OUAN602 - Creating a Website & Online Portfolio

I considered several platforms that would be suitable to host the website I wanted to create and an online portfolio, out of the different services I came across SquareSpace was relatively well priced and also offered the best service in my opinion. With a student discount they offer the domain and website hosting with 50% deducted from the regular price. SquareSpace also appealed the most because for a set price you were given full creative control over the website in contrast to other platforms which would require paying more for modifying the html or editing certain templates that were installed on the web pages. This was a deal breaker for me because I wanted to have full control over the aesthetic and layout of the website without being in a position where I couldn't do what I wanted with it. The domain was an additional benefit of purchasing the package I did as normally this would occur an additional cost. I took the handle I used for Twitter and Instagram to keep all the different online outlets I was present on consistent.

Each webpage that you create has a number of options straight away that allow you to set the basis of a webpage. For example a page that is required to host video, a certain layout such as a contact page or a portfolio page for images all have their own default options that can be applied and then changed as required using the intuitive editing system in place. Especially useful was the ability to embed a blog into one of the webpages which means I can combine my blog with my website when it is up and running. Finally, the big advantage of this service has been a time saving one, and it means in just a few hours you can have a basic website up and running. From here I play to refine my website further when I have more work to add and more time to really customise the website to be the way I want it. Although currently it is doing its job I would like it to really stand out as an online portfolio and intend to work on it further to achieve this.