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kohoutek · Nov 5, 2005, 14:15

I've now been spending about a year designing my portfolio site. This really really annoys me ... At the beginning, I just knew what it had to look like, so what better than going into PS and draw it out? After it was done, I looked at it, looked again ... it made me aggressive. So I put it aside. Then, I started on a new draft. Once again full of excitement, working out every little detail. It was great fun and I felt satisfied during the process. When it was done, I finally took a look at my masterpiece. Well, it was not so much a masterpiece afterall I thought. Again, I started feeling the aggressions coming back. The design landed in my portfolio-drafts -> pending trash can. And this process went on a few dozen times. Now a year has passed and I still do not have a portfolio site.

A much wiser (in my mind) step was, to not think of the design at all, but only about the info structure, about usability etc. and think of how to embedd the information graphically and designwise at a later time when everything else is rock solidly set into stone. Ah, that worked so much better. But now, as I sit here, looking at my almost finished design, I'm again beginning to doubt whether it is to my liking. It's getting as far as thinking that having PURE text is the best option. Hahahaha. Not really, but sometimes it can really be a pain.

Does anyone have similar issues when designing a site for themselves?
Is that a severe case of narcism or what is it?

Egor · Nov 5, 2005, 16:08

Off Topic:

Kohoutek, long time no see!

I feel your pain. Throughout the year, I've made numerous of attempts at getting my portfolio sorted, and each mock-up went straight to the bin. To date, I don't even have a logo made.

Here's why I think this happens:

That thrive for perfection
It's all too common for designers to aim for perfection. There's always that little voice in your head telling you to try harder, no matter how good it may already be.

Over-exposure
After spending countless hours working on the same design over and over, buffing each and every pixel, you become all too familiar with the piece and it starts to look old and boring.

Ever come across a real sleek portfolio site and thought, wow, I wonder how they pulled that off? Well, that's probably because you've only looked at it for a minute or two, whereas your one's been in sight for hours.

Walking away from your work for a reasonable amount of time and doing something other than design can help.

Lira · Nov 5, 2005, 17:45

There's something else that might be affecting your portfolio: did you make the designs for yourself or did you have to changes loads and loads of stuff for your clients?

Sometimes clients ask you the weirdest things, even though you're quite aware of you're doing: so the "master-piece" might look a bit amateurish, after you had to, for example, add some features that you consider to be hideous.

Just a thought

mPeror · Nov 5, 2005, 20:59

I've been through this countless times. I always feel like i should change something or even the whole design , so i'm trying a new approach in my new site's layout:

first: I'll sketch the design and all of the modifications on paper, this way i don't actually start working untill i'm %100 sure of what i want my site to look like. Second: i'll just focus on the contents and use a simple , yet beautiful, design. This yea i'll get more productive and focus on the contents instead of wasting my time tweaking and changing the design, and it's working so far.

Nov 5, 2005, 14:15	#1
kohoutek Sunshine. Always. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 2,596	No matter how long and thoroughly, your own portfolio site seems never good enough .. I've now been spending about a year designing my portfolio site. This really really annoys me ... At the beginning, I just knew what it had to look like, so what better than going into PS and draw it out? After it was done, I looked at it, looked again ... it made me aggressive. So I put it aside. Then, I started on a new draft. Once again full of excitement, working out every little detail. It was great fun and I felt satisfied during the process. When it was done, I finally took a look at my masterpiece. Well, it was not so much a masterpiece afterall I thought. Again, I started feeling the aggressions coming back. The design landed in my portfolio-drafts -> pending trash can. And this process went on a few dozen times. Now a year has passed and I still do not have a portfolio site. A much wiser (in my mind) step was, to not think of the design at all, but only about the info structure, about usability etc. and think of how to embedd the information graphically and designwise at a later time when everything else is rock solidly set into stone. Ah, that worked so much better. But now, as I sit here, looking at my almost finished design, I'm again beginning to doubt whether it is to my liking. It's getting as far as thinking that having PURE text is the best option. Hahahaha. Not really, but sometimes it can really be a pain. Does anyone have similar issues when designing a site for themselves? Is that a severe case of narcism or what is it?

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Nov 5, 2005, 16:08	#2
Egor Non-Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,131	Off Topic: Kohoutek, long time no see! I feel your pain. Throughout the year, I've made numerous of attempts at getting my portfolio sorted, and each mock-up went straight to the bin. To date, I don't even have a logo made. Here's why I think this happens: That thrive for perfection It's all too common for designers to aim for perfection. There's always that little voice in your head telling you to try harder, no matter how good it may already be. Over-exposure After spending countless hours working on the same design over and over, buffing each and every pixel, you become all too familiar with the piece and it starts to look old and boring. Ever come across a real sleek portfolio site and thought, wow, I wonder how they pulled that off? Well, that's probably because you've only looked at it for a minute or two, whereas your one's been in sight for hours. Walking away from your work for a reasonable amount of time and doing something other than design can help.

Nov 5, 2005, 17:45	#3
Lira Mongols of the world, unite! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brasília, Brazil Posts: 287	There's something else that might be affecting your portfolio: did you make the designs for yourself or did you have to changes loads and loads of stuff for your clients? Sometimes clients ask you the weirdest things, even though you're quite aware of you're doing: so the "master-piece" might look a bit amateurish, after you had to, for example, add some features that you consider to be hideous. Just a thought

Nov 5, 2005, 20:59	#4
mPeror SitePoint Wizard Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Saudi Arabia Posts: 1,756	I've been through this countless times. I always feel like i should change something or even the whole design , so i'm trying a new approach in my new site's layout: first: I'll sketch the design and all of the modifications on paper, this way i don't actually start working untill i'm %100 sure of what i want my site to look like. Second: i'll just focus on the contents and use a simple , yet beautiful, design. This yea i'll get more productive and focus on the contents instead of wasting my time tweaking and changing the design, and it's working so far.