My Portfolio

[Psy]

So I've finally got somebody to create me a decent portfolio. I've made a few changes here and there but it's more or less the same.

I need your thoughts about possible improvements for the content or layout of the site.

Linkage

[e-freak]

Not so much on the layout but I'd suggest you take down those 2D-pieces. They are not helping, instead they make your excellent work above in LD look a little unsmart (just my humble opinion).

[Quakis]

Not so much on the layout but I'd suggest you take down those 2D-pieces. They are not helping, instead they make your excellent work above in LD look a little unsmart (just my humble opinion).

I'll have to agree on this. The site itself though is quick, and efficient to browse your work so that's a plus.

[Defrag]

My 2p, mostly just recycled out of advice given to me in the past.

• 
  [*:18aqogx3]Ditch the splash, or change it to incorporate a quick summary of your skills (i.e. a summary of key skills from your CV). I'd personally just ditch the splash and make the work page be the default.
  [*:18aqogx3]Make the image thumbnails bigger. People want to see what they're clicking on Also, the website itself is quite narrow. It only takes up about 1/3 of my screen width (1600x1200). Once you start adding more content, it may be cumbersome to navigate.
  [*:18aqogx3]Brand your images to include your name and website url. It doesn't have to be some obtrusive thing, just a small text layer in PS. You can actually create a layer with your info in PS, then create an action to go through all images in a dir and brand them automatically -- it saves a lot of time and effort doing this.
  [*:18aqogx3]You mention max & static props etc. in your CV, but there is (as far as I can see) nothing model-wise on your site. Modelling is quite specific so I definitely think you need to show some props if you put the skill in your CV
  [*:18aqogx3]Put your skills close to the start of your CV with the key skills listed first rather than positioning your skills at the foot of the page. I'd be tempted to remove specific level mentions from your CV and just say that you worked on several maps in your spare time -- they can see this stuff on your site. Keep the mod mention, though.
  [*:18aqogx3]Putting negative things on your page isn't such a good idea. An employer probably doesn't want to hear about abandoned maps regardless of whether you learned anything from it unless your page already has a lot of quality content (currently you have two maps on your site, and one of them is abandoned). Personally, I would not put an abandoned map on a portfolio site. If you need that map to fill it out, then it probably means you need to make some newer, cooler things. Just keep churning out the content.
  [*:18aqogx3]If you have a recent, non-mod map to pimp, it's probably a good idea to include a download link. I usually end up losing my old work, but fresh stuff should be available to DL if someone wants to take a look
  [*:18aqogx3]Register an easy to remember domain and some cheap hosting (I'd recommend 34sp.com -- they've been fantastic for me)

Anyway, hope this helps. Read this site for excellent advice; it really helped me. http://www.thejonjones.com/2005/10/07/y ... pels-jobs/

I followed most of these rules and, despite only applying to one company (got in a while back), I got emailed out of the blue by a recruiter the other week regarding various programming jobs (probably half spam, half serious, but still -- my name got out there despite doing no advertising/soliciting whatsoever), so following this guy's formula definitely is good.

Good luck!

[Minos]

I think you need to be clearer on what you are looking for. The header reads "level designer" but there isn't much level design in there. The first map looks good, is finished and definitely should be there. The second one also looks good but besides looking unfinished you also said you never finished it because you disregarded the layout completely. That's very contradictory because generally a level designer takes care of the level layout and artists do the beauty afterwards. Your portfolio doesn't contain any art pieces either, giving the impression that you haven't really decided what to do yet. And yeah, never say negative things about yourself in your CV/Portfolio, they are meant to sell yourself not to expose your weaknesses.

On the aesthetics side:

* I think you could use the same amount of thumbnails for each level, so they are aligned to each other. One of the keys to consistent design is repeating key elements, like colors, alignment and so on. Philipk's portfolio is a good example of this. Notice how the links have the same width as the header and how well he defined the visual hierarchy, giving each heading a different color/size.

* Too many different alignments. The links are aligned to the right of the page while all the rest is aligned to the left.

* The links need to stand out more, they are kind of "floating" and out of place now. Maybe you could try to incorporate them to the header or if you keep them where they are now try to align them to the left of the "level designer" title.

* The background image shouldn't repeat, leave it fixed. If you are using CSS you can try this:

body {

background: url(image.gif) #backgroundcolor repeat-x;

}

* The entire website has to have a minimum height, since you are using a footer. Notice how short the CV page is in comparison to the work page.

* Here's an awesome article that helped me a lot when I started designing pages:

Hope that helps

[⌐■_■]

i think i cant add to the given feedback but to say that it's very valueable.

[Ginger Lord]

i think i cant add to the given feedback but to say that it's very valueable.

I agree. The only thing I'd add is we've been hammered at Uni to get proper email address'. yourname@gmail.com is the bare minimum, if you can get a proper doman and have yourname@yourdomain.com is even better. The name you choose in your email contact can often reveal a lot about yourself.

Edit: Also how old are you? The only education you have listed down there is GCSE's so I assume you are at least 16. No A-Levels/Diplomas/Degree? Most place's wont hire unless you are at least 18 and GCSE's don't really cut it anymore for jobs.

[Psy]

Thanks for the useful feedback. I appreciate it.

Also how old are you? The only education you have listed down there is GCSE's so I assume you are at least 16. No A-Levels/Diplomas/Degree? Most place's wont hire unless you are at least 18 and GCSE's don't really cut it anymore for jobs.

I'm 17 and I'm currently studying an Applied ICT course at College.

[Taylor]

Edit: Also how old are you? The only education you have listed down there is GCSE's so I assume you are at least 16. No A-Levels/Diplomas/Degree? Most place's wont hire unless you are at least 18 and GCSE's don't really cut it anymore for jobs.

I'm not sure this is true, is this your experience? While I’ve only had two interviews (but got them both, woo!), none of them really cared for my education at all. Only my portfolio, attitude and the challenges they set me during the interview process. Which actually annoyed me a little bit given I'd spent 4 years on it!

I think higher education is definitely a plus though, information and social skills are going to be needed and this is where you get them. Though if I had my time again I’d have studed a course I cared about instead of a generic computing course (basically so I didn't have to get a job, what a fucking layabout), now I'm doing all that stuff in my free time.

As for the feedback, I think Defrag is bang on the money. Open straight onto the content you want to show them, do not put anything on there that could give them a reason not to employ you, and don't be modest!

[Ginger Lord]

I'm not sure this is true, is this your experience? While I’ve only had two interviews (but got them both, woo!), none of them really cared for my education at all.

Well these days you're not allowed to ask people their age because you can't discriminate against older people so having certain education proves you are at least 16 (GCSE) or 18 (A-Levels) or 21 (Degree) as nowhere I'd imagine would hire a 16 year old as you'd have to be 18 minimum.

Edit: Also proves you're not a retard and can actually pass stuff.

[Acumen]

you can't ask people about their age ?? O_o

i thought that would be normal all over the world to include that in the cv/vita.

at least here in germany its absolutely normal and understandable, imo

thats quite interesting to know that difference, i have to admit

[Algor]

I don't seem to notice any links for released maps? Does this mean you've never finished a map? Personally, that would be a red flag... As for the school subject, I would think that's a need-to-know basis, where you only want to be as brief as possible. If you've graduated high school, then state that. If you're going to college but have not graduated, then state that. I would think posting grades and such is too revealing.

[dux]

Not every studio gives a hoot about education, it's not really that important . The studio I'm being interviewed at tomorrow don't give a rats as long as you're passionate about games and are good at what you do.

[Ginger Lord]

Below degree education definatly isnt that important, but its always good to have it there. Having a degree shows you have many abilities and qualities from day 1 that you don't need to be taught or can be proven in an interview such as the ability to work with others. The vast majority of degree's here require a few modules of work where you work in groups on projects or with other courses.

Its not required for some areas of the games industry but it certainly helps your application go to the top of the pile before the interview. Some areas such as programmers definately require a relevant degree more often than not and if you're planning to work abroad it can also be key to getting visas and what not.

[Sentura]

Below degree education definatly isnt that important, but its always good to have it there. Having a degree shows you have many abilities and qualities from day 1 that you don't need to be taught or can be proven in an interview such as the ability to work with others. The vast majority of degree's here require a few modules of work where you work in groups on projects or with other courses.

Its not required for some areas of the games industry but it certainly helps your application go to the top of the pile before the interview. Some areas such as programmers definately require a relevant degree more often than not and if you're planning to work abroad it can also be key to getting visas and what not.

yeah programming was what i was thinking too -- if you learn coding yourself, chances are you wont have expertise on algorithms and optimization that you will need in many positions.