Interface Designer and Environment Modeler

[curtisc]

Hi everyone!

I am just here to get some feedback on my portfolio site.

I am completely re doing my 3D work as I am not happy with the current content I have on there.

I am really just looking for tips on if you guys think this is good presentation. I have been an interface designer and web developer for the past four years but have always had a passion for gaming and looking to get into this industry and out of web.

Thanks everyone!

http://www.curtiscampbell.ca

Curtis

[Marvin.Star]

Hey Curtis, I think the site could use a fair bit of reworking. When I first reach the page and take a look my attention is torn between viewing the content, the images of your work, and viewing your banner. The banner contrasts far too greatly with your portfolio, it was actually kind of painful and disorienting at first, I forced myself to read the banner and then continued to the content. The banner content itself is ok, assuming you really want to link your facebook ect(I wouldn't link anything but LinkedIn).

The content itself was a bit confusing, my first instinct was to scroll down the page to get and overview of the page and what I could look at. The problem with this is that I ended up in a section full of links to websites and I wasn't sure exactly why I was seeing this (I thought I was going to see game art or something similar). I would suggest that you create either a separate page or an expandable section for the website design; because they do show you have other skills but can distract from the core content very easily.

Next, I finally got to look at your work up top. My first thought is I would like to have access to the image galleries on the page. Perhaps you could make each link to a separate page for each project that displays all the images. Also, I would discourage the flash gallery because not everyone will be able to view these properly and they take longer to load. Anyways, after viewing the images for each project I realized that I wasn't sure what job you were trying to get; your content shows primarily environment art as far as I could tell but some of the Unreal Engine projects look like they are showing level design (the first project and the fourth project). If you don't intend to show game design then I suggest removing the pickups from the snow map unless you want to replace the meshes with your own; they distract from your work. So after viewing your work I had to refer back to the top banner to check and see what you said you do. "3d artist and designer", first I would fix this to read with capitals like so:'3D Artist and Designer', then I would increase the size of this text so that it is clearly more important than the blurb below it; I want to know what you do first before anything else. Finally, I realize I don't see where to contact you, I see facebook and all that but I don't see a Contact button or an email at all. What purpose does the home button serve?

So to recap I suggest you:

• Bring down the heavy contrast between the banner and the rest of the page.
  Figure out what job you are applying for, I think it's 'Environment Artist', but I don't think your so sure yet.
  Make sure your job title is very easy to find and read, it is more important than the blurb about this being your portfolio.
  Revise content based on what you want to do, if it's Environment Art then don't show me the pickups, just show me something that looks really good.
  When you've narrowed down the core content move everything else into a "Other Work" section.
  If you plan to keep it one page then remove the home button.
  Put CONTACT in the banner somewhere, also at the bottom of the page again might be a good idea. I don't know how to contact you.

Those are my suggestions, if you make any changes let me know. Also, here is a site that I think is a good example: http://www.lukasvandaele.net/index.html

[curtisc]

Thanks for your suggestions. I will fix some of the problems you mentioned. However there is no flash on the website, and this gallery is viewable by everyone as it's just HTML and Javascript.

[curtisc]

So based on Marvin.Star's suggestions, and just realizing that he was pretty much right on all accounts I decided to just recreate my entire website.

I do want to do environment art and world building so I have focused solely on that, while keeping my web/interface design work on the site in a separate, less noticeable section.

I am not really looking for critique on the work itself at this time, as I am in the process of creating entirely new, smaller and more focused environment pieces with much more focus on quality. These are all quite old (from 2008 in school) and I know they are severely lacking. It is really just up there so I can get my website up and running with at least something to show.

However, I am looking for any tips on how I could improve the site, if anyone notices anything.

The link is the same. http://www.curtiscampbell.ca

Thanks everyone!

[Marvin.Star]

Hey Curtis, great job on the revisions! The site feels much more focused and ready for your new content. I took a gander through all of it and I have just two things to point out that I noticed. First and most important is on your resume under Skills. It is good to show that you can do all the things that you are really good at but perhaps it would benefit you to elaborate on some of the skills; to make it sound more impressive. For example from my resume(out dated but none the less a good example):

Qualifications

• Proficient user of Maya, PhotoShop, Unreal Development Kit, Flash & ActionScript 3.0, Adobe Premier Pro, Adobe Encore, and Adobe Soundbooth.

• Excellent understanding of the development process and the tools used in planning and creating 3D and 2D spaces and game play elements.

• In depth experience in pre production for game design via visual digital and traditional art and written documentation.

• Wide range of skills allows for a greater understanding of the practical application of game concepts into assets and game play elements using both code and art.

• Outstanding communication skills heightened by experience gained through video game development team projects (3D and 2D).

Consider "Qualifications" to be the same as Skills this is how I prefer to list my skills. Be aware that the way you have done it is NOT wrong, but rather what I am suggesting is my own personal preference. Second, you named one of your galleries 'Miscellaneous Work'; this works but for some reason I think it might be an easier read if you just make it say something like 'Other Work'. That's just being really nit picky though. Otherwise great job on the revision and I look forward to your new environment pieces

[Marvin.Star]

However there is no flash on the website, and this gallery is viewable by everyone as it's just HTML and Javascript.

Oh, lol. Sorry, I guess I just assumed that those kinds of galleries were always flash based. Either way I like the new layout style much better.