I'm really excited about developing my own website, as I've always enjoyed designing the layout and playing with templates for my blogs or personal websites in the past. opinions on the design of a website are quite subjective, I think, so it's hard to try and think of a way to please everyone. I think the most important thing is to make it your own and be free with it, but always remember who you're targeting it to and think about the image you're putting out of yourself through the words in it. Another thing I need to remember is to just include my best work as in the past I have thought a lot of illustrators include images that let the rest of their work down. I have at some working illustrators sites to get a feeling for the functionality and to find some tips for myself.
http://www.oliverjeffers.com
The link above is to Oliver Jeffers website. I really like the style of this design as it really shows his working method and what he, as an artist, is about. The photo of the studio floor, with "floor" written on it surrounded by splashes of paint highlight his humorous nature and creative, messy-in-the-studio techniques. His name is at the top in his signature handwriting style and you really get a sense of what you're getting from him before you even see any work. I'd like this kind of website in the future if i was to become successful in the industry, however i don't think it's appropriate for a recent graduate and mine should be more simple and easy to navigate. Also, once you do get to his work you have to scroll through to see everything, whereas, based on advice from people such as Charles Hiveley, it is better for someone looking for work to have it all on show near the start.
http://www.michelle-thompson.com
Next, I looked at Michelle Thompson's website to get another idea of how my website could look. On the first page there is a sort of slideshow of small elements from her work which I think is a fantastic way of attracting curiosity before people have even delved into the site. This is also really simple compared to Jeffers', with just a navigation bar at the top and not much on the rest of the page.
The "about" section also has a slideshow type device, this time showing her actually making the work (another really useful thing to have) and quite a long description. I don't think a student or recent graduate should have a lengthy description, and will definitely only have a short piece on my own website (this is probably because I don't have anything to say!).
I also love the portfolio aspect of the site, with all her work shown in a bar along the middle, and larger versions are shown above really quickly when you click on them.
http://www.davidfoldvari.co.uk
Obviously Mr Foldvari has to be on here as I take inspiration from most things he does. Another brilliant website, many similarities to Michelle Thompson's based on layout and simplicity. However, the website has a completely different feeling to it which is achieved through the colour schemes and the atmosphere created by the style and subject of the work.
This is a good thing to think about that hadn't occurred to me beforehand, most illustrators websites match their work perfectly with relation to the colours, down to the heaviness of the line and font choices. I think if I continue to pin down my own working style in the coming weeks it will make it much easier to achieve a website that feels like mine, while still achieving a simplicity that allows someone who doesn't know me to manoeuvre the website and get a sense of my work.
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