The following notes for these websites are intended for quick overview of design and research into what goes into a portfolio. These notes do not reflect my critique or personal opinion of these companies and artists.
http://contentcentralagency.com/
Content Central Agency – A media production agency that specializes in Motion graphics and Video Production
What Works:
- Website interface is sleek, consistant and simple to navigate
- Website keeps visitor engaged with changing visuals through interactivity
DEMO REEL
- Demo Reel is strong and showcases a wide variety of clients. Keep focus on center of frame with either circles or squares as the focus.
Note: Demo could be improved – there are few instances where jarring live action editing breaks the “feeling” of 3d, allowing those pieces to stick out more- but more negatively so in the companies demo reel.
http://www.craiggoodedesign.co.uk/
Craig Goode – A freelance Animator, Film Maker and Photographer based in the UK.
What works:
- Website has a consistent yet simple color design
- Work is contained in grids of limited size – If he had more work, he can use this to filter out so that only his best work is featured.
- Vimeo links for his work are played automatically if you click on them from his work pages.
- (what doesn’t) about me tab has small, light gray font against a white background, making it difficult to see. if he used his darker grey color in his palette for this, or made the font bigger, this wouldn’t be a problem.
DEMO REEL
- Demo reel puts a focus on motion graphics and particle work
- stop motion, while showcased with the squirrel animation, doesn’t fit with the rest of the demo reel.
Michael Zauner – A German Artist, Animator, and Teacher.
what works (and what doesn’t):
- Website has consistent design and layout, with banner changing images with each page.
- Main navigation is on the top, which is very small in comparison to the rest of the page – the first section that opens up when you visit the site is News, which could feature anything from project news to where he is, including but not limited to ‘eating pretzels’.
- Animation and Illustration work tabs have instructions for viewing. even so, once you click on the work and go way from the link tab’s source, there is no indication to which one you clicked on, nor is the title featured once you bring it up. Animation is slightly better for this error – it shows the client and information about the piece below once you click on it.
- While Zauner doesn’t have a resume available in the formal sense, he has a list under ‘CV’ of his degrees, work experience, and selected clients.
http://vivzportfolio.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFlha-KOKCc (demo Reel)
Vivienne Medrano – an SVA Graduate specializing in traditional character animation
What works (and what doesn’t):
- The portfolio is framed in a tumblr template – not the best layout for professional showcasing of work
- While work is categorized by tag, navigating or specific work is a pain, and finished video work is nearly impossible to find – for that you have to go to her Youtube channel.
- the first link on the sidebar is a link to her personal tumblr, which is not only bad practice but also leads to whats basically a broken account link.
- apart from the template and tumblr’s limitations, the theme looks nice, but not nearly as professional as it could (or should) be
- Demo reel showcases both complete work and sketch animation – ends with what could very well be a design for a business card.
Taylor Stevenson 