Become an Art Director

My Week on Twitter for 2010-03-07

derfrankie — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:02:00 +0000

Migrated all my podcasts from Mediamonkey to Google Listen – nearly perfect #
Watch Air Traffic – LIVE! http://bit.ly/9y7ArC – really cool, but slow #
I like Trendwatching: "6 TREND VIDEOS, featuring consumers speaking their minds on various trends." http://bit.ly/bgPn2y #interviews #
Congratulations to @Electrolux AEG – Brand new washing machine installed – turned on – Electronics burned – This is what I call quality #
I ask myself if Google has selled enough #NexusOne to make the car docks availlable #
Hormonella Primaverilis – very dangerous in springtime #
Tonight some classical music will be my pleasure – http://bit.ly/djkXhw #
As I needed to build a Google Profile with a right vanity url I've made a new account which I use also to test buzz… http://bit.ly/9gUtnC #
Tweeting with shapewriter keyboard for android is cool #
The Footprint of Gmail: How Much Energy Would Deleting Email Save? – TreeHugger – Like so many others, this TreeHug… http://bit.ly/9UYxZR #
Good morning – yesterdays concert made me make believe that not all classical music is boring – some sounds like Timbaland unplugged #
For all Google-Fans: Watch Google's Matt Cutts LIVE Event Today: 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET http://LIVE.WebProNews.com #
Amazing creative video from ok Go http://bit.ly/brPqj1 and the making of http://bit.ly/a6gPz7 #
I'm flattered: My trainee just have given me a box of Merci (choccolate) for the training in the last 2 weeks #
SmK (german): Club Sandwich … http://cli.gs/Je455 #
SmK (german): … oder ein zweites Leben ….!? http://cli.gs/DpmVD #
SmK (german): Das Ende einer Industrieruine http://cli.gs/5ZbEp #

My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-28 German court states: Taking pictures of houses does not...
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My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-21 Go green even with your website – CO2 neutral...

My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-28

derfrankie — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:02:00 +0000

German court states: Taking pictures of houses does not infringe the copyright of the owner – german story here http://bit.ly/bs4X3K #
In case you missed it last week: Industrial espionage through crowd sourcing – http://bit.ly/dw8KMH | Become an Art Director #
SmK (german): Spezialistenproblem http://cli.gs/b83U3 #
Haiti Earthquake: Who’s given what? | Information Is Beautiful http://bit.ly/dCLGyM (via @meixger) #
RT @richbugger 35 most amazing typography in advertisement and design http://bit.ly/7Xhva0 #
Dock your raw harddisks – cool way for your large data collections http://bit.ly/biNQil #
Good sunday to all tweeps – another day of home improvement is beginning – feels like redesigning your own website #

My Week on Twitter for 2010-03-07 Migrated all my podcasts from Mediamonkey to Google Listen...
My Week on Twitter for 2010-01-31 Good morning and a hello to my new followers...
My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-07 Jaufenpass -18°C. 2140m over the see and a beautiful...

My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-21

derfrankie — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:02:00 +0000

Go green even with your website – CO2 neutral websites http://bit.ly/aBfCRJ #climate #change #
BTW: Good Morning and good start into the week dear tweeps, facebookers and other social media addicts #
About focus groups: "If I’d asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse." – Henry Ford #
What I hate? Co-Worker who have found a spiritual way to come along with their problems and now try to "help" you… #
The This Week in Android is a #fail people who don't own an android phone talk about android apps – c'mon guys #
Stream your photos from your #android phone to your dlna client (#ps3) and tv set – search for twonky mediaserver #
Want to stream music from your home server to you #android phone? Search for Andromote in the market #upnp #dlna #
Skype launches Full Symbian Client and #android will come soon – Olè #
Whatch out – if you embed more than 10 @issuu docs on a page ie7 has probs to load page – example http://bit.ly/b8UL3D #
Whatch "alternative" movies online – The Auteurs http://bit.ly/9ZREQd – finally … with great Facebook integration #
Impressed by @rememberthemilk – great features, clients and services – task list on steroids #
RT @TechCrunch Google Goggles Getting OCR Translations http://is.gd/8wlOd #
RT @Colorburned: 10+ blogs that have a unique design for each post and WordPress tips on how to implement it:http://bit.ly/a4iH3i #
Italian Customers of corbis (@corbisimages) get a 20% discount in February – use offer code FEBRUARY20 #stock #images #coupon #
Just discovered – Typekit http://bit.ly/dnwtAU real #font come to the flash free web – have to try this #

My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-14 Trying the http://dailyme.tv android video podcast app – works...
My Week on Twitter for 2010-03-07 Migrated all my podcasts from Mediamonkey to Google Listen...
My Week on Twitter for 2010-01-31 Good morning and a hello to my new followers...

Industrial espionage through crowd sourcing

derfrankie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:29:22 +0000

Secrecy is important to any firm who wants to launch a new product. By surprising the competitors with a product the firm can increase its market share, reputation and have generally an advantage. If another firm knows about the new product he can potentially launch a competing product earlier. Especially in the B2B world this can be disrupting. As an Art Director you are often directing also the overall communication of your client – so even this topic is of your business. After the break I talk about how I discovered a secret product line through crowd sourcing and how we can prevent such an event.

Discovering a secret product line

Two weeks ago I discovered through a crowd sourcing portal for graphic design that a competitor of my client is preparing to launch a whole new product line. They where pitching for a “name” and “logo design” for a range of products.

I informed my client about the pitch and ask them if they knew something about the new product line. They didn’t and neither did the market – a scoop so to say. The information in the pitch was valuable to my client since it contained a very good description about the features of the new product line and when it will be launched. Therefore the client informed its sales force and they are now prepared to answer questions of their clients.

What can we learn from this experience?

Do not crowd source design of “secret” products – especially if the pitch can be seen without any registration
Do not describe your product in the project brief – send the description to an interested designer after he has signed a non disclosure agreement
Do not link directly to your competitors site – I’ve found out about the pitch because I’ve seen hundreds of visitors coming from a non-industry related site
Do prohibit your employees to blog, twitter, Facebook about a new product
Use a project code name that does not relate to your industry or product
Do not use Cloud-Services for your product development - unless you are sure that none of the information can be made available to the public

How can you use crowd sourcing and the internet for spying on your competitors?

Visit crowd sourcing portals on a regular basis and search for projects related to your industry and competitors
Use Google Alerts not only to monitor the web activity of your firm and brands, but also of your competitors
Use crowd sourcing traditionally by letting the crowd search through social networks, forums and the web for information about your competitors
Sign up and monitor the support forums of your main competitors (if they have one). If they don’t have one try to open a user-to-user support forum for your competitors products – and see what happens.

This are just a few examples how you can leverage the internet for doing research.

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My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-14

derfrankie — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:02:00 +0000

Trying the http://dailyme.tv android video podcast app – works even with italian cell numbers #android #
The new facebook design reminds me a lot the "lite" version #facebook #
Amazone S3 enables Versionining – cool – waiting to see svn like applications taking advantage of it #
16 month-old bug continues to crash Flash – http://bit.ly/9tc5gt and adobes response http://bit.ly/aa6KSg #flash #adobe #
#Backupfiy extends Free Accounts http://bit.ly/cTyoua – take advantage now and backup your web2.0 stuff #
Thx to @androidapreview @nexusonenewsnet @jydesign @zongxian for pushing my wallpaper toolkit #frankie #nexusone #
Mpreis bricht Südtiroler tradition und hat offen – willkommen im 21. Jahrhundert #
A Classic Joystick availlable again – The Competition Pro for USB http://bit.ly/9XmsGn #C64 #Gagdget #80s #
RT @TechCrunch Google Acquires Aardvark For $50 million http://tcrn.ch/aCkLQd #

My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-21 Go green even with your website – CO2 neutral...
My Week on Twitter for 2010-03-07 Migrated all my podcasts from Mediamonkey to Google Listen...
My Week on Twitter for 2010-01-31 Good morning and a hello to my new followers...

Nexus One Wallpaper Toolkit

derfrankie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:18:17 +0000

I’ve looked around the web for the correct size of the wallpaper and a way to control what content is visible on a specific home screen. In fact the wallpaper is not scrolled 480 pixels when you change homescreen. After various experiments I’ve come up with a photoshop file where the guides are ready for you to design your own wallpaper for your nexus one. It’s for for you to download. Enjoy.

Click here to download: Nexus_One_Wallpaper_Toolkit.psd

BTW: After I’ve done all the experimenting I’ve seen that simple math would have resolved it earlier. The whole wallpaper is 960 pixels wide and dividing it by 8 it gives you 120 pixel. This is the exact amount the Nexus One slides the background when you change homescreen.

Convert video for the Nexus One I just wanted to share the settings I use...

My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-07

derfrankie — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:02:00 +0000

Jaufenpass -18°C. 2140m over the see and a beautiful panorama http://twitpic.com/10tql3 #
Well today is photoshooting day – so let's get prepared #
Man at work http://twitpic.com/10uc0l – photoshoot of products #
The day after the photoshoot is always photo retouching day – but a good photo saves time #
Seth Godin: The Truth About Shipping http://bit.ly/bmtSws (via @the99percent) #
The new suggested user list of Twitter is quite intresting – there is even Yoko Ono http://bit.ly/d1fzXO #
Returned from rubico in munich – Restaurant of a tv cook – mixed feelings – more tomorrow #

My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-21 Go green even with your website – CO2 neutral...
My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-14 Trying the http://dailyme.tv android video podcast app – works...
My Week on Twitter for 2010-02-28 German court states: Taking pictures of houses does not...

My Week on Twitter for 2010-01-31

derfrankie — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:02:00 +0000

Good morning and a hello to my new followers – hope you're all good and ready for the week #
One of the best corporate designers I know: integral ruedi baur http://cli.gs/7e7YVG #
From Become an Art Director: The secret behind appealing magazine covers http://cli.gs/syHtdZ #tutorial #
SmK (german): Wie möchten Sie begraben werden? http://cli.gs/X0U7nQ #
At 40 a man discovers to be young, but it's too late – Pablo Picasso ok. Ihave another 5 years LOL #
Great photo shooting making ofs – in HDTV – KELLY KELLERHOFF http://cli.gs/ae0J2r (some german) #
Do you take pictures? Want to attend to a professional photo shoot? iStockalypse™ HQ http://cli.gs/QHusRp #
RT @Iconic88: 100 Web Tools to Help You Boost Your Resume and Reputation During the Recession http://bit.ly/yt1XE #
Massive article about SVN (Version Control) – Smashing Magazine http://cli.gs/22hRJB – Intresting even for designers #
Another one more specific – Subversion for Designers | Think Vitamin http://cli.gs/Bd5dRB #
Thinking about how a non-web-designer could benefit from a Version control system like #SVN #
After heading to first aid with my mom finally baclk and time for bed #
RT @jamie_oliver: http://tinyurl.com/d57bwm – it's only 11 pages from the mag, but here http://cli.gs/ES1Eqd you can get all the recipes #
After looking for hours – best Polaroid GENERATOR http://cli.gs/ZZrv4R #photoshop #action #
Listening to this amazing mixtapes – Megasoid http://cli.gs/dYXuT5 #mixtape #music #free #electronic #
Has http://cli.gs/ got hijacked? 10 Mins ago was still working now it points to a parking domain! #
Ahh ok – RT @cligs: Sorry for the downtime. Our registrar messed up our DNS. Details in a PDF file: http://tinyurl.com/cw62dp #
Tonight I'm finishing another "alternative font" blog post – get it on Twitter as usual or catch my RSS-Feed http://tinyurl.com/FrankieRSS #
SmK (german): Alte neue Bozner Ansichten http://cli.gs/9d5vB5 #
RT @imjustcreative: Serrano :: Typography Served http://post.ly/9eD TypeJunkies – Very nice font – should put a notice in my calendar #
#followfriday @chrisspooner @Minervity @mistygirlph @andysowards @myinkblog @mayhemstudios @imjustcreative @creattica @ilovetypography #
Amazingly huge #tetris #flash #game How long for one row? http://cli.gs/1ZsgJe #
RT @r27: RT @nikibrown: This website is just so DAMN handy! http://html-ipsum.com/ #
A big hello to all my new followers – I'm back after a long weekend So I'm ready – just @reply me if you have a question about design #
RT @ilovetypography: A better FeedBurner Count plugin: http://devthought.com/projects/wordpress/feedburnercount/ – cool #
SmK (german): Militärdienst mit doppelter Staatsbürgerschaft http://cli.gs/8TU3g0 #
RT @tweetmeme A Designer’s Guide to Pricing | GoMediaZine http://bit.ly/ia18j #
RT @mayhemstudios: #DCTH Highlight Featured on WSAZ news: digg: http://is.gd/oHCW float: http://is.gd/oHDm • Please RT #
RT @tweetmeme The Limited Edition Helvetica Moleskine Giveaway | ImJustCreative | Logo & Brand Identity Designer & Pho… http://bit.ly/iVEq #
David Baron's weblog: Downloadable font formats for the Web http://cli.gs/D6SWVB #
Discussing: Branding through custom fonts – how to determine the character of a #font http://cli.gs/T880qr #
In a way it's nice to write more while answering to comments than in the actual post #
RT @tweetmeme: Twitter Confirms Paid Pro Accounts On The Way http://tinyurl.com/d5slro (via @fromedome) #
RT @evernote: Integration spotlight: ritePen Pro. Amazing handwriting tool for Windows tablets …: http://twurl.nl/yp8qjg #
Managing your trainee the right way | Become an art director – http://cli.gs/r8bd73 #
http://tinyurl.com/c53y7q Totally agree #
RT @creattica: RT @SilasRD: 1100+ Free Photoshop Brushes – http://tr.im/hPp3 #
RT @yoast: Aaron Wall has a great checklist of what to look for and how to secure your blog: http://cli.gs/JTGshD #
Sometimes Fridays feel much more like Mondays – to busy to tweet #
RT @imjustcreative: Why Logos Should Cost More Than $300 | The Design O'Blog http://post.ly/CSB LogoDesignJunkies #
Good afternoon and start in the week – this is a meeting and workshop week #
The meeting marathon continues – just checked in in Salzburg – almost ready for the next 2 days workshop #
SmK (german): Sexuelle Revolution im Supermarkt http://cli.gs/sdM5dn #
Translation management for Indesign Docs – works great One2Edit – http://cli.gs/9Lv9bM #DAM #TRANSLATION #INDESIGN #SERVER #
Phrase of the day for developers: Fail early and often! #
Cool visualization of @twitter: i need to ___ http://cli.gs/atAvea #
Spring is finally here – my cherry tree blossoms #
A hello and a good start to all tweeps – btw. To see where I live click here http://cli.gs/QQJJGq – Italy is not just Rome and Venice #
SmK (german): Südtirol alla Spaghetti mit Knödel http://cli.gs/Q6WPQS #
RT @joelcomm: FINALLY! Download TWO chapters from Twitter Power for FREE! http://twitterpower.com/free/ – Please RT like crazy #
RT @hellolawrence: Reading: Insider Tips From Professional Logo Designer: Von Glitschka http://bit.ly/w8VE9 #
You ask, I answer – Should you go back to school? http://cli.gs/ej4Xz5 | Become an art director #
Integrated Twitter with my IRL Connect account (www.irlconnect.com). #
I think I have the Scotty-Syndrome #
RT @cheth: Creative business cards of 50 graphic designers – http://is.gd/r8Ry – an impressive showcase! (via @smashingmag ) #
Reading: "The first question every web site designer must ask" (http://twitthis.com/g7h7i6) #
Readiing a morale post. #
Your opinion is very much appreciated – You shall not lie in advertising! http://cli.gs/aN1La1 – plz RT #
RT @davidherrold: For future reference, if a Somali pirate asks you if you're the captain of the ship, say no. #
Just finished for review another edition of our house organ. 48 pages in 3 days – not bad #
Your opinion is very much appreciated – You shall not lie in advertising! http://cli.gs/aN1La1 – plz RT #
RT @HolyBasel: Evernote gets Twitter integration http://is.gd/rECi Sweet! – IMHO not the best approach, but at least they about something #
I don't like watching sports – proof? I didn't recognize any sportsmen in the current Nike+ Spot http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/ #
RT @imjustcreative: Black n white- Social Media Icons Version 1.0 | *Loving these (http://ping.fm/E1L2M) #
To all my tweeps – vote for my friend @richcorner – http://tinyurl.com/cd3tyv. #
Going to lunch – it's holy friday so I've get a steak #
If I would choose a song to describe me I would take: Nine Inch Nails – Right Where It Belongs – http://cli.gs/jjJS6d And you? #
RT @behoff: New Post: Twitter Taking Over RSS… Prepare Your Blog Today! http://bit.ly/PJy2a #
RT @justcreative: Career Evolution in Advertising: http://twurl.nl/mstr20 – LOL – ok I'm at stage 4 #
Off work now – heading for the easter weekend – but I will be still around Happy egg searching to all… #
BackType Connect Plugin for Wordpress — BackType http://cli.gs/GveHtt – nice inteagrtion of comments from other sources #
How to improve graphic design projects with studies | Become an Art Director http://cli.gs/Ln9A0J – with examples #
My gift for easter – a big illustrated tutorial: http://cli.gs/5nU00h How storytelling improves corporate publishing #
RT @briancray: The worst brand name ever http://is.gd/rNd1 LOL LOL #
RT @r27: RT @kristofcreative: Free "Google Me" business card template http://tr.im/iwHg – Nice one #
SmK (german): Zweite Heimat Facebook http://cli.gs/L3DNS1 #
SmK (german): Ins Netz gegangen am 10.04.2009 http://cli.gs/YLpBTW #
My gift for easter – a big illustrated tutorial: http://cli.gs/5nU00h How storytelling improves corporate publishing #
nice project management tool 5pm ( http://is.gd/rZj1 ). anybody tried it? #
My gift for easter – a big illustrated tutorial: http://cli.gs/5nU00h How storytelling improves #corporate #publishing #
Salzburg again – morning to my tweeps and remember today is tuesday #
Back from Austria – long workshop and long trip – but it's ok, this will be a short week #
Just got today my "Reservoir Dogs Collectors Edition Blu-Ray" and guess what – it's damaged http://twitpic.com/3ctiw #
RT @geeksdreamgirl: Tell a story, win a free Thesis theme + custom design. Enter the competition to win – http://cli.gs/hrH711 #thesiswp #
SmK (german): Attenti a quei “Geisterfahrer” http://cli.gs/t4eRUE #
I should really enjoy more often my PS3 instead of moaning about bad tv program – little big planet just gives you joy #
RT @Lioneldp: “I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in2 the other room & read a book." – Groucho … #
Sitting here on the Renon at the 3rd Südtiroler Marketing Stammtisch – enjoying friends and talk http://www.moblog.info/ #
ad: nice project management tool 5pm ( http://is.gd/t9o9 ). anybody tried it? #
Joining back the Community – still busy this week but feeling good #
Great resource for online and print Grid Systems http://cli.gs/48Lnma #design #grid #print #
Another day digging into grids, stay tuned for a handful nice links #
Automated Grid Calculator – http://cli.gs/Gdh0Ng – have to try this one #grid #design #
Five simple steps to designing grid systems – Part 1 – http://cli.gs/mJNGrJ #grid #design #
Phiculator, the Golden Ratio calculator from Thismanslife http://cli.gs/8Bh1nz #
Tutorial for good typography in InDesign|Typophile http://cli.gs/zPhWuV – great discussion #grid #design #typography #
RT @problogger: Reading: Did You Know WordPress Has It’s Own URL-Shortener Built In? – http://twurl.nl/zxfc4c #
Fill out your Google Profile, it will help push your personal sites above linkedin/xing/yasni in search results #google #profile #seo #
Read Between The Leading http://cli.gs/5aY9PT – a nice podcast about #typography #
SmK (german): Verlorene Züge http://cli.gs/8Jr7D0 #
Has red ears because he was on the phone explaining a translation tool to a colworker – why didn't I use the remote access toll #
9 Alternatives to the font DIN | Become an Art Director http://cli.gs/6rWEVn #font #typography #alternative #
RT @andysowards: RT @brenelz Widerbug: Widescreen Firebug – http://bit.ly/oF4yJ #
Finishing the audiobook (radioplay) of Tad Williams Otherland – fantastic 24h – a shame it's available on in german #scifi #audiobook #
RT @Iconic88: —————#RAOK = Random Acts Of Kindness. PLS RT ————- #
The best place in a race is third – ur happy u made it on the podium but your not mad about not beating the one who won. #
Synaptica Central http://cli.gs/SVgh1E Intresting to all into #dam and #taxonomy #
I'm out for now – tomorrow munich, so bretzels I'm comming #
9 Alternatives to the font DIN | Become an Art Director http://cli.gs/6rWEVn #font #typography #alternative #
Sitting in munich at the springfest drinking my first mass – prost and have a nice we #
Found his way back into the office after a quite amusing weekend – I just say dirndln rock #
This is what I call an makeover – #Photoshop #Extreme #Makeover http://cli.gs/eByUQs #
SmK (german): Ins Netz gegangen am 30.04.2009 http://cli.gs/Y8UvSZ #
SmK (german): Dolomiten online lesen – Athesia fast zeitgemäß http://cli.gs/PzJU9H #
RT @cheth: Explore Twitter http://explore.twitter.com/ #
After a week being absent I'm back tweeps Have a successful day #
If you ever have to search for a #Patent http://cli.gs/7ezgaM – nice free site #
Example of a graphic design related #patent – Printed product with a cover and at least one folded insert – http://cli.gs/TVadeM #
Media Convert – free and on line – convert and split sound, ringtones, images, docs – http://cli.gs/ngasbS #converter #media #
Font Management Webcast: Maintaining Font Control and License Compliance http://cli.gs/dqZbme #free #font #webcast #
Use advertising rules to write better emails | Become an Art Director http://cli.gs/UBUnvL #tutorial #email #writing #
RT @imjustcreative: The top 100 most mentioned brands on Twitter http://bit.ly/3aXdH (via @yamasas) #
RT @Iconic88: Cherish yesterday,Dream tomorrow, Live today. ~ Richard Bach #
Use advertising rules to write better emails | Become an Art Director http://cli.gs/UBUnvL #tutorial #email #writing #
SmK (german): Alle italienischen Politiker in die Sommerfrische – zur Fortbildung http://cli.gs/ytXzzT #
SmK (german): Bloggen gegen die Krise http://cli.gs/rS8ZDY #
Getting ready for visiting Parma (where the parma ham comes from) to get some chili plants for my friends #
Back from Parma, got chilies, Culatello and a fabulous 5 year old parmigiano – yummy #
#smk ist #spaghetti mit-knoedel – der ultimative Blog über #S

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Convert video for the Nexus One

derfrankie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:12:48 +0000

I just wanted to share the settings I use to convert video for the Nexus One with Handbrake (the freeware video converter). The Nexus One has a wonderful screen and it would be a shame to not use it for video podcasts. But some podcasts (the Nasa Edge for example) encode their 720p video in a way the Google phone does not recognize.

I included the screenshots of the important settings and if you want to set them in a quick way just select the ipod classic preset und change the settings to 800 pixel width, Anamorphic none and the Avg Bitrate to 1500 kbps and the Audio to 2 channel AAC and you are done. Enjoy.

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Relaunch of my portfolio site – part 1: Own portfolio site vs. online portfolio site

derfrankie — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:30:43 +0000

There are beautiful portfolio sites out there in the web and I wanted to redo my portfolio site because like most of the websites of designers my site was:

Quite out of date
Not very compelling any more

The reasons because my site was like this are easy to find. If you are a busy designer you mostly don’t have time to update your site. In the last years I started a blog and used twitter to engage with my audience, so the time for the portfolio is even smaller. Maintaining a portfolio site is not as easy and there are many big sites where you can upload your portfolio. The question was, what should I do.

Hosting the own portfolio site

The good

Once the visitor is on your site all eye-balls are on your projects.
You can make a design you choose
You are not limited on how many project, what media, how many pictures and text etc.
Basically you are in control

The bad

Hosting a site is not always cheap, not only the cost of the hosting, but also the cost in time to maintain it (yes you have to maintain it like your pc)
You have to be fit to get better results (design wise speaking) than the established portfolio sites
You have to advertise your site to get any visitors
If you are not a web-programmer you must look for a developer in order to setup the site

Using a portfolio site

The good

You don’t have to manage a website
The design is optimized for portfolio presentation
There are already many users on the site
You can use them as a social network and find job opportunities

The bad

You are one among many – The distinction between a Pro and a Student is difficult
There is advertising which is competing with you for attention
Integration with Twitter and other Social Media is only sometimes possible
You are limited by the site on how to present your work

Conclusion

You can see that there are advantages and disadvantages as usual when you have to take a decision. It would be easy to say to do both and get out the most of it – but in the end your time should not just be consumed to do your portfolio.

I opted for a self-hosted portfolio site because I already maintain a few sites (like this one) – but will also have some key projects uploaded to the portfolio sites. To minimize the effort of maintaining multiple presences I write the content for my portfolio in a way to reuse it when I need to.

More on how I setup my portfolio site and how I structure it in a future blog post.

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