Portfolio Feedback

Fallen

Hey guys,

Just wanted to put my portfolio site out there to see if I can get some feedback, and see about improving it, Different layout, missing elements, suggestions on content, either layout or something you'd like to see more on

All feedback welcome, Thanks in advance for taking the time.

http://www.andrewware.co.uk/index.html

Stirls

I suggest adding some sort of selector under the main image. It cycles through them very quickly, and I'd like to go back and forth between. Even something as simple as < and > on each side would be sufficient. It makes for better navigation.

In a similar vein, perhaps throw some titles on the images under the main header. As I see you're not going for something too word-heavy for a menu page, something that just tells the viewer what their mouse is waving over might work.

The contact menu might need some fleshing out. The super-large text "Andrewware@live.com" got a giggle out of me, considering the detail in other parts of the website.

Overall, it's pretty good! Just needs a few navigation links and such.

Zin83

I think your layout is pretty good, although I do agree with Stirls about the assets that cycle through on the main body of your site. It would be nice to be able to cycle through them manually.

I realize some of these assets are probably WIP, but I would like to see some more textures. The pistol and the sci-fi box in particular.

I like your layouts for your asset pages, but some of your renders are kind of dark.

For the most part your site is looking good. Keep at it!

GOBEE

I'm really confused regarding the "Sorry We're Closed" signs over the images, why have them at all if I can't view them? And the reasoning behind your "Links" and "People I know". What purpose does this serve? You're basically telling the hiring manager, don't hire me, click on these people I know and hire one of them instead.

Also, the Useful Things like Discovered Music. These aren't actually useful at all in getting you hired. Unless I am missing something here? I don't get it.

Your 3D work is actually pretty good though. So anything you can do to put more of our work front and center, with less words, like in our About Me section, I think the better. Get those images nice and big and wow them. First impressions are a big deal and you have seconds to do that when someone visits your page. If not, they will move onto the next guy. And get those models textured!

You may also want to refine your skill-set based on the job you want. You do Game Art, VFX, Animation.. and then Augmented Reality and 3D Printing. What is it you REALLY want to do? It's all over the place based off your About Me section, which leaves me confused what you actually want to do.

The website layout is great. Just refine everything. Less clicks. Less words. Less links. Simplify.

Fallen

First of all, thank you very much for taking the time to look through my portfolio and leave your feedback, I'll be taking all of it into consideration!
You've all mentioned some very valid points I need to address.
I think there's a decent amount to alter and sometimes that makes things a lot easier

@Stirls: I think you're totally right, I might add a few ways to navigate including forward and back arrows, a Play/Pause button might go down well, then you can always hold on the one you're most interested in.

Making the Images under the Header to be roll over's, then you'd get to see a title!
Yeah you're spot on, I'd like to keep words to a minimum where I can.

haha I'm glad you got a laugh out of it, it was definitely a side effect of having too much space, I think I might merge the About Me and Contact Pages, and keep it all a bit neater. In retrospect, I guess it is odd to have an entire page just for an email address lol

Thank you for taking the time! Navigation! I'll get on it!!

@Zin83: Yeah some of the models are still WIP, I'm not sure if I'm going to go back to those particular pieces, in favour of making new things that will replace them.
When you say more textures, do you mean just more textured models? Or so that you can see the whole diffuse, spec, normal maps opposed to just a slice of them, as it is atm?

I'll have to work on the clarity of my finished pages for sure! Least the layouts aren't too bad, the brightness is something I can keep in mind with my future renders.

Thanks so much for getting back to me, I'm making a list of things to change and things to bear in mind for future work!

@GOBEE: I'm loving the Frankness of your feedback for sure. If they don't go anywhere, they are redundant, I did have plans to add other pages, but too much time has passed, they're out! Same with the Links and People I know!
Nah, I don't think 'Useful Things like Discovered Music', will help me get hired either, That's out too!

Thank you. More work to the front page in place of the items I can rip out, Bigger Images. Do you think there's any benefit in showing just the un-textured models, or in this day and age, nothing but 100% finished will suffice. This isn't me wanting to put up just models, just wondering if it's more appropriate to take those models off the site till they're 100%

That's fair to say, recently I've come back to wanting to make 3D films, but for the longest time, I've had no idea, just liked the process of making. Guess the rest would take a back seat as additional interests.

Less Clicks, Less Words, Less Links! Sounds good!
Thanks for the feedback, its greatly appreciated and it will be acted on!

DWalker

You really only want t put your best stuff up on your portfolio; it's fine to have a separate development site where you can post your work-in-progress stuff. On your main site, however, it's all about quality, not quantity.

GOBEE

That's the attitude to have! My comments could have easily been taken as being rude but sometimes being frank/blunt goes a long way. It's hard sometimes, trust me I've been on the other end. But you take the advice and iterate until your portfolio is in the professional state it needs to be in.

With regards to showing non-textured models, I'd say no. This is something I've struggled with as well. Like what DWalker said, quality not quantity. Which is also something I still struggle with. I used to have a lot of AO only images and they really did nothing for me. Unless its some crazy high poly masterpiece, put a texture on it.