Menus

We all know what a menu is: that thing across the top or down the side of a website.

I don’t like menus that say:

• Portfolio
• Works
• Projects

To me this says

I’m not gonna tell you what I do yet. You have to click this button first, and then when you get there I’ll finally tell you what I do.

You know from your own web surfing how quickly you will leave a site that isn’t what you want or is too confusing. A web project that’s a puzzle box for a viewer to solve can be a cool virtual artwork – if it can find an audience willing to explore it – but it’s not a portfolio. Our mission is to provide a Clear, Concise, and Compelling view of what we have to offer. Instead of a non-informative menu like “Projects” or “Works” or “Portfolio”, let your menu be an outline of your portfolio.

And, since you just wrote your

• Career Goal
• 3 Categories within that goal

It’s easy to turn this into your website menu. For example:

A Graphic Designer’s menu could be something like:

• Branding • Packaging • Typography • About • Contact

Painter:

• Figurative Works • Abstraction • Sketches • About • Contact

Documentary Photographer:

• Identity Projects • Social Groups • Longform Documentary • About • Contact

Your Portfolio Home Page

Here’s the top of a Home Page that I don’t like:

ARTISTIC JOURNEYS

HOME – WORK – ABOUT – CONTACT

I don’t like it because, as described above, “Work” doesn’t tell me anything. It makes me click before you’re willing to tell me what you do. Also, a surprising number of artists don’t have their name at the top of their website!!! That’s crazy!!! “Artistic Journeys” tells me nothing. Let’s not make our viewers do so much work.

Here’s a top of Home Page that I like better:

VICKY MEURENT
graphic design

HOME – BRANDING – PACKAGING – TYPOGRAPHY – ABOUT – CONTACT

• My name is Vicky Meurent – bam!
• I am a Graphic Designer – bam!
• An outline of my Graphic Design focus is: Branding, Packaging & Typography – bam!

No secrets, no forever clicking, just BAM! This is me. Here’s what I do! BAM!

If that’s not what you need, you’re free to go. But, most importantly, if I am what you’re looking for, it’s immediately clear!

Here’s another home page:

VICKY MEURENT
performance art

HOME – PERFORMANCE – INSTALLATION – PUBLIC ART – SITE-SPECIFIC WORK – ABOUT – CONTACT

Again, Who I am, What I do, and an outline of my focus are all immediately there for my audience.

Post on Canvas

You’re already posting your Career Goal & 3 Categories on Canvas. To make your Home Page layout & Menu, just add your Name, and the always menu items of “Home, About, and Contact”.

For example:

VICKY MEURENT
graphic design

HOME – BRANDING – PACKAGING – TYPOGRAPHY – ABOUT – CONTACT

• Post on Canvas!
• Yay!