Concepts for new portfolio site - which direction should I go?

[threelefts]

I have a couple of mockups for a new design for my portfolio site. I've asked a few people what they thought and got some pretty mixed responses. So I'm posting here in hopes of a few responses from people who do this sort of thing for a living. :)

OPTION 1:


OPTION 2:



Thanks and I'm looking forward to your replies!

P.S.
Imagine 2 with content underneath, I haven't gotten that far with it yet.

[Toon]

I prefer the 1st one but with out the typeface used for the headings and the splashes and pencils. All a bit too much for me, I like a nice clean page layout where the work takes centre stage.

Like Davids site here...

dache | The visual works of David Pache

It's a great example of less is more

[Kimran]

1st for me too, not a fan of the all black site

[threelefts]

Hmmm... I'm quite torn.

The reason for the cartoon-style font in version 1 was to play off the playfulness of the slogan, "two wrongs don't make a right... but three lefts do." I tend to think of the slogan as a dumb joke. I'm even thinking of doing something where it comes in the screen and then does the classic "ba-dum-dum" thing... then maybe even some boos mixed with giggles (something like that).

But I'll try a few more serious styles too.

As for the splashes/pens... I have them there to have SOMETHING to indicate that the site is geared for graphic design. I'm trying to think of another angle (feel free to make suggestions) to get that across.

Thanks for the feed back. Looking forward to hearing more!! :)

[james]

I quite like the pens, adds a bit of colour. Not at all keen on the paint splat on the right or the bubble text for the titles though. Toon's example site is great - its professional and sophisticated, and a client would be more likely to take them seriously imo.

The black one isn't a bad start, but it doesn't tell you anywhere that its a designers site?

[threelefts]

Originally Posted by james

I quite like the pens, adds a bit of colour. Not at all keen on the paint splat on the right or the bubble text for the titles though. Toon's example site is great - its professional and sophisticated, and a client would be more likely to take them seriously imo.

The black one isn't a bad start, but it doesn't tell you anywhere that its a designers site?

Yeah I feel like without the colors from the pens it gets a little stale (for lack of a better word).

I agree about the splat on the right, I'm not loving it either.

As for the 2nd one, on my original post I stuck a little P.S. down there to let you know to try to imagine it with content filled in underneath (leaves a lot to the imagination I know... sorry hehe). So I would indicate it's a design site there. :)

[threelefts]

Did a little more to the 2nd one to give a better idea of what I'm thinking for it. Any changes of heart or new comments?



Thanks! :)

[Toon]

I think the thing that bugs me about this version is you have a huge header and not much going on there, There's a big empty space between the logo on the left and the menu on the right

[design153]

I like gray color..
but here i like the first one which is in small header..