The topic of a web-designer’s projects looking the same way too regularly has sparked some deb
The topic of a web-designer’s projects looking the same way too regularly has sparked some debate within the community, about whether that is a bad thing or not.
We can’t deny it - being pegged as a “one-trick pony” is something none of us wants. But do similar-looking projects mean that we’re incapable of more than that? Short answer: no!
When you’re designing something, the goal is for your project to be used by an audience. More often than not, this doesn’t mean that you have to do something never seen before.
In fact, the goal is for your project to look good, be easy to use and easy to understand. That’s it. Are you able to create a groundbreaking design while sticking to these three principles? Great! If not, that’s okay too.
You should aim for usability first, rather than impress people. A super complex design which is hard to use won’t cut it for you.
In no way is it bad to have a varied portfolio. After all, as a designer, you want to show potential clients what you can do. However, we have to think deeper than that.
Ask yourself: where would you go if you wanted to buy something of its highest quality? Surely, you’d pick experts in the matter, not a generalist. Now, apply that reasoning to your web-design work. Staying within a certain niche isn’t a bad thing, as you have the chance to improve much deeper in that niche than if you worked as a generalist. However, this doesn’t mean you should neglect everything else.
Tip:Keep separate portfolios, one generalist and one niche. This way, you’re able to display your whole skills as well as your more in-depth expertise.
We can always find a middle ground on everything, and here it is.
You don’t have to create something groundbreaking and staying within a niche can be beneficial and place you as an expert on that style. However, adding a special touch to your “niche projects” is always welcome.
There’s always room for improvement and sometimes a small feature can make the difference between a client commissioning you or someone else. Just make sure you’re considering the client’s context and don’t go overboard.
It may sound like a silly question but a portfolio can mean different things to different people, depending on what you do and who your target audience is.
As a web-designer, owning a portfolio with projects that look similar to each other isn’t such a bad thing. However, if you were, say, a 3D animator, having that wow factor is way more important.
If you spot a certain sameness to your past projects, try not to take it as a negative thing. Instead, think about how they turned out. Were they successful? If so, that’s a good enough reason to not be negative and realise that you’re producing exactly what your audience wants. Plus, you’re placing yourself as an expert in that style!
Keep up with my Frontend Gizmos article series for more content in the topic.
