reckon. the only other advice would be to change the email address into something that is less easier to rip out by the spam engines, unless you like getting spam....

also, you have <strong> tags in your layout code. i'd create a class and stick the control in your css file, cleaner code that way.

nin9a

dod · 29 Aug 2006 at 16:32

Looking at it from the viewpoint of a potential buyer I'm not impressed. Not because of your skills, I couldn't tell you if those skills are good, bad or indifferent, I don't really care either, I'd expect you to have whatever abilities it is you need to write a website. Stating what they are won't impress me because I don't understand them anyway.

What I really don't like is the fact that you tell me nothing about yourself, nothing about your experience and, at this stage, no examples of other work or clients, areas you specialise in etc.

You run one domain name but your email is at googlemail, not professional. Your contact details are MSN and AIM, a lot of business people will probably have neither, at least within the business anyway. All in all it suggests you're an individual doing websites on the side and it wouldn't inspire me to contact you at all I'm afraid.