Website Review: Donald Vanderbroom

Neophyte designer, Donald Vanderbroom, recently launched his portfolio website at www.vanderbroom.com. He said that the website is still a work in progress and he will be adding a couple more portfolio pieces soon. Until then he wished that he could get feedback from the community. So leave your comments and give your feedback.

Comments

[Donald Jerith Vanderbroom]

wow! thanks for posting! I am looking forward to hearing everyone's comments, good AND bad :)

:::djv17:::

[Matt]

For the most part, I'm digging your site. It's a clean design and the colors pop nicely. The couple things that standout to me but not in a good way.

The icons on the homepage have no relevance to the linked page's content, or at least none that is immediately obvious. I'd suggest coming up with some that are a little more related to the links.

The 2.0 above the logo throws me off, mostly because I've never seen the first iteration of the site. The 2.0 actually makes me think of web 2.0, and while your site looks very web 2.0, the term "Web 2.0" is getting a little played out. It's filler, I'd get rid of it.

I'd also try to flesh out the About section a little more. If you're stumped, try to make friends with a budding copywriter and do a little exchange of services.

Finally, what does the (17/22) mean in the page title? I'd consider changing the title to what the page actually is.

But wait, there's more... Since you are linking to your Myspace page, consider customizing the theme (on your own) to reflect the look of your site. Also, remember to keep it classy since potential employers are bound to check it out.

Overall, it's a good looking site, it only needs a few minor tweaks and you'll be there. I look forward to seeing more content your portfolio section.

[Donald Jerith Vanderbroom]

wow! thanks for the feedback. i will definitely address all the items you mentioned.

the myspace theme is a great idea!

what does everyone else think?

:::djv17:::

[cody]

I agree with matt. good catches. although I think the color scheme doesnt really work either. No offense.

[Dustin]

Alright dude, here’s my honest take on the site – it's how you get better so I challenge you to use this feedback to better yourself, and not as discouragement.
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Pros

+ Unique Layout

+ Simplistic/Clean

+ You allow your work to be the focus

+ It’s bold

+ You have some good range in ability with your portfolio [ie. web, logo, illustration, icons]

+ Your portfolio is vey easy to view and to maneuver from one piece to the next, as is your site as a whole. It makes for effortless viewing and really increases the chance that a viewer will look at multiple pieces.
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Cons

+ The 2.0 on your logo seems to be an afterthought and brings little to no value to it other than clutter

+ Not digging the color palette, I think it’s the 2 different greens that is bugging me – they don’t’ jive.

+ Your text links and body copy are too large as straight text. Your links are bigger than your logo and the headlines of your different sections. You need to address some hierarchy issues. Also, in your homepage banner the words you chose to make “bold” is puzzling to me.

+ The icons for about/port/contact have nothing to do with the sections.

+ My name is _________________. I am a website and graphic designer.
This is one of those “fill in any name” statements – same can be done with many generic company slogans. It’s fine, but you’re a designer and essentially a creative – so why have the focal point of your homepage be a generic/noncreative statement about yourself.? Personally – I’d like to see an interesting graphic/portfolio piece/illustration as the first thing I see. Set the tone for who you are and what you can do – create some emotion and engage the viewer to dig into your site. A generic statement with disconnected icons doesn’t do that.

+ If you made those icons, and want to display your illustration skills, then include them in your portfolio – could make for a cool section.

+ Expand the about section, tell us where you get your inspiration, why you do what you do, what you’ve done that has gotten you where you are – some street credit per say.

+ You don’t really need to put your portfolio site in your portfolio – it’s assumed you designed your own site as you’re a web designer.

+ 5 of the 10 pieces in your portfolio use the design element of an eye with an “x” and a regular eye in them. That really worries me. It’s ok to reuse elements, it’d be difficult to be an efficient designer if you didn’t. But disguise it when you can - it’s pretty blatant and it’s in half of your work. It could lead a viewer to think you can’t make their work unique to who they are or won’t venture from a style.

+ Finally, it’s ok to have a “style” but make sure you display that you have range in your design and can cater to any client (your illustrations help break up the web 2.0 design look you have]. I’m guilty of this myself, it’s hard not to gravitate towards what you’re comfortable doing but I encourage you to do so – I have to encourage myself everyday to do the same.
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Great start, should yield you well and I really commend you for taking on feedback. It takes guts. Best of luck, give my feedback some thought, and disagree with me as you see fit. Onward!

[andyRespire]

Donald,

Dustin made great points. I'd like to add a few of my own:

1. Monster Prairie logo/web:
I designed the Silicon Prairie logo & don't mind that you spoofed it (imitation = flattery). But I think you should note that it's a parody of an existing brand. I also think you should reillustrate the monster more in the clean, simple style of SPN's prairie dog - it looks like a colorized pencil sketch now.

The web site it not portfolio-worthy - it's obviously just a Wordpress-type template and doesn't show any design skill. It's OK show it as 1 of your links, but not 1 your designs.

2. The 'XO' in your work:
This definitely needs some kind of explanation. As I clicked thru your site, MPNews, & your MySpace - I saw it everywhere, but have no clue if it's yours, your friend network's, the monster eyes, or whatever. Besides, I thought of Playstation when I first saw it in your wordmark.

3. Writing:
You definitely need to give attention to the copywriting and grammar on your site - or strip out as much copy as possible so it just focuses on your work. Design = Communication. You can't give all attention to the pictures and neglect the words.

4. Illustrations:
Your Frankenstein sketch is sweet, but it shows your drawing & art skills, not your design & layout skills. Add more design - & if you want to keep the illos, then separate them somehow & add more.

Let me drop in a disclaimer here: I'm telling you this stuff knowing that my site lacks much in presentation too. However, I haven't publically posted it stating it's complete, asking for reviews like you have. ;)

Hope this helps. Let me know any other ?s - Glad to help. - andy

[Aaron Turner]

Upon first glance I seriously thought that this was a joke or a web 2.0 satire.

Although upon second glance, I still thought that.

[Donald Jerith Vanderbroom]

woah woah woah. what are you sayin here?

:::djv17:::