Opinions please: new portfolio format...

WX51TXR · Jan 24, 2008

Folks, the portfolio on our site is undergoing a complete overhaul, and will be republished in a couple of weeks time. I've completed the first mock up page, and I'm happy with it, but I would appreciate feedback and opinions on the slightly 'out there' approach I'm taking. You'll see what I mean when you view this link...

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/polished-bliss-detailing-portfolio-ferrari-f430.html

...just remember to turn your speakers on!

PS - While the linked page is live, it isn't linked from elsewhere on the site, so the only way to get back to it if you go elsewhere in the site after viewing it will be to return here and click above again.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. I have 18-24 cars to include in the new animated portfolio, and various music tracks, some moody and pacy, others very gentle and delicate.

:thumb:

jamiekip · Jan 24, 2008

Hi Rich,

I like it, I think its an effective way of shwing the transformations you're able to achieve.
A few subjective thoughts, it might be quite nice through the slide show to highlight specific points within the detail, so, for example, when highlighting the initial state of the car, just highlighting some of the challenges you've marked, ie, swirl marks. Could be in a simple white font over the image???
Then in the correction, highlighting what you did (Rotary, on x pad with y polish)???

Final slide could summarise what the detail entailed:
Ferrari F430
Time spent on correction
Products used
Price?

To be fair mate, the above is subjective, I think what you've pulled together is a huge step forward.

Just my thoughts...

JK

PS. Where do you find the time!?

WX51TXR · Jan 24, 2008

Gawd knows! Cheers for the thoughts, all very valuable. Once I've collated them from across the forums I'll settle on a final format. I know what you mean about the idea of giving more info, but in some ways that may just muddle unknowledgeable customers who are really only concerned with the end result rather than the process. I kind of see our forum write ups serving as help for enthusiasts who want to know the ins and outs of everything, while the portfolio is really just for those folk who want us to do all the work and are happy to pay for it. Got to think about the target audience! :yes:

jamiekip · Jan 24, 2008

Fair point - and you kow your market way better than me bud!

Ess_Three · Jan 24, 2008

I like that format Rich.
Very clear and shows the work done..

How about a 'music off' button on the animated window, for those who may be looking at work and perhaps need to turn the music off?

WX51TXR · Jan 24, 2008

Now your testing my coding prowess... which is pretty poor! I'll take a look into it. At the moment I'm using a very basic html tag to run the music in the background via Explorer, but I may be able to change this to play it through Media Player. I'll see what I can do. :yes:

SiGainey · Jan 25, 2008

Great work as always folks

I dont get any music though as I'm in firefox I think.

Covenant · Jan 25, 2008

Yeh, sound is one of the first things people start adding to webpages when they develop. It's also one of the last things you will see on a professional website (with a few exceptions).

If you want sound/movies, either embed it and let the user click to start it, or provide a link for them to download the file.

Less is more

WX51TXR · Jan 25, 2008

Oh poo... and there was me thinking that it added something nice! Granted sound is not necessary most of the time, but I thought in this case it would work well. I'll get my coding books out and see if I can make it an option. :icon_thumright:

347 · Jan 25, 2008

looks good , it does what you want , shows a brief view of all processes that you take to complete a detail on customers vehicles without going over techy and too detailed :icon_thumright:

Covenant · Jan 28, 2008

WX51TXR said:
Oh poo... and there was me thinking that it added something nice! Granted sound is not necessary most of the time, but I thought in this case it would work well. I'll get my coding books out and see if I can make it an option. :icon_thumright:

The main problem of sound is the "annoyance" factor. As a web developer something that sounds good to you might drive someone else barmy.

Additionally, volume is a huge issue. Many people leave their PC speaker systems on all the time but you don't know how loud - you could possibly scare the bejesus out of someone if they have their speakers on pretty loud.

WX51TXR · Jan 30, 2008

Lol, fair enough! Okay, I've got a new format sketched out, with two options for each car; a 56k friendly Lytebox slideshow, and a clickable link to the full java animated versions with sound. I'll get a draft done in the next dy or two and post a link for further thoughts. Cheers very much for the help guys, it's great to be able to test the water before committing to a format. :icon_thumright:

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Opinions please: new portfolio format...

WX51TXR

Polished Bliss

jamiekip

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WX51TXR

Polished Bliss

jamiekip

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Ess_Three

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WX51TXR

Polished Bliss

SiGainey

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Covenant

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WX51TXR

Polished Bliss

347

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Covenant

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WX51TXR

Polished Bliss

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