The brief
Design a new Squarespace website template for designers and creatives to showcase their work and get hired. This isn’t about creating a single, beautiful website. It’s about establishing a cohesive vision and design system which users can populate and customise to express their own creativity. It needs to reflect where the web is going, bringing together classic conventions and modern trends for a unique portfolio design. Your target audience is designers and creatives who need a portfolio to showcase their student and/or professional work. Those just entering the creative industries and looking to get noticed, as well as those established in their careers who want to better represent their professional selves online.
Insight
The almost competition winning project...This is a brief I collaborated with another student on at the University of Hertfordshire for the annual D&AD New Blood festival. I was very eager to bash heads on this with another peer to tackle this as it was a very open brief that was taken in many different directions to start. The overall idea was to create a portfolio that didn't just cater for creatives of all walks of design but adapted to their individual needs. Slight differences would occur when working in the photography workspace compared to the architects for example. This was key to allow creatives to further present their individuality and to be able to showcase many different disciplines under the broad design umbrella. Let's not forget that this is still a portfolio and one of many that agencies will look at in a single day. Ease of use was essential to retain speed in showcasing the best of the best, taking your favourite pieces and have them shout in a hero page. You as a Squarespace customer know your best work is championing your site and you as a potential employer know you're time will not be wasted, you'll be able to get straight to it. To compliment this idea, you as a person need to have a strong character that the viewer can quickly divulge. Solution? An about page that transitions on and off the page at your every beck and call. Greeting you at the bottom of the page is a gallery of more projects, so as to keep the momentum going. Just as important as any of this is feedback, you want to be able to come back to your work and see how its doing out there in the big wide world. Instant gratification is something we're surrounded by already and a big part of our social media platforms. Theres a profound sense of pride to know that you're work is being appreciated and having an effect. This is a subtle feature but provides key information on what work is performing better and possibly give insight into what should go into the hero page.
Project Tags
Companies
D&AD
- Design
Squarespace
- Technology