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Fall 2020 ︎︎︎ CUNY Queens College ︎︎︎(ARTS241) Design 1

Project:
Porfolio Website




Background

At Queens, one of the things you need to do in order to continue in the design department is to make a portfolio website. In the past I haven’t made this an assignment, but from observation, people tend to need more help with the design and writing of this. 

First, please review the requirements for the portfolio website as outlined by the department.︎

If, for whatever reason, that is intimidating to you, don’t worry. Basically, if you have been paying attention/awake, and doing your work with any level of discipline it will be fine; you will continue within the department.

I think the best way to approach this is to use it as a test run for your actual portfolio website which you’ll need anyway. Your website does not have to be complex or really show anything off besides your work.

Website options

    • Cargo (︎my recommendation!︎)
      Cargo is a great option for a portfolio website, and what I use to do this website. The templates are good without imposing too much of an aesthetic and type choices are robust and very customizable. Additionally, it was made with portfolio websites in mind. Know that you have access to a free upgrade code:  a4891fe0, but you can test it out for free.
    • Squarespace ︎ 
      This is a great choice, and if you watch any amount of YouTube, you probably have seen a promo code for it. It has been some years since I’ve used Squarespace, but the templates aren’t as customizable as I would like, but they are pretty good out of the box.
    • Adobe Portfolio︎
      • This is not my favorite option, last time people have used it, some of the UI/UX choices in some of the templates were a little bit strange. That being said it is “free” if you have Adobe Creative Cloud, and you have access to the typefaces from Adobe Fonts, which is a plus. Again it should be free to try out .

Samples of Student Portfolios from Spring 2020

(Please keep in mind some of these websites may have been updated since submission)

  • Avg score between 4.5 and 5.0  

  • Avg Score between 3-4

  • Avg Score between 2-3

Dates

11/10/2020 ︎︎︎ Introduction

Your homework is to gather the images of your projects and look over each website option and see what you prefer.

11/17/2020 ︎︎︎ Writing (projects)

Your homework is to write about each project. Your thought process, what skills you utilized. Provide context for each piece. 

11/24/2020 ︎︎︎ Writing (statement) 

Your homework is to prepare your “design philosophy” statement and start working on your actual site.

12/01/2020 ︎︎︎ Review

In class, we’ll review your progress and how you can improve your site.

12/08/2020︎︎︎ Continue

We will not be able to review in class, please continue working on the project and reach out if you want feedback.

12/15/2020 ︎︎︎ Final Review

12/18/2020 ︎︎︎ Submission

You must submit your portfolio website to the department for review by this date. (This is not part of the class).

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