Portfolio/CV/Website advice

bomiginty

bomiginty

New Member
Hello!

This is my first post and I am looking for some friendly advice on my CV/Portfolio/Website. I have been working as an in-house graphic designer for the last 8 years and I am now moving to London to be with my girlfriend and I can't move until I have a job so this is really important to me. I have been applying for jobs for the last few months with little luck. I know that competition is stiff and so I have tried to show work which is as varied as possible to show the depth of my experience.

CV James Heaton - Graphic Design Portfolio | cv
(Please download the PDF in the bottom right hand corner to view my full CV.

Portfolio James Heaton - Graphic Design Portfolio | cv

My website is www.jamesheaton.co.uk

I appreciate this is a big ask to look through all three but if you have any tips, advice or criticisms on either item I would be very grateful!

Cheers
Bomiginty
 
FYI guys - I work with this guy every day, and as great as he is, he eats ALL the jaffa cakes and makes the most bizarre noises, so if you could help get him outta here and down to Londondinion, that would be greatly appreciated :icon_tongue_smilie:
 
Aww c'mon guys, give the guy a little help, you're blocking the path of true love here, he gotsta get a job in London! Help him out, I'm too close, he needs some none-friend opinions please.
 
From a layout p.o.v, although it's generally quite nice, I don't like the header/navigation in the footer or that the web page navigation is off the screen at the fairly common resolution I'm using.
 
Dave L said:
From a layout p.o.v, although it's generally quite nice, I don't like the header/navigation in the footer or that the web page navigation is off the screen at the fairly common resolution I'm using.
Click to expand...

Thanks for comments Dave L,

I have updated the site so the navigation is now at the top of each page, hopefully will make using the site less frustrating!

Thanks for the tip, I really appreciate it.
 
What us ut about designers that they eat so much?!

Looks fine to me - though some bits seemed to take a long while to load (or is it the cr*p speeds here?). Perhaps some customer feedback or more of a case study that just a portfolio - show how you solved a problem / exceeded someone's expectations
 
Katedesign said:
What us ut about designers that they eat so much?!

Looks fine to me - though some bits seemed to take a long while to load (or is it the cr*p speeds here?). Perhaps some customer feedback or more of a case study that just a portfolio - show how you solved a problem / exceeded someone's expectations
Click to expand...

Personally I'm not a fan of the customer feedback thing, I have always felt it cheapens websites, and I always assume the customer feedback quotes a fake anyway, and I'm sure many others think the same. I think though that a very short explanation of each piece of work (problem/solution kinda thing) is a good idea and should definitely be on most items of work, with perhaps the odd one where the project was particularly taxing or interesting with something a little longer written about it.

I too am finding most parts of the site quite slow to load.
 
Hello.

Re. portfolio. Not keen on the borders/frames within borders and more frames!

The graduated vertical bars are too severe and the shadows need making smaller in width if you are trying to create the look of the central panel coming out of the page. Or else extend the bars to the full height of the browser window.

I'd rather see a simple black and white site with little/minimal embellishment than too many little fussy details.

:)
 
Really appreciate all the comments made so far!

I agree there definitely needs to be more explanation on each job and I will work at making the look of the portfolio page less busy!

Looks like I have my work cut out for this evening :p

keep em coming it's much appreciated!
 
Customer testimonials do have to have names with them... not just random quotes like: "Marvellous! Everything was perfect."

On my websites all the testimonials are real!
 
I don't really know if I'm 'qualified' to comment but I'll stick my tuppence in anyway.

To me, the Flash layout feels a bit dated. Maybe look into coding a single page folio that puts the emphasis on you and your work (and is better for SEO)?

With regards to your CV I didn't like the line length in the copy towards the bottom, and the whole thing seemed to lack hierarchy. It feels like the copy needs some room to breathe.

I quite like your name in the centre though, why not align the body copy at the same angle to give it a bit of dynamism?

I think your 'illusion' logo is quite clever too :icon_smile:
 
On a similar vein to Paul, as to whether I'm really 'qualified' - I'll give my opinion on the copy (I took a copywriting course! LOL)

I feel the copy is filled with too much "I". A general rule for copy is telling the reader about benefits, rather than the features.

i.e. "I am incredibly positive and get passionately involved at all stages of production, with my particular strengths in the areas of print production, image manipulation/retouching, product packaging and POS." That's all features - tell the reader how these features can actually benefit them. What does it do for them? And don't be cryptic - get straight to the point.

And this sentence is an example of being too vague: "I am an individual with an overwhelming desire to design, create and develop new skills coupled with a determination to succeed." These are rather obvious things to state. Be more specific - even develop a particular tone. Throw your personality into your copy, without needing to use any complicated words. Call an apple an apple - it's not a approximately-spherical fruit with a thin, rigid skin.

"What can I do for you? Through the solutions to your problems, feel my love for designing, creating and learning - powered by a determination to bring success to you." Refer to the reader - talk to them.

I hope that helps. :icon_biggrin:
 
I'm not too keen on the website and CV. The whole feel to it seems amateurish and already outdated. I like the work though, especially the travel posters.
 
Thanks Gary, I agree with you about the text. It isn't quite right at the moment and definitely needs more of my personality injected into it. I'm going to have a think and update it as soon as I can!
 
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