Portfolio Updated!
October 4, 2006, 9:21 PM | 4 Comments
Well, it’s been in the works for a while now, but I’ve finally gotten down to finishing up the updates to my portfolio. So, go ahead and check it out!
I’ve decided to let my portfolio take on more of a standard blog format rather than the typical portfolio format that I’ve seen on other sites. Here are some of my main reasons for following the blog format:
- Hopefully this will make my portfolio a little easier to update, and in turn should lead to more frequent updates to the portfolio as I complete different projects.
- Portfolios are somewhat chronological in nature (just like a blog) and should show a progression of skills. If you look at my older work (as opposed to my most recent work), you’ll see a lot of change in the methods I’ve used to build each site.
- I’ve never seen anyone else present their portfolio in this fashion, so I figured I’d try something new. As with anything on this site, nothing can be considered “finished”, so if I decide that I don’t like the new format after a while, it may change to take on a new persona.
- It should make it easier for me to announce the projects I’ve been working on, as well as providing an outlet for people to learn from my work via comments and on-going discussion.
I’m excited about the new portfolio section and to celebrate I’ve added one new project that I completed back in March, RapidMind. I haven’t been posting all the projects I’ve worked on in the last year just because I haven’t really made the time to do it, so obviously I have some catching up to do. You can expect some more updates in the next little while. For now, check out the portfolio and let me know what you think!
Posted in: Reinspire
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Comments
1. Elliot Jay Stocks - October 10, 2006, 8:50 AM
Hi Jonathan,
It’s great to see your portfolio finally up! The blog-like format is sure to make it nice and easy to update.
If I may offer some (constructive) criticism, though, I think the text links to the portfolio items kind of get in the way; that is, without thumnails (or even URLs) of the sites you’ve worked on to entice people, it’s like putting a barrier between potential customers and your excellent work.
I think you could offer a nicely compromised approach by keeping the ‘blog’ format, but dispalying the content of each post / portfolio item in the actual page (so all work is on one page), without having to click through to a secondary page.
Hope the feedback helps, in whatever way.
2. Jonathan Eckmier - October 10, 2006, 12:44 PM
Elliot: Thanks for your input; it’s definitely something I’ll be thinking about. I’m not really done with all the Portfolio modifications as I have a few more ideas that I’m playing with. I don’t expect any drastic changes, but I can’t say it’s not possible either.
The only problem I see with having all the content on one page is that it would be loading in a lot of large images at once, causing a very slow page load time for users.
Again, thanks for your suggestions, they’re very much appreciated.
3. Elliot Jay Stocks - October 11, 2006, 12:59 PM
No problem, Jonathan.
In terms of conserving page load time, maybe you could just use a thumbnail — or one small image — on the opening page of the portfolio, so — as a compromise — users still have to click through for details but at least they’re presented with a brief ‘teaser’ to lure them in… and then once on the relevant page, then they get the rest of the images?
4. Jonathan Eckmier - October 13, 2006, 1:38 PM
Hey Elliot,
I had been thinking about possibly using a thumbnail or something a little more enticing to draw people in, but I just haven’t gotten down to the implementation part of it. Thanks again for your suggestions!