Website portfolio feedback? ayshalilani.com
Hi everyone, I need to work on my website portfolio and would really appreciate any kind of feedback and advice on what is/isn't working. All comments welcomed! Thank you in advance. Feel free to dm me if it's easier.
I am currently working as an in-house Graphic Design Assistant and hope to move into a creative agency as a Junior Graphic Designer; additionally I am very interested in becoming a Book Cover Designer or a Packaging Designer.
Replies9
- @Aysha Lilani Oh that's really interesting. I could see you were doing that in your work on Norwegian Blue. It sounds like a fascinating process and though you've moved on from it, you might still be able to incorporate it occasionally. Feels like it would be a pity to lose it. Personally, I'm trying to back off a bit from digital and go more into real-life crafts, like writing by hand before typing it up.
- @Geoffrey Bunting I really appreciate your useful feedback, thank you.I hear what you're saying about self-initiated projects because I don't have too much experience with the areas I'm interested in which Is why I put in old work, but of course it needs to be more updated and relevant. I am currently working on a redesign of the last book I read.With the point of not keeping older work, I don't do this in my tailored pdf portfolio that I send in applications but would you say to keep older work off my website too unless showing certain skills outside of my niche or even then, it's not necessary still? I suppose I do have one or two projects on there that may not wholly represent my style.Thanks again.
- @Alex Falconer thank you for the follow on Instagram, I appreciate the support!By experimental I meant I used to begin a lot of my projects by working with my hands rather than starting digitally. Moulding etc but I have since moved on a bit.Thanks for the suggestion of the workshop, I look forward to doing it!
- @Ali Can Elagöz great suggestion to ahveva call to action on the landing page. Thank you!
- @Gielizza Calzado thank you, this is helpful! Yes it's an old intro text and I suppose I thought by keeping it vague, I would appeal to a wider range of people/jobs/opportunities but now that's not so relevant and it's better to show your . Thank you for your suggestion!
- There's a strong foundation here, but I would pull away from your student work as quickly as you can, both because discerning clients can pick up on that lack of work and your portfolio reads a bit like a student submission rather than professional insight into your own work.To pull out an example of how that student work may harm you going forward with freelance clients or in-house professionals (i.e. people who know how to read portfolios effectively), your Norwegian Wood solution of "wood" is pretty wide of the mark in terms of that book's themes. What's more important when it comes to book design is presenting a portfolio that demonstrates strong market research, an ability to formulate *relevant* ideas, and that leans towards the work you want to take in.So, if you want to be a book designer/packaging designer, pack your portfolio with that. A portfolio is a living thing and older work should be removed in favour of more recent, better work as much as possible. And the first thing to go as you move through professional practice and develop better research and implementation skills should be student work.So, self-initiate projects. Re-design your favourite books, rebrand existing packaging, make stuff up, whatever allows you to realise the full scope of your skill and passion and be careful that your solutions reflect the object you're designing rather, which is the case currently, of looking like artistic solutions to design problems.A good start, but given your position and your desire to push forward, you'll want to develop quickly. Especially in typography.
- I like your little logo at the top, with your initials.What do you mean by I am an ‘experimental’ graphic designer? Do you mean you’re still in apprentice mode or does it mean your designs are avant garde? Could mean either, which makes it unclear.Your illustrations on your design for Norwegian Wood are fascinating. You’ve certainly gone into a lot of detail – too much? Are you showing how the magic works? I loved final design, it’s impressive and original. But of course the success of a book cover is whether it makes someone pick up the book in a bookshop, or click on a thumbnail online. Sometimes that’s a matter of taste but it’s always about whether the design accurately represents the genre of the book. In this one, as it’s Murakami, it’s literary fiction and the design definitely conveys that. I would definitely pick this up if I saw it in a bookshop.As far as representing what your do to clients is concerned, I recently did this workshop (203) 10 Minute Expert Statement! ⏰ Elevator Pitch Examples For Entrepreneurs - YouTube and found it really worked. You can read my comment underneath the video, which shows the statement I came out with.I’ve followed you on Instagram to see more of your designs.
- It looks clean, my. only concern is maaybe. showing more things on homepage would be better. Couple of things from your portfolio, a call to action section etc. Most of the visitors tend to scroll in homepage. This would be more user-friendly in terms of experience.
- I love the clean layout~ It would be nice to see some of your work (about 3-4 of your best work) in the front page since we have a few seconds to catch AND retain someone's attention.I'd also consider rewriting the intro text as it's kind of vague... Maybe you can consider including your main target market in that part like.. "I create packaging and visual identity systems to help clients appeal to their target market and sell their products."That way, it's clear on who you're serving and what you do. I hope this helps!
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