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Critique my portfolio

TXFB.INS

TXFB.INS

New Member
an excellent diversification of capabilities.

IMO I would look for your designs that do not have SIGN A RAMA name in there.


on side note is there anyway to scale the image on the site? maybe a thumbnail with an enlarge function if hoover or clicked on?
 
Graphic Destruction

Graphic Destruction

New Member
TXFB.INS said:
an excellent diversification of capabilities.

IMO I would look for your designs that do not have SIGN A RAMA name in there.


on side note is there anyway to scale the image on the site? maybe a thumbnail with an enlarge function if hoover or clicked on?
Click to expand...
I hear you about the signarama part. The flemings post and panel is a favorite of mine, it's the old owners other business. I just wish sar wasn't on it. I should delete the McClure road pylon. Maybe just crop to that part of the cabinet?

I'll look into the scaling, not sure how much control I have of that on carbonmade and web/html is not my thing.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
T

TimToad

Active Member
Very well done and good luck.

I'd concur on the part about either Photoshopping out the references to SAR or choose other projects to include.

The Indian Springs Eye job is outstanding. Shows the progression of thought from concepts to completion and nice scale and proportions to everything.
 
Graphic Destruction

Graphic Destruction

New Member
TimToad said:
Very well done and good luck.

I'd concur on the part about either Photoshopping out the references to SAR or choose other projects to include.

The Indian Springs Eye job is outstanding. Shows the progression of thought from concepts to completion and nice scale and proportions to everything.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I should have Indian Springs completed in another week, so the finished product will go on the portfolio. If I'm not let go for a cheaper replacement, phase 2 of that job will be mine also.

I'll definitely work on getting anything sar out of the photos.
 
Rick

Rick

Certified Enneadecagon Designer
Good variety of work... a few things I noticed.

What kind of situation are you looking for... the same?
I would think you are looking for something more creative
(and more money)

First is the Signarama thing does not bother me in the pics,
though it might raise my eyebrow that it's in your resume
IF and only if I was looking for more than a general sign
designer. I know a few SAR's who do great work so in the
past I have had to put that prejudice away.

When I see a portfolio, I like to see how detail oriented
the designer is... take for instance...

I'd want to know why FLEMINGS is stuck to 2 x 4's

Or the TREE GROWERS has all that outline drop
shadow effect thing when that wood is so darn cool.

In the vehicle graphics, they look a little too "sign shop"
which is fine, but I would make up some wraps and graphics
that show off your skills,

The Indian Springs sign is the one I would have some issues with...
Nice design, but from your initial concept to the as built? Something
was missed because your proportions are off, to the point where the
sign (at least in my opinion) looks too top heavy. I'd want to see
the concept and the final match. Another pet peeve is how you
dimension the measurements... 124.86? Even if it was 10' - 4 7/8"
I would ask you why you didn't take the time make it an even 10' - 5"
I also like to see witness lines in a nice orderly placement.
The stone does not match, no scale person... I would want to see that
you took the time to make sure scale and proportion were part
of your process. Just make sure it's not some top heavy girl in
a pant suit or mini skirt or Lamborghini... I throw those portfolios away.

William Penn... the arrows don't match from one sign to the next and
I would Photoshop that conduit out, to me, that's shoddy work, and the
attachment detail on "The Meadows"... I would Photoshop that too...
that attachment is nasty and you don't want that attached to your skills
as a production specialist.

I would lose the scoreboard... not impressive at all. If it were me, and I
had to show it, I'd redesign one.

I would also think that showing the drawing(s), then the final might be
a good idea.

I would also ask you if you have done any interior sign design work...
And logo/branding design...

All and all, good work. But if I was looking for a designer of your caliber
I would want to see some consistency and attention to detail.

I saw "brush script" twice, was sup wit dat?
 
Graphic Destruction

Graphic Destruction

New Member
Lot of input. Thanks! I will definitely take note.

The brush script is part of their "logo" and I could not get him to lose it for the longest time. The hdu is from 2 years ago, the post and panel from this summer. You see the bs is gone on that.
 
Pete Moss

Pete Moss

New Member
Great work! Clean, good use of design principles, lots of variety. Although I see Rick's point, I have a hard time imagining most employers to be as critical, most of the employers I've run across are business people and are not as literate in design as you are. Although it's really easy to navigate, I think the website itself is a little simplistic, not of the same standard as the rest of your work. Yes, it's just a portfolio, however, I think you'll have more continuity if the level of design is of the same standard as the rest of your work. Not 100% necessary but will make it look that much sweeter in my opinion.
 
Gino

Gino

Premium Subscriber
If this portfolio is to show potential other sign shop owners what you can do, for them to hire you, I think it's good. Sizes, proportions, angles and other things are overlooked by another sign person.

If it's for showing potential new clients by starting your own business, then I think your approach is wrong.
I think using signs which were made using other people's tools, equipment and clients, let alone name.... is not a true representation of what you do, unless every sign in that portfolio was made from start to finish and installed by you and you alone.
 
L

laserman70

New Member
Gino said:
If this portfolio is to show potential other sign shop owners what you can do, for them to hire you, I think it's good. Sizes, proportions, angles and other things are overlooked by another sign person.

If it's for showing potential new clients by starting your own business, then I think your approach is wrong.
I think using signs which were made using other people's tools, equipment and clients, let alone name.... is not a true representation of what you do, unless every sign in that portfolio was made from start to finish and installed by you and you alone.
Click to expand...



I have to agree.
If you did it from start to finish. (design, sell to client, Manufacture and install)
If not, it is their sign to promote cause they own it.. That is why they are the boss and the owner.

Just my .02
 
Graphic Destruction

Graphic Destruction

New Member
This is for me to get another job in another shop. I have no intention of starting my own shop, just too risky these days and I'm enjoying not being buried in debt.

Everything is designed by me, sold to the client by me. Cabinets and channels are not fabbed by me, everything else is. Installation is also mostly by me with exception of crane and bucket work.

The website is simple, but I have zero knowledge in web, html, etc., so I need to go with a service like carbonmade to get an online presence. I'm old school, design it, build it, install it.
 
Pete Moss

Pete Moss

New Member
Makes sense. You could use Dreamweaver and upload a free trial version. Easy GUI to navigate once you get into it.
 
M

MatthewTimothy

New Member
really nice work and some great input so coming from the web side of things your site is miss leading. You state you want to find a job at another sign shop after I read through the thread but your site tagline is says: "A small sample of what I can do for you". When I read that at first I took you were starting your own shop.

Another issue I see is the navigation. You have the main at the top and what appears as the sub menu areas below. If this is all work I would possibly consider an accordion with a better sub menu used. Also, at first glance when you click on work there is no distinction those are links until hovering to the work areas so I think maybe a different approach to this may be in order.

That's all just me but I do see you're using something called carbonmade that I haven't seen before.
 
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