Website Updates & Evaluation

Today I decided to evaluate my website and in this post I will describe what exactly I changed and why.

At first, I changed the look of my homepage to make it more related to me. For this purpose, I put my photo on it and changed the background.

I then changed the look of the social media icons to more closely match the look of the website. Previously they were too colorful, but I replaced them with gray ones and they fit the website better.

I also decided to change the color of the buttons on the portfolio page and my project page, because the previous one didn't really suit me. The gray button fits in much better with the rest of the page.

I changed the copyright notice to remove the information that the site was created by wix. I also made sure to use the correct copyright symbol, which also appears on every page.

After making few modifications on my website, I also checked its mobile version, which also required a few changes.

I added a photo in the horizontal view to the home page and  there was extra space in the mobile view, which I removed using adjust section.

Additionally, to make the contact page in the mobile version easier to read, I deleted the long text from it.

The last thing I changed in mobile view was a button on the portfolio page that linked to my project. Even though it looked good on the computer, on the phone it was too small and cut off the project name, so I had to lengthen it a bit and move it to the middle.

After checking and correcting a few things that I didn't like on the website, it was time to evaluate it, which I have posted below.

Website Evaluation

Planning stage:

What were your initial ideas for creating a website? style / name / template

My goal was to make a website that would demonstrate my filmmaking. The main goal of the website is to show my film works, which is why I chose a simple filmmaking template. The website will have a dark background because this design suits me best. To attract potential viewers, I used my own name and clearly stated that I am a filmmaker.

Do you have a tagline on your website?

No, I don't have tagline. I don't need it because my website is only assessment site.

Research:

Which designers / artists (relevant to your continuation route) websites did you look for inspiration?

I looked for inspiration in Tim Burton and Werner Herzog websites. Both of them are directors and moviemakers, however they represent different styles of art. I compared their websites and considered how to set up the pages and navigation of my own site.

How many pages did you want to make on your website and why? 

My website will include four main pages (Home, About, Contact, Portfolio) and Projects subpages connected with portfolio page.Access to each page is in the bar at the top, which makes using the website simple and intuitive.

Did that change as you progressed onto the research / designing stage?

This is how I intended the website to appear from the start. The only change is adding subpages with my works to the portfolio tab, which will be added with subsequent projects. 

Content:

What is the purpose of your website?

Main purposes of my website is to show my skills in creating my own website. This website is also intended to present an overview of my work and encourage potential clients to collaborate with me.

Who are your potential website users?

Potential users of my website are film and filmmaking fans. It is aimed rather at younger audiences who would like to create content for YouTube, music videos or short films. In addition, it is addressed to future clients who would like to cooperate with me.

Why do you think it is important to have a digital portfolio website?

Having a digital portfolio website is important because it is a very good form of advertising and it creates the opportunity to contact potential customers interested in my services. Moreover, thanks to this I can present my skills and clients can easily assess whether they are interested in working with me.

 

Design:

Which design elements / tools did you use? (e.g.: infographics, fixed header, static background image, navigation menu design, text boxes, image galleries, social media feed) and why? 

I used a fixed header and footer on my website because I wanted them to appear consistently on every page. I changed the navigation menu to the same Nautica Text font as my header. On all my pages I have used a static dark background, only in contact page I used image of camera. I included social media icons for Blogger, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, and the copyright ensure in the footer. I then added buttons and links to move between pages. To make it easier for people to contact me, I included a contact form that links to my email.

Which template did you use in Wix and why?

I use the portfolio template because it was personalized to my needs, so I didn't have to change the graphic appearance of the website, only its content.

Navigation:

Does your website have working social media icon links?

Yes, I connected my website witch social media. The social media icons are in footer.

Are your pages connected / interlinked?

Yes, all my pages are connected.

Is it easy to navigate?

Yes, my website is quite simple and the navigation is not too complicated.

Does the “Contact” page / email link work?

Yes, everything works perfectly.