Projects seem to come and go like days and nights (that is, at least for me, quicker than anything), but work on my own portfolio page seems to drag on forever. Without a definite deadline, it’s always a matter of “maybe just one more thing”; “let’s just try this (and rework the whole thing from scratch)”; “ooo… I like that. How can I use it?”; and so on ad infinitum. I guess, therefore, on the endless cycle, it’s welcome to this version of my portfolio!
This is so far only my second major rework for 2014, and we’re nearly two months in – not a bad hit rate if you ask me. This version has tried to draw focus away from flashy features and go hard with raw portfolio work, social media integration, and as much content as possible – hopefully without inhibiting the usability in any way. It should make browsing the portfolio much easier than was previously possible, and give better access to things that you might have come here to see. Take a look through and let me know what you think – I’ve probably already started on the next version, but it will be greatly appreciated regardless!
As a side note… how do we go about setting limits on the amount of (unpaid) work we end up pouring into our own projects? On a positive side it’s not completely “unpaid” work as such, as having a complete portfolio is nearly the first major step in ensuring the work keeps on flowing.
Set yourself a deadline
No, there’s no client asking for it to be done. No, there’s no invoice to send out at the end. But pick a date, and try to stick to it (as much as possible).
Bundle the changes, and release as a major upgrade… not a trickle
This is one that I’m guilty of nine times out of ten. I see something useful/nifty/cool/new, and I instantly have to find a way to include it into my site. A better option is to pool these features and upgrades, wait until there’s a small list, and release them all together – hopefully after a little bit of list consolidation. No… you don’t need the site to do that too. If you’re constantly working on small modifications, the project really will seem to be all-consuming – both time and energy-wise.
Get some user feedback!
We do it all the time for client projects, so why not for your own site too! Have a great idea for how it can be improved? Run it past a few people before you begin development.
There’s a few random thoughts for a Monday evening – hopefully this is the start of a more consistent stream of thoughts. Web design, web development, creative, and otherwise. Interested? Come along for the ride!