Creation part1: Who am i?

I am obsessed with the concept of the individual and how we interpret things similiarily and differently and why. I love inkblot designs for this reason and i'd love to incorporate this into my portfolio. I think it could say a lot about me as a designer, as well as creating an exciting visual backdrop. However, this is just one idea and i will develop other concepts.

I am letting go of my logo for now, and instead creating my own design identity through the portfolio as a whole. I adore the spots of colour, and i want to experiment with creating my own. This is a great tutorial http://www.gomediazine.com/tutorials/ink-bleeding-effect-in-after-effects-like-gnarls/ which suggested a great way for filming inblots (a paper towel in water).





http://www.instantshift.com/2009/06/17/77-ultimate-round-up-of-adobe-after-effects-tutorials/ is a great resource for flash after effects which i would use to do my animation for the website.

During both portfolio projects i have completed, i learnt a lot along the way. I want to demonstrate my skills through the presentation of  the website itself.

I have also thought about CSS placement of the flash module, by placing it within the centre of a amatching background this would work out. I also need to think about cross browser/platform compatibility. By placing the flash within a HTML page that had options at the top, this would display in a mobile browser, and you'd be able to quickly switch to a more compatible



http://wordperhect.net/  an oldie but a goodie! Incredibly over 10 years old. I love the graphic design and complexity yet simplicity of this website.

I found this to be a great resource too: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/10/30/65-excellent-flash-designs/ as is this: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/04/02/39-creative-flash-designs/

After looking around at whats out there. i'd like mine to be quite simple. Rather than filming a blot (which i'd have no control over) i could paint my own in layers in photoshop using watercolour techniques , then animate them in aftereffects. There would then be a transparency to it, which i'd like, and layering.





 http://depositphotos.com/3522630/stock-photo-Watercolor-blob-raster-3.html




http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/647/watercolour.jpg

My inkblot development: i devloped this from a sketch design in my sketchbook. It took about 10 minutes using an online image editor and layer masking. Using tools with varied opacity and layer masking, its possible to crate a bleeding effect I like the staggered layers, and the dash of colour in the centre. Using flash i could try to create a layered fade in effect.

 It's really easy to create quick mockups and try out new ideas.

After tryng this idea i realised that the heading needed simplification. What will be interesting is transitioning between the two: root and body navigation. I am also considering removing the 'blog' section. The transition could be as simple as a fade out and then a fade in, or i could try some more complex animations.

 -no singposting: corrected below

 

 cv section with headers

   

Portfolio section with examples of how the different projects would display.

this could include a box which would allow you to email directly. however i am not sure if this is possible within flash.

On the right is a problem: the blog link. It might have to take you to a slightly different background/layout with a longer frame as i'd probably be using blogger to host it which doesnt work with flash. another opion would be to use tumblr.

I have decided to remove the blog section from the website, and instead to include this portfolio in the 'blog' section. It will link externally.

Something that is very important to this project is expandability. By minimising 'nesting', i can expand the portfolio more easily.

I now need to think about how to present the individual projects and what information i want to show. Also: navigation!