WEBSITES/DIGITAL PORTFOLIOS
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@Bob-Crum Yeah Drupal does indeed have a learning curve and work to implement. Though familiar with it, I never used it, but I used Joomla long ago and I remember how complicated it got. I just didn't need that kind of complication for the simpler sites I was doing (including my own). That's why I moved to Wordpress too.
Scott Monaco | QuietYell.com
IG/FB/LI: @QuietYell
IG-2: @QuietYellSketches
TW/PIN/BEH/DEVART: @ScottMonaco
SCBWI: http://bit.ly/1r8Dmqr -
@QuietYell @Bob-Crum I am definitely looking for something that are easy to edit/change but something that doesn't hamstring the design so much that it loses all personality.
Thanks for the suggestions so far I will definitely look more into them... also looking for content feedback.
Andy Jewett
ILLUSTRATOR | DESIGNERPORTFOLIO: andyjewett.com
TW/IG: @andyjewett -
@andyjewett oh Wordpress is totally easy to implement and with a template it is even easier to skin nicely. Divi & other templates like that have no hamstringing of design at all (I know, that's pretty bold of me to say). When you go watch their videos, you'll see what I mean!
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@andyjewett
Divi :
Backend version (from 3 years ago - still works a lot like this and i prefer to do from the backend rather than the front end like they offer as a way to do it now):
https://youtu.be/YaeWagDRhvEDivi new front end design:
https://youtu.be/1ALjCZkKuUM
https://youtu.be/FkQuawiGWUwObviously more plus a demo on their site
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@andyjewett Not trying to push Divi... Just want to give you encouragement that there are solutions that untie your hands and allow you to create a site without having to do html/php/css or any other stuff of the sort
Scott Monaco | QuietYell.com
IG/FB/LI: @QuietYell
IG-2: @QuietYellSketches
TW/PIN/BEH/DEVART: @ScottMonaco
SCBWI: http://bit.ly/1r8Dmqr -
@QuietYell nope, that's great... that's what I am looking for. I was a web designer for over 10 years but left it behind 5 years ago and have no desire to do it anymore... just not life-giving to me in any way.
I will check out those links later, appreciate it!
Andy Jewett
ILLUSTRATOR | DESIGNERPORTFOLIO: andyjewett.com
TW/IG: @andyjewett -
@andyjewett haha I am the same! I did so much web development from 2000-2014. I was miserable. BUT I guess it is good that I went through all of that so I am familiar with stuff now. Still... I really don't like doing web stuff!
Regarding content, that is something that I am working on too. I just went through some intermediate edits to what I have now until I am able to get to the full redevelop.
I stripped all of my design & interactive work out of my main portfolio page and also stripped my portfolio page down to the illustration work that represents me most right now (I think). I do have other illustrations still there under an expanded illustration link. I also have the design & interactive there, but they are now combined into one. They may disappear all together this year or next. I still left my logos/branding link separate rather than merged with design & interactive. Haven't been ready to get rid of that one yet. I added my sketches but created a "featured sketches" and a "sketches archive".
Essentially, I am attempting to create focused places but options to see expansion. Maybe I'll eventually throw everything but the focused page(s) out...
I'll likely go through more reduction later.
Anyway, this is speaking more about my site than yours. I suppose my point is that it seems pretty important to keep a focus so ADs don't get distracted and can find what we are about. Basically like what
Giuseppe Castellano said about portfolios here: http://www.gcastellano.com/arttips/theillustratorsportfolio -
Any strong opinions on portfolio thumbnails amongst the group? Does the clickable image on a portfolio site need to show the whole image? or is showing a cropped version of the image for a consistent shape on a site acceptable/fine?
Example... that is how I currently show things on my personal portfolio...
Thoughts?
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I think it looks pretty good--but check out some of the One Fantastic Week stuff on Youtube (if you haven't already).
A lot of their crit casts focus on portfolio site layouts, common pitfalls, things to definitely do, things to definitely not do (that they see people do ALL THE TIME), etc.
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Hi Andy, I just looked over your site and thought it looked great. A lot of the new template sites are using that wide scroll format. Is that what you are thinking of going towards? I use Cloversites for my counseling practice site (www.xpeditioncounseling.com), but they are not good if you want to sell merch (which you have). You are probably familiar with Wix or Square Space. I am considering these for my book site. Maybe an idea to consider is to narrow down your four headings (illustration, comix, sketch, design) into two or three categories or one window that separates these elements with less examples. Just a thought! Hope this is helpful.
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@mattramsey LOVE CritCast! The funny thing is I was already subscribed to 1FW but hadn't watched any of the CritCast episodes. Thanks for bringing those to my attention... tons of valuable info!
