Web123
The Web Portfolio: How Do I Get There?
You’re not a web designer. But as an artist you need an online portfolio. And you need to be able to maintain and update the content. This is an overview of some of the approaches available to you. It is by no means an exhaustive reference. Instead I’ve presented examples in three categories, based on your experience and interest in learning web development techniques.
The Portfolio Community Site
Perhaps the simplest, least time-consuming approach would be to use an existing portfolio community site. Deviant Art is one popular example, often thought of as “the MySpace for artists”. While there are many of these sites. I’ve provided links to a few that I like:
Carbonmade – Around since 2006, Carbonmade requires no experience. To quote them: “a lickety-split online portfolio sans the headache”.
Shown’d – Geared towards “the applied arts”, this site includes some resources for hirers as well as designers.
SquareSpace – Perhaps the most flexible platform in the “template+” category.
The Blog
Many artists and designers prefer to use a blog as their online portfolio. Variations on this theme include using Facebook as a “fan site”. WordPress is a popular blog software, and it’s what we use here at SCAD. Blogger is another. Both offer hosted and host-your-own solutions. Here’s one example that won a SXSW Web Award.
Build Your Own
This route obviously involves the biggest commit of time, but offers the most flexibility. There are many templates available as a starting point. In addition there are components to use. For HTML/CSS sites Lightbox has become very popular. If you have Flash experience or interest, Slideshow Pro is an excellent component.
Media Packaging
OK, this stuff might be helpful too:
Discmakers offers large as well as small runs of CDs and DVDs, with lots of options
Jewelboxing sells really nifty components for CD/DVD packaging
