Hello all.
I’ve had http://david-whetstone.com/ live for a while now, and I’ve just made another update tonight. I thought this would be a good time to share. I will be working to take photos of Nixon The Loop headphones and Nixon The Axe watch which I’ve posted this evening and will check back with updates on those projects soon.
I hope you enjoy.
David.
Nice clean site. Cool stuff. Can’t ask for much more.
Nixon seems like they’d be a fun client. They should include a set of ear bud tips that are one size even smaller than the current smallest size though. the smalls still work their way out of my ears.
Hi-jacking in a portfolio thread is not cool.
David,
I have been a big fan of your work sense I met you at the Boston IDSA Conf. I think this is a great site and you show some great work, but I do not think you are showing your full potential. Put some of those college projects you have that show your entire process. If I remember correctly there was a really nice technology piece around computers for the class room. I don’t remember all the details, but know that there was some great work around the user and the products life cycle. Those kinds of projects show how you think and design strategy. With this site all I am getting is pretty pics of products not a lot of process.
Over all I love the layout of the site. It is clean, easy to use and read. With a few tweaks I think it could be a really awesome site.
It’s all good. Misunderstanding.
Your site looks good, nice and clean… The watches really pop out, but all the work is presented in a easy to view straightforward way. I really like the litl packaging too
** Pop out in a good way - they’re nice! **
BTW, It’s interesting that you’re doing work with Cinco - I’ve been a fan of them since this came out Stepmothers of Invention: Branding Firms Enter the Industrial Design Fray, by Carl Alviani.
Have you found their methods different than you expected?
Daniel.
I’m using “Counterform-by day.” It does all the work for me. Really easy. I’ve turned off titles and subtitles, but that is the only real customization I did to that theme. Earlier I was trying to do quite a bit of customization. It got so messy I just cancelled it all by applying a new theme and starting over. Let cargo do the work…the manipulation can come by the way you show images once you enter a project.
Brett.
Thanks. It absolutely is fun working with Nixon. They give us quite a bit of freedom but also are very involved in up front discussions to help us craft directions. They do so much on their end with color and finishes…it really brings the stuff we work on to life.
Justin.
That’s cool you’ve remembered me. Really cool. I remember you said, “Be a more excited when you talk about your work!” I had just come from a review where I was blabbing and blabbing at 1,000 miles an hour. The reviewer was like, “chill out homie.” I’m still crafting the way I present work, but truly have had your comment in the back of my head before any presentation.
I was not sure what type of comments I would receive when posting the site which is why I kept the post a bit vague. I appreciate your thoughts about showing the entire process. I’ve been struggling with my website versus portfolio PDF. I have a bit more process in the PDF. The PDF includes inspiration, PS renderings, etc. I’ve left out the technology piece as well as the airport device as I’m scared they are both a bit dated. I maybe need to kick myself in the butt and rework both of those programs to better reflect my aesthetic senses as my style has become even more refined in the last two years. Somethings to think about for sure, thanks.
Thanks again all.
D.
Travisimo.
Your post showed up just as I was posting. Thanks. I plan on working with a photographer to bring the up to the level of the watches. The photo shoots have been really fun for me.
Cinco’s been great. We have some really good leaders that think holistically. In everything we do, we try to think about how it will effect the brand. Sounds simple, but I think The Axe and The Falcon represent this well. The Falcon was finished first. A season later we were briefed on a cuff watch. We saw an opportunity to build off the design language of The Falcon…especially in the dial. Since then we have designed a few more watches that will sit well with this family and create a nice STORY at retail. Our owner can really “see” and craft presentations with the perfect words. It is just about connecting people to brands at Cinco. We do it many ways. Graphics, product, environments, etc, but the brand is always the hero.
Thanks for your interest.
D.
David,
It is nice to hear that you remembered my feedback. I have always wondered if others remember the feedback I give them. You can normally tell based on the thank you letters you get. Like I have mentioned to you before, you are one to look out for and I think you have quite a lot of potential.
I would challenge you on your rational that your stuff is outdated. 2 years is pretty normal. Put it up!! I have work in my portfolio that is much older than that. Like I mentioned, without this work you are selling yourself short. You have some great skills that just putting a site up that focusses on a fashion style with pretty pics is not showing your full potential. I am riding you on this (as I wouldn’t with others) because I specifically remember that you told me you were interested in branding and consumer experience work and saw great potential there. Also you are one of those few that are very accelerated at a young age. I told you this when I reviewed you but you have the skills you just have to have the confidence to put them out there. When you get that right you will go far.
Just my 2 cents…
I’ve been a David W fan since he was a student. You are doing great work David. Keep raising the bar on yourself and on those around you!
Nice clean site (though I think you need a “next” button. When I first looked at a few projects, I didn’t realize the rest were below and didn’t see a next button so had to use the browser back button which is awkward.
I like the products a lot, but I really need to see more process. Especially since the products are so nice and for well known brands done at a consultancy, without process I doubt your contribution. Only 2 projects have any sort of process.
Generally, the higher level the product, the more process is important. I’ve often seen some student portfolios (not saying yours is like this,but as an example), that have a really nice shot of some finished product, a nike shoe or something, and when further quizzed I found out all they did was design the tongue logo or something. What did you do on the watches? The concept? The render? The face graphics? At the very least you need to describe your contribution or show other products that demonstrate your skills. Showing just nice finished products can actually hurt as makes it unclear what your skills are makes it look like your are masking weak skills with fancy pics.
You do have process in some I realize, but more is better! I do recall seeing your other work around a while back so know you have good sketch and process skills, you just need to show them!
As a side note, I’d consider rewriting the text on the about me page. Comes of as a bit self-indulgent, writing about a glowing review of yourself in the third person and having the quote from MD there.
R
Thanks again Michael.
I’ve been meaning to send you another email, but I am waiting until I finish a PDF. I crafting…everything…takes so long. I’m losing my mind. ha.
Richard.
I appreciate your feedback. I’ve sent you an email with questions and comments. I hope you have a moment to take a look. I’d really appreciate it.
All.
In response to Richard’s comments I’ve updated my bio. If anyone takes another look, please comment.
I appreciate the comments.
D.
Got your email. Will take a look. Thanks for considering my comments and being very open about it.
R
David:
You have fantastic work, sketches, renders, but I’m really not feeling anything special at this moment. I’m not sure if you’re just concerned with aesthetics, or if there’s anything deeper with any of your projects. You talk more about the photo credits than you do about your design methodology.
Your Nixon projects read fine because they are fairly straightforward (but I assume that it’s just a lifestyle product design project, with little user research, testing, prototyping).
I’m interested in litl, since I’ve seen that brand in many firms’ portfolios, but I wonder what exactly that thing you’re packaging is, and why you have 3 unchecked check boxes… don’t you want those to be checked to show that there is a ‘surprise’ inside? (I think it’s a neat package, but I want to know more of the why and how). Great sketches.
Taylormade projects could use a few final product shots. Again, great sketches, but I’m not getting the whole story.
I’m in the camp that believes portfolios should tell stories, of process, and of why the projects matter. I’m not seeing any story right now. Even in your about section, I don’t get a sense of who you are or what your personality is. Of course, this probably isn’t your job search portfolio seeing as you have a job right now and seem to be enjoying yourself… I can’t wait to do my own ‘for funsies’ portfolio after I get a job so I can experiment. Have more fun showing your projects!
Julius,
I appreciate your comments.
I’m not sure if you’re just concerned with aesthetics, or if there’s anything deeper with any of your projects.
After many intensive research projects in school, I have been feeling a bit like there is an opportunity to simply create nice, clean product. In doing that, I have been trying to create product that feels human and I think “The Loop” is a good example of this.
You talk more about the photo credits than you do about your design methodology.
My portfolio goes in depth about process. On the web I only list the product title, where completed, and credits. I want the website to feel a bit more about the “hero” shots with little hints of process. A PDF could go further in depth.
Taylormade projects could use a few final product shots. Again, great sketches, but I’m not getting the whole story.
As an intern at Priority Designs, I was part of a team who would take part in a “sketch storm” to quickly develop many concepts. These sketches would inform further development. My short internship ended just as we finished this “sketch storm.” In my PDF I explain the importance of time spent at Priority Designs by saying, “As a co-op at Priority Designs in Columbus, Ohio, I worked with a group of talented and enthusiastic designers who were also great mentors. As I develop a way of working, I have made it a point to share my process and thoughts on design with young designers.”
I’m in the camp that believes portfolios should tell stories, of process, and of why the projects matter.
I’m 100% with you here. I’ve spent much of this post defending myself, but hear you clearly. My PDF flows explaining why each project is important and how it has affected my process and thinking. I’m glad you mentioned “personality” as this is what I am struggling with most. I want my web presence to be clean, clear, and to the point but agree I am losing the “who.” The question I keep asking is “why do I have a website?” I also ask, “how can it be different from my portfolio?” Two really big questions…
Moving forward, I plan on incorporating Richard’s feedback to add a bit more loose process. I also plan on incorporating your feedback to better explain who I am and why the projects I have included are relevant.
Does this help, thoughts?
D.
After the last round of comments, I thought “PERSONALITY” was what was missing most. I’ve spent the last few months adding additional work, and I hope my personality better shows through. I think the screen printing projects do a lot to help me out here while lightening the tone of the site.
I would appreciate you all to take another pass through the work to see what you think. Leaving it open for now. You can find the link in my signature.
Thanks so much.
David.
After the last round of comments, I thought “PERSONALITY” was what was missing most. I’ve spent the last few months adding additional work, and I hope my personality better shows through. I think the screen printing projects do a lot to help me out here while lightening the tone of the site.
I would appreciate you all to take another pass through the work to see what you think. Leaving it open for now. You can find the link in my signature.
Thanks so much.
David.
David,
Looks nice and unified, nice work.
In the about section, it was not immediately clear the transition from you talking about your background, to third parties recommendation quotes. I was lost a little bit until I realized the quotation mark after reading the attribution. Indenting the quote might signify more clearly the break.
Thanks Shaw.
Every suggestion helps.
Appreciated.
D.