Personal Website and Online Store

Spoke to Alec to gain a professional insight into which website domain/templates to use and avoid.

Website

Recommendations:

• Squarespace
• Persona
• CargoCollective

Online Store

Recommendations

Big Cartel - Good for small scale

Shoppify - Large scale

Exact dimensions

Weight

Packaging cost

Service cost

WEBSITE

Used Squarespace:

https://james-green-dt82.squarespace.com/

Home screen

A live feed of projects that is predominantly visual in order to immerse the visitor in my work:

Made sure that the Instagram icon is linked to my page making it easier for visitors to follow me.

Navigation Menu

Placed down the left hand side of the page for easy reference
I divided my practice into folders allowing the visitor to specify the kind of work they want to see which then opens a drop down menu of specific project titles.

Link to my bigcartel shop is also visible, increasing the chance of sales and allowing the user to discover more.

Getting my head around the website templates was challenging
Need to get more copy to support my work
Need to make the layout consistent between each page
Typesize and position

Main issue is standard of photography

Online Store

Created an online store through bigcartel to allow me to sell my prints (lunar calendars).

Basic Layout
Automated slideshow of products

Postage - Made sure the cost of the postage is covered
Slightly lowered the postage cost for multiple purchases to encourage people to buy more than one.




Reflection

Website:

I can not justify the amount of money I was paying for Squarespace at this moment in time considering I gained zero hits while the website was up for 5 months. As my practice is predominantly print based I have removed the website and resorted to my Behance online portfolio whilst making sure that I have a printed portfolio and products that I can physically take to interviews and studios. I found this was successful when I went to visit Oslo Agency.

Whilst this will have a detrimental impact on my submission for assessment, I feel it is important not to rush the process and make sure the content and photography is to a professional standard before uploading. In the near future I aim to concentrate more on my personal website however I am still developing as a designer and have a broad interest therefore I don't feel it is appropriate for me to spend time creating a personal brand without having some focus.

Online Store:

Haven't made any sales
Need to boost online presence and get more products online.