Portfolio inspiration

Consistency is important in web design but so is appeal, and I don't want to make my website boring by having everything looking the same. So I am researching consistent layouts that are still unique and interesting, and I'm researching banner images and the composition.

I haven't decided how my website will be designed yet, whether the graphics will be the same on every page but different colours, or whether I will use different graphics with the same theme so that they are still consistent. However, hopefully I will decide which design to use by the end of this entry.


Consistent graphics in different colours

I found the portfolio of a designer named Ed Hall (http://www.eddidit.com/) and found his site very interesting. It's clean and simple without being boring. The website uses a gradient effect background but it's only in one corner in a circle (like a spotlight) and I don't think it looks tacky at all.

At the top of the pages there is a pattern made out of curved lines overlapping each other. As I navigated through the pages, the design stayed consistent but each page was a different colour. I liked this effect as it made looking at the portfolio more interesting and gives it the 'creative vibe' which I think is important for designers to give off.

Because the graphics were the same except for the colour, the user wouldn't get confused or think they have accidently navigated away from the site, which is very important when trying to attract customers.


Consistent layouts with rotating graphics

A website that uses rotating graphics very well is the Taboon/Gold coast website (http://www.taboon.com.au/index.php). The layout is the same throughout the different pages, however the images at the top all rotate through the pages.

I like this effect, all the images are related to the website (food) but the rotation makes the pages far more interesting and slightly different each time without confusing the user.

The images use regular rhythm (see blog entry titled "Using graphics in web design") and unity. All the images are related to the restaurant in one form or another. From images to the outside view of the restaurant, to the inside and the food it serves. This is important so that the images don't distract the users from the website's purpose which in this case is advertising and promoting a restaurant.


Conclusion

For my web design portfolio I have decided that I would rather use consistent graphics in different colours as it's more unique and gives the website more edge. However I am also considering integrating rotating images. This is not definite but it will be applied if I can find a way to make it work effectively and professionally.