Tip one:
If, in Crombie’s words, the homepage is the “suit you wear to an interview”, this one is a classic tux. The greyscale layout is simple but intriguing, with a colour-changing bar highlighting portfolio options to visit and an understated animation bringing all the elements into place on opening
Tip two:
An embedded Twitter feed lets visitors know there’s an interested and active face behind the work. In such a minimalist site it serves as a good way to add personality without indulging in a lengthy About Me paragraph, especially with relevant Tweets from an artist engrossed in the industry
Tip three:
Contact details are easily found on the homepage and offer the three basic pieces of info you’d expect: email, phone and Twitter. Side-stepping the easy mistake of creating a lengthy form that gives visitors no other option, this format and layout make it easy to get in touch
Tip four:
The page links are visible from all areas on the site with the text changing colour to show you where you’ve been. Pages are uniform with big, clear images of each project and the homepage is reproduced at the bottom to make sure you’ll never get lost
Tip five:
Each project is key-worded to let the visitor know exactly what type of work was done and what genre it falls under from Motion Graphics to Typography. Sticking with the notion that less is more, the text is short and to the point, giving necessary project information without wasting a word
Tip six:
Accessibility is a major factor in the fluidity of any site. Videos are embedded in the smartly designed and fitting Vimeo player. While personal preference comes into play here, Vimeo is designed for the professional creative community and is a great alternative to a more amateur option such as YouTube
For more information or to look at the site yourself – visit: www.iancrombie.net