+ project navigation on the left and project images on the right is simple and intuitive and project images are a great size. + Variation of media such as video with images creates an interactive feel + Project text on left is a good size and about the optimal amount (verging on the lengthy side however) - Navigation buttons to switch between different images in a project are not as intuitive and harder to find - Direct posting of project boards instead of individual images make site less engrossing - The web design is light on unique details, and therefore it is hard to get a sense of the personality of the artist from exploring the webpage (the about section is also very short)

+ Beginning animation is unique and grabs viewers interest and loads quickly + Photo collage provides visual information about the projects and creates a unique aesthetic + Loosely organized navigation makes exploring the site more exciting and allows for opportunities for discovery + Artist's eclectic and creative personality comes across with the website design - Sometimes difficult to find and somewhat unintuitive links can be confusing - Abstract project categories can make navigating to a particular page or interest difficult - Lack of color at main project navigation creates a somewhat bland aesthetic

+ Interactive animation are fun and create immediate interest + Bright colors against grey background create visual interest + Logo and name as part of the title create an impression of professionalism - First page is simple and intuitive, however, after this it become cluttered and complicated to navigate - Images are too small due to the confined area - Loading time, although short, is unwelcome - Music playing is low quality and repetitive and can be an annoyance, especially if the person is listening to music on their computer at the moment.

+ Large thumbnails allow for plenty of information about the project the link will take you to + absence of text unless you rollover an image allows for very visual and uncluttered aesthetic + Site map in upper right allows for easy navigation - Length of page means that not all projects are immediately visible. - Button to navigate back to home after a project could be larger - The fact that links to projects is not included in the main site navigation is not readily apparent

+ The main bar appears to stay the same while the content changes, allowing for intuitive and easy navigation + Minimalistic design makes it clean, simple, yet interesting + All of the project links are on a single page and readily visible - Thumbnails for the projects are somewhat small, difficult to see what each project is - Strategy to navigate within projects adds a level of difficulty, arrows to switch between projects and multiple blocks to navigate within a project not very intuitive - Extra space could have been used to include more and larger content

My burning question is how do I make my online architectural portfolio stand out from other portfolios? I found a blog at www.thinkvitamin.com by author Mike Kus that had some great ideas. One of his ideas was to keep it simple and not be afraid of having blank space. I think this is really good input because having a clean and unfettered layout is attractive to potential employers. How the items are arranged on the site and where the blank areas are can also showcase design layout skills. Another one of his ideas is to have a good set palette of colors. Having a specific palette that is consistent throughout the portfolio helps to give the site a coherent sense of identity and character. Also, the color palettes in the example portfolios he gives compliment and contrast with each other very effectively. I plan on doing further research on effective and attention grabbing color combinations as this seems important. Other important aspects that he can make a portfolio stand out if done effectively are imagery and typography, bucking current web trends, and attention to detail. His examples of portfolios are not all architectural but their merits are definitely applicable and are worth taking a look at.