Worksheet: Planning a web based based design portfolio

Introduction 

Name the two ways in which you can present a portfolio of work to a potential employer

1. Printed - in a portfolio book 
2. Online- on a web host 

Task.1 Research

Search into three portfolio websites within your chosen specialism and answer the follwing questions for each website. 

1. Website name - http://www.davidburnett.com/
2. What are your first impressions ? What attracted you to this particular website?                             The websites first impressions are the word proffesional and clear cut. I think that images that this guy takes a detailed and are of the world this is stated in its summary this is simalair to the photography that I want to do.
3. What is the main colour scheme?

The website runs with a theme of clear black and grey. This looks basic and easy to compute.

1. How many navigation tabs/buttons are there ? Their are 8 connections to sperate pages within the page and one to directly email the photographer.
2. How many subfolders or drop down menus are there ?

There is only one clear drop down menu shown in the gallery section as the different sets are sectioned of together.

1. What is your overall impression ? I think that the page is clear cut and proffesional and seems like he knows what hes doing with his work displayed accuratly on the front page. 
2. Summarise the webpage to appeal to potential employers.

A clear cut and proffesional summarisation of a career with correctly displayed work.

1. Website name - http://www.jackkurtzphotography.com/#!/index/G0000iVlXpUTsVAo
2. What are your first impressions ? What attracted you to this particular website?                            I think the website appears proffesional but is not made with someone in the know about technology as there are a few rough edges. I think i again was attracted due to the nature of the photography the photographer take as it is based around the world and is easily accessible throughout the website to see.
3. What is the main colour scheme? Similair to the first website the page has used dark and simple colours including grey and black to exadurate the colour of the photos. 
4. How many navigation tabs/buttons are there ? There is one simple button on the page that leads to the navigation for the website this then has different categories.
5. How many subfolders or drop down menus are there ? There are quite a few with over 15 slections of pgae although there are no drop down menus apart from the screen like mentioned previously. 
6. What is your overall impression ? I think it is proffesional although it could be improved.
7. Summarise the webpage to appeal to potential employers.
8. I think that the page is basic but shows some creativity and proffesionalism.

1. Website name - http://www.nataliebehring.com/gallery-list
2. What are your first impressions ? What attracted you to this particular website?                           I think that this portfolio looks very different from the others it looks less mainstream and more like a personal blog to her follows very in the style of the images she takes so it compliments them well. I think this edge brings a different perspective to portfolios. 
3. What is the main colour scheme? Grey and white just like the others this exadurates the color and life within the photos themselves. 
4. How many navigation tabs/buttons are there ? There is 5 main button among the navigation bar at the top each are similair to all found on every portfolio I have looked at. 
5. How many subfolders or drop down menus are there ? There are menus within menus when it comes to the display of the photography and the sets in which they come from.
6. What is your overall impression ? I think the blog does not look as proffesional as the other but holds some edge.
7. Summarise the webpage to appeal to potential employers.
8. An edgy yet creative portfolio with a great display of original work and design.

Task 2. Design 

My main page will look very similair to this : 

Task 3. The home page 

The colours that I will be using are black and white cause they frame the pictures I may also use a splash of colour to pop certain features out the image. My navigation will be with the use of one simplae side bar leading to different pages with the needed information. 

Task 4. Choosing your Web host and template 

On the internet there are a number of free web host companies with ready made templates. Find and review Three free website hosts and discuss the merits of each before you select one to use as a host for an online portfolio. 

1) Wesbsite builder - http://www.weebly.com/

Weebly is a very popular web host that is free and simple to use there is a slection of features and templates to use although some are limited and there are some purchases and features that can only be used with an membership or paid for site. I found the main features I wanted sometimes were not their to be used. The design side was simple with easy to drop in features that made it simple to use and easily understandable. 

2) Website builder - https://www.sitebuilder.com/

A little more complex then weebly as choices were harder to make but still the free service was more widely accessable to any member then weebly. The design process took some time to get used to but was easy to work. The designs and templates do look more proffesional and can be tailored easily. 

3) Website builder- Wix

This website builder is simple although there is the problem with cost as only the simple template is used and then the page is free. The design base is easy to use to modify it but not enough to some peoples liking. They are also a recognisable brand that had been used widely and is known more to employers . 

My lettermark logo and business card

My Creative CV

I have created a creative CV using a handrawn image by myself and my photoshop skills.

What is a professional CV? Investigate and write a short paragraph ( 250-300)

A Curriculum Vitae often shortened to CV is a professional self marketing that has been used for decades. The piece of work is a basic outline of everything that a person has to offer in the professional world. It shows all potential employers what you have to offer to their company most often for the specific field that they are offering. This means that a CV will change for person to person and for each company that you may be applying for. It must outline the skills, ability and experience within this chosen field.

A CV must create a statement that is heard by all companies this has created sections of self promotion that we have never had before such as creative graphic inspired CV's , online CVs and even has created online CV social networks such as Linked IN. These all follow the codes and conventions of the CV but have gave it a twist that can be seen by employers specifically in the creative sector.

There are many codes and conventions of a CV most importantly being its size as often a CV should be 2 pages and under for the reason that employers will have to see many CVs and it has to be in a readable size. This also changes the hierarchy of information within the document as firstly you want the most important information to be seen first this means this has to be added at the beginning this again increases the likeliness that they are to be seen by the employer. The layout of the CV must be clear with the text in a regular size 12 font with a world wide established font such as Times New Roman. The language must be standard english easy for anyone to  understand at all levels.

Once a CV has been created it can be sent to the employer this maybe within an application system or by simply delivering it straight to the company. You need this to reach the employer so it needs to be eye catching and professional.