How to Redesign your own Website without going crazy
I once heard that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
This pretty much sums up how I felt after sketching and mocking-up dozens of prototypes for my new portfolio site but, alas, I was getting nowhere.
Eventually, I used some of the great resources out there on the interweb to focus my direction and develop the final design you see before you. Along the way I learned loads about CSS and using the wonderful Wordpress to do exactly what I envisioned. So, just for you, I thought I’d give an overview of how I eventually got there in the end.
The Problem
My old portfolio site was looking a little tired and fragile and I had long planned to revamp it.
One of the main problems (aside from a rather uninspiring look) with it was that it was, quite frankly, a bugger to update with new work. It was originally created in a rather rash fashion and I didn’t think long term about what I might need it to do. To add anything, like a portfolio update, I had to hand code the HTML file and I had to keep manually creating a normal sized image and a thumbnail one. I knew there must be an easier way.
Getting Help
I stumbled across this article on using the Wordpress blogging platform as a Content Management System. Via the links on the site I set up a local install of Wordpress and began playing around with the template files and started to understand how to get it to do what I wanted.
Articles like this one on Freelance Switch and this one from Jeffrey Veen’s blog helped me focus the direction I was going in. I was now thinking more about who my audience was and how best to show them the things they would be looking for.
I’d also recommend reading Creating the Perfect Portfolio on Digital Web Magazine which had great tips on structuring your portfolio for your audience and, in particular, the importance of explaining your portfolio pieces:
“Design operates in context, and the business and work of design even more so. Who was the client? What was the brief? What problem was it solving? How did your work solve their needs?”
Light at the end of the tunnel
Now that I had clarified my goals I went back to my roughs and focused on simplicity and content. I played around with a few different concepts for the overall look and settled on what I thought showed a bit of individuality.
The, quite frankly, amazing Smashing Magazine was a fruitful source of inspiration and insight as well.
So that’s pretty much it - this is how I eventually got the site where it is at the moment. I’m already compiling a list of visual tweaks and additional functionality I want to add over the coming months (when I can squeeze in the time!). I hope I’ve shared a few useful resources for anyone looking to redesign their site soon - why don’t you share your own redesign stories in the comments?
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