LoveColour is finally getting a big makeover

After having the portfolio site live for over 2 years and hardly making a single update to it, I decided to start from scratch and build a whole new design.

With uni work and client work during the holidays I've had little time to really sit down and come up with something new. This year however, I've finally made the commitment. The web-site is almost done, and should be going up live before the end of March.

This new web-site is going to be more simplistic and less all-over-the-show as the previous one was. At the same time it'll be alot more interactive, and more dynamic. Updates include panning, better viewing options, inclusion of HTML pages rather than plain Flash, and of course more work examples. The new site also has a much faster loading time.

Here's a sneak preview of what the new website will look like as opposed to the old.

Old Version

New Version

Ads of the week

Check out these two adverts for Fortnight Lingerie. These ads are a take on educational videos, where the situation is deliberately taken out of context. This creates a sense of humour and sex appeal that ties it in with the product advertised without having to make any verbal mention of it at all. That's clever!

Super Sexy CPR from Super Sexy CPR on Vimeo.

Super Sexy Abdominal Thrust from Super Sexy CPR on Vimeo.

Things I wish I knew better at High School

1. It's best to start working on a portfolio of personal and/or professional work as soon as you can.

2. Once you begin university you are likely to start missing the old days. Enjoy your time here - when you're out in the workforce you're likely miss uni just as much.

3. Collecting samples of work that inspire you sets you in the right direction.

4. Always be prepared. Circumstances change in a blink of an eye and opportunities you thought didn't exist could pop up when you least expect them.

5. Being able to draw helps.

6. Everybody is different so it's always beneficial to share your creative ideas.

7. Age should not be a factor - the earlier you start progressing, the better.

8. Avoid working for free. Design jobs without pay as a new student can be misinterpreted as a privilege as you may get valuable experience but most of the time it's a misconception. Not only is this unprofessional but it's an attempt by someone to take advantage of your time and skills. The only time free jobs are acceptable is if it's for a good cause or a charity.

9. Design isn't always about pretty pictures, it's about finding the most effective way to communicate a message. How it's done is up to you.

10. Get involved online. Join forums, write/follow blogs and listen to podcasts. All of this will eventually come around useful in one way or another.

LoveColour Vectors: More Networking Icons!

I made some social networking icons - same as last time only this time they are stylized into little blobs...with eyes.
If anyone out there wants to use these for their site or blog or whatever go right ahead, download link here.
(Please don't forget to link back if you use them online).




FYI: Look out for the next vector giveaway - I'm planning to make a brand new wallpaper.

Ad of the Week

You may have seen this one before and if not - you're likely to enjoy it. It's in our basic human nature to take care of and nurture little children which is where the idea of 'cute' comes from. The truth is that in the world of advertising 'cute' is powerful and effective. Arguably even up there with humour.
This week's ad uses the above-mentioned idea quite effectively! The product advertised has infact zero connection to what's being shown in the advert and yet it still managed to pull it off! Have a look:

LoveColour Feedback

As mentioned in The Plan, I am planning to update my website and I asked several people (mostly professional designers) for some feedback regarding my site. Some comments were positive some were negative and some were downright brutally honest.

The most important thing to mention here though is that all of them were equally embraced with open arms, all posted right here and ofcourse all uncensored. Wanna know what people think of my artwork? Here it is!
_________________________

Source: Graphic Design Forum

"There are 3 links on the page it feels odd that they are all to the left of the page. Are you planning to add something to the right?"

"Your portfolio - it would be nice if there was a next button instead of having to click back and then to the next piece."

"Your bench and contact booth illustrations are very good realism wise- but the fountain one ceases to really shine."

"Sorry, but the initial load was way too long, and I clicked away."

"I love the illustrations and the layout of the site, but I had to wait forever for it to load."

"As to your portfolio pieces, I think the colors are very nice and you show good artistic style, however need work on the communication and details."

"I agree it took a while to load (but I walked away and it loaded by the time I came back). I like your illustrations and you have some nice work there."

"If your goal is to become a digital artist I think you show great promise."

"Having a subtle menu on the top or bottom isn't a bad idea for people to fall back on."

"The zoom feature threw me off, why is it there?"

"Loaded in about 50 seconds - I would have clicked away normally. Would like to be able to click a 'next' button to take me through the designs."

"Choose a style, and try to retain it in all aspects of the illustration, and the illustration as a whole. Color schemes are nice to use too. A lot of colors going on- primarily the very detailed skyline.

Could check something like this out for inspiration:
http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/"


Source: Yahoo Answers

"It looks awesome, really! How did you do it? I am serious, it looks amazing"

"Your website is very nice and quite well done in Flash. At such an early age you have done a wonderful job. Not to forget you still have a long way to go, your current work shows the sign of upcoming hardcore professional."

" Try making an XHTML version and offer the user choice to switch between XHTML and Flash version."

"You seem to have knowlegde of SEO and if you are a Freelance Designer you may need to market your site. So making it in DIV based layout will help you get good traffic and maybe clients too."

"It took little more time to load in my machine. Try to optimize the loading time of you Flash version. Remember, not everyone will wait for it to load. Internet connections are not too fast in every parts of world."
_________________________


!!Thanks to everyone who took the time and effort to place this feedback on my site. It will be a vital source of information to be referred to when I will be upgrading my site. I greatly appreciate this!!



-----------Edit-----------

As I was overloaded with an enormous amount of assignments and design-related projects outside of uni I was unable to complete my web-site upgrade on time. Sorry everyone! This will have to be postponed until a later date - will hopefully have it finished by the end of this semester.

Ad of the week

This one aired a couple of years ago and I remember thinking how cool it was. Made right here in New Zealand, this week's top ad goes to the Vodem Freedom of Movement campaign. Check it out below: