Who are you designing for?

Ok, I really should be doing my homework or working on one of my many past-due design projects, but as I was thinking about, well, design, and looking at my portfolio, I realized that I was too busy trying to create the “universally” nice design that my goals and objectives got lost in the midst. Or maybe I was too excited about starting the portfolio that I never took the time to think about what my abilities and limitations were. So now, I have a portfolio with a cute vector, and people automatically assume I’m awesome with Illustrator. Err

Also, people expect me to be able to work full-time, and I thought I could handle it on top of my class load, but man, 21 credits is seriously some heavy stuff. So now, not only do I disappoint half of my possible clients by telling them my Illustrator skills are only mediocre at best, but the rest I brush off because I’m too damn busy (and they really need to read the hiatus note I left).

My conclusion? Think about what you want on the site versus what your potential audience/clients needs. For my portfolio, my clients don’t really need the blog section, especially since I don’t even update much. Instead, my work gets cluttered into a tiny section and sort of just fades into the background on the main page. FAIL, since that should be the most important part of my portfolio, at least to a client.

Make that one more design project to add to the list. :QError processing request

written on October 14, 2009 in WWW

18 Comments

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http://shadesofme.org Brandy

Whoa. Sounds like you've been jam packed busy. Don't let yourself get too overwhelmed girlie.

http://riyuu.org Mimi

Yeah, offline duties have been keeping me on my toes. Can't wait until winter break!

http://wannabe-nerd.com Daniella

That does seem to be a typical battle between what you want and what you need. But it's also hard to put together a portfolio with a truthful representation of what you can do, since you want to show off your best work. Just because one vector piece is strong doesnt mean they all are. So hopefully you figure it out and dont compromise yourself to get ahead. Good luck!

http://riyuu.org Mimi

Yes, you're absolutely right! So now I'm trying to figure out what exactly I ought to put on my portfolio to prevent any further confusion.

http://miss-becky.net Becky

Ouch, sounds like you're really really busy!! If I could, I'd give you a hug because I think you may need one ; *hug*.

http://riyuu.org Mimi

Thank you! A hug is always nice to get

http://stepherz.org Stepherz

Ech. It really sucks that its a tug of war between what your should have and what you need. Neither can really truly when win… one will always feel cheated…

http://riyuu.org Mimi

Yeah, it does kind of suck, but if for the sake of integrity, I guess I'm going to be the one sucking it up and going with what I should have.

http://www.simply-charmed.org Veronica

Just take things one day at a time. Write lists out. That's really good about helping keep focused and on track!

http://riyuu.org Mimi

Yes, I started the list writing habit again, and it's helped a GREAT deal. I'm not so forgetful anymore!

http://amourchaleur.com Dayna

I'm glad I'm not the only one having this issue. People automatically assume I'm good at Illustrator when they see the cartoons I draw which in fact non of them was drawn in Illustrator. For the life of me, I can't really work with the illustration. I haven't even figure out the basic of the pen tool. I'm guilty of that since I draw all my stuff in Photoshop.

Anyway, school is definitely more important in my opinion. I try to take up only 1 project at a time because I know I wouldn't have the time. I feel that it's really bad of me to reject some of my clients but I don't have a choice.

At least you have a portfolio which reminds me I need to work on one soon. Sigh!

All the best for your school.

http://riyuu.org Mimi

…and I always thought you drew those in Illustrator! Hmm, I should take a leaf out of your book and try drawing in Photoshop too, since Illustrator is just too darn hard for me.

http://www.lluevareina.net Char

I know how you feel about your portfolio; my portfolio is misleading as well. Lately, people have been asking me to do difficult coding for them. I didn't think my coding looked very professional, but I guess that's not case. So now, I have to disappoint them and let them know that I can't really code very well…

I hope your schedule starts clearing up soon, and I also hope you find some time to have fun and relax.

http://riyuu.org Mimi

Yeah, after all these misunderstandings, I know more about my target audience and what I need to have in my next design so they won't be confused anymore.

http://stillme.info Swetlana

Hey

I just randomly landed up here and I felt in love with your cute layout I am overall a really big fan of layouts like those

I think it kinda "sucks" that people assume you are really good at something because of one thing you made and show on your portfolio.

And I totally agree to your conclusion. This is your website and you should only add what you want to and not what you think your clients migh want to see.

http://riyuu.org Mimi

Thank you for the lovely comments

I wish I could say I made the awesome vector on my portfolio, but I didn't. It was a royalty-free vector, which leads me to the conclusion of: no more vectors on my next design!

http://www.chewak.com Lisalicious

do you do free blog design? ops I think Im asking too much

anyway, am thinking of revamping my blog layout but i suck in that skill T__T