Matt "Lord Ned" Hoffman - Environment Artist (Workless!)

    Currently looking for feedback on planned layout/portfolio design. No content (worth showing) yet.

    [Blocked Image: http://i45.tinypic.com/ot2rf8.png]

    Please excuse me until I can learn some HTML and get it into website form.

    One of the things that I've noticed about a lot of level designer/environment artists is their portfolios are very dark... Dark backgrounds, darker text, etc. That was my initial thought for a portfolio too until I realized that was just that -- It wouldn't stand out. So I went completely the opposite way and tried to make a "Happy" portfolio, instead of a "Moody" one. I hope this worked.

    I'm torn between two portfolio styles:

    http://www.chrisholden.net/

    This, where the biggest/best work is shown on the top, and then smaller thumbs of different projects. Clicking each thumb then leads you to more images and a description about the project. Additional information (job experience, etc) is listed on the front page underneath the artwork, shoving the artwork into the users face.

    Or:

    http://www.brameulaers.com/

    This, where you have all the work represented in equal sized bars, with a few words about each project that goes with the project. I kinda like this design more but it doesn't seem to leave room for a lot of words.

    In addition: Should I put any sort of design-process for projects in the portfolio? Explaining why I did X decision or chose Y color scheme -- Or is that something that you should be telling to the viewer through the images?

    Another thing. Finding a place to park myself. I've had incredible trouble finding a url that's: Easy to remember, easy to type and stands out. I'd do my name like everyone else but if you do a simple google it's very taken... along with all of the variants. The other names I go by in life "Lord Ned" and "LordMattHoffman" but I wouldn't really want something like lordned.net because no one would remember it.

    Thanks!

    I like it. You have to bear in mind though that dark portfolios are usually that way because screenshots are pleasant to look at when the background is dark and uniform, so I suggest you insert some screens in these squares and see how it looks with completely different color themes and shapes in the shots before you flesh your concept further.

    About your domain name, I think the simpler the better, but there's no real need to find something extraordinarily memorable. People trying to remember your portfolio's address will be few anyway. Even with a standard name, a search like "surname lastname portfolio" should still put you on the first page of google. You'll have to mention your name in text a few times for google to take it into account though since it doesn't read images, like in the page title (what's displayed at the top-left of the browser), or as titles/alt for images.

    The issue about design decisions and all that has been raised in the "How to break into the industry thread" I think (or maybe the other one I made about my egotistical self), and the advices given were that the best way to show your reasoning is to write post-mortems afterwards, in which you explain away every important decision you made, show the progress the level went through etc.

    I agree with Chris on the Desired Position bit, as that'd be something you'd put on a resume or application letter instead. If you still want to stick with something like that, my suggestion would be to say instead "Available for hire" or "Looking for work" or "Hire me!".

    Finally, about the 2 styles you mention, I'd prefer the second one (peris), because however you might think one of your assets is better than others, different individuals and companies will have different interests and likings and might not consider that huge picture appealing and leave it at that because the stuff that they would have liked was too small to strike them. Just ordering stuff by date usually means that the best is on top (since your craft should be improving) and still make other projects more visible instantly. You have to convince the viewer to dwelve deeper into the portfolio in the first few seconds so either make sure the big shots are really indoubtebly awesome or give equal sizes to all of them.

    PS: if you need help with coding the website I wouldn't mind giving you a hand

    Quote from 2d-chris

    Defo an A for effort Desired position sounds a bit odd ... I'd remove that. Environmental sounds odd too, just say Environment Artist :]

    Consider it done.

    Quote from Corwin

    I like it. You have to bear in mind though that dark portfolios are usually that way because screenshots are pleasant to look at when the background is dark and uniform, so I suggest you insert some screens in these squares and see how it looks with completely different color themes and shapes in the shots before you flesh your concept further.

    Will give it a go and post the image back in a while along with consolidating other things.

    Quote

    About your domain name, I think the simpler the better, but there's no real need to find something extraordinarily memorable. People trying to remember your portfolio's address will be few anyway. Even with a standard name, a search like "surname lastname portfolio" should still put you on the first page of google. You'll have to mention your name in text a few times for google to take it into account though since it doesn't read images, like in the page title (what's displayed at the top-left of the browser), or as titles/alt for images.

    Google it. "Matt Hoffman". I wouldn't show up until like 20-30 pages in. I unfortunately share the same name as a fairly famous (at least in the US) BMX biker -- All Google would do is point to him. :/

    Quote

    The issue about design decisions and all that has been raised in the "How to break into the industry thread" I think (or maybe the other one I made about my egotistical self), and the advices given were that the best way to show your reasoning is to write post-mortems afterwards, in which you explain away every important decision you made, show the progress the level went through etc.

    Will read them.

    Quote

    Finally, about the 2 styles you mention, I'd prefer the second one (peris), :words: ...seconds so either make sure the big shots are really indoubtebly awesome or give equal sizes to all of them.

    Fair enough

    Quote

    PS: if you need help with coding the website I wouldn't mind giving you a hand

    Wonderful. When I fall flat on my face I'll send a PM your way.

    Quote from Skjalg

    Why did you insert the mario pipes. did you work on mario?

    >.> I'll change 'em.

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