Help with Portfolio

[killer9856]

I'm getting ready for college, so I'm making my portfolio online. I just need some help with what a good portfolio is for a guy graduating high school. What can I do to make this stand out?

http://www.wix.com/sahirsheraz/portfolio

[Nero]

Hey killer,

My suggestion is start over on a different Host. First off, the website's URL is really long, therefore it makes it look really unprofessional. For example look at my portfolio URL, its not mine, yet its short. (In my sig)
Next thing that stood out to me is the music. Unless you created the songs, they need to go. If you want to add music, you do that in a Demo Real video that you make of your work (Some great songs though you have there.) ;)
Now to whats really bad:
I can't seem to focus on anything atm, when I first click your link. This is because the buttons are grey, the main image is black and grey, and the background is black. Either get rid of the current theme you have going (Which I think you should) or you need to change your main image, so that it stands out.
Next, your work isn't big enough and it isn't on the front page. You're work should be separated nicely on the front page, or at least have categories on the first page for easy navigation to the work. It took me to much time to finally figure out the buttom gif buttons were buttons that redirected to your next works.... Again, this is mostly due to the theme.
Last but not least, the logo. The logo almost looks like you desaturated it and put very little effort into it. A simple design will do instead of a complicated logo. For example some artists have a cross or a nuclear bomb symbol ect. This is so that people remeber them, for example, "Oh look its the guy with the cross symbol" or the such. Again its really a matter of what you like.

I suggest putting much more work into the website and then put up your best works. If you think one of your works aren't that great, dont add them! Go and make something new and upload that. (Unless it's still not good.. lol)

Hth, *Typing from mobile, so excuse any mistakes) :)
Good luck!!

[killer9856]

Where can I get my own website and domain for free? I'm not trying to pay for this stuff.

[=sw=warlord]

You could always use a URL shortener.

[killer9856]

what's a good url shortener?

[Higuy]

Where can I get my own website and domain for free? I'm not trying to pay for this stuff.
Killer, like I said before, you can use my domain/host over at www.lumoriace.com

[killer9856]

Alright, so I made one using the site Nero gave me.

http://sahirirfan.carbonmade.com/

[paladin]

err didnt see the last post...
E: For the most part, you need to remove a lot of stuff. Not because its bad, but because its unfinished. You only want to have your best, FINISHED work in your portfolio. If anything, put it in a wip section. You also need to outlined what you worked on in lumoria and credit those with work in the image, otherwise someone looking at it will think you did everything.

-Custom URL, with your real name preferably. they're like $10/yr don't be cheap
-get rid of the bottom tag line with the "created by"
-Clearer, more simple logo in the top left corner.
-Ditch the slide show, go with thumbnails
-Don't just show a diffuse texture, at least have the normal and specular too along with a model with the texture applied all in one image
preferably with the model in an engine. I recommend UDK, it's free and easy to use/learn.
Your future employer wants to see that you have the ability to produce something through an entire pipeline
sure you can make a cool texture, but the hell is it for, how is it used. Thats what your future employer wants to see. They shouldnt have to ask
-SCAN your drawings at at least 300dpi, loose the blurry photographs. unprofessional looking
-Ditch the untextured model. Or at least texture it

[neuro]

rule of thumb

when someony opens your website

SHOVE YOUR BEST STUFF RIGHT INTO THEIR FACE RIGHT AWAY

no bullshit menus or slideshows.
ideally, just stack a bunch of images above eachother.

that way there is ZERO barrier for anyone looking trough your shit.


i personally usually cant be bothered clicking a bunch of undescriptive thumbnails, while guessing what the final image is like.
i want to see everything, now. and so do employers.

imagine this:
employer looks on your site, clicks 3 thumbnails, and sees some stuff, and goes 'eh looks alright'


OR

employer looks on your site, and gets all your work shoved into his face.
he scrolls down, and sees all your shit you've got, right there.

[Patrickssj6]

wix means jerk off in German so yeah get a domain name for under 2 cents a day.

[Limited]

Okay, my response is regarding the general website rather than the quality of artwork (because I don't know much about that).

Firstly, the new carbon thingy side is an improvement.

My biggest annoyance, the freaking images. The filesize is huge, I managed to decrease one of the images by a 3rd, from 90KB to 30KB, no loss of quality or size, just by using a few simple techniques in Photoshop. People don't want to want too long for things to load, yes people have fast connections but that doesnt mean everyone is on a super fast speed.

The number one vital point of a portfolio is accessibility. Can the people easily use the size or can it be frustrating - In my eyes file image size falls under the frustrating. So please save your images for the web.

Example, one of these is 30KB the other is 90KB...can you tell the difference in quality?

http://limited-development.net/images/COPY.png

http://limited-development.net/images/780x140-c.png

I do have a question though, how do you plan to get people to view the site. Self-discovery or are you going to email them link/tell them to view the site? (Either is fine, but self-discovery requires more work)

[killer9856]

Alright, I'll make the changes. My main computer is down, but I have GIMP on my laptop, so I'll make the size smaller. As for the portfolio being seen, I'm going to email them the link.

neuro, I'll make those adjustments. It's designed mainly for me to get into college, not for employers. Butt I don't think that makes much of a difference either way, it's got to be good.

And Nero, did you buy the upgrade?

[Nero]

Alright, I'll make the changes. My main computer is down, but I have GIMP on my laptop, so I'll make the size smaller. As for the portfolio being seen, I'm going to email them the link.

neuro, I'll make those adjustments. It's designed mainly for me to get into college, not for employers. Butt I don't think that makes much of a difference either way, it's got to be good.

And Nero, did you buy the upgrade?

No, I just got a job for a Microsoft Ad, so I will wait until I finish the assets and then make new portfolio on my own server that I own now.

[killer9856]

By the way, do you guys think this is a good way to write an artist statement?

http://www.mollygordon.com/resources/marketingresources/artstatemt/