This is the first online portfolio I have ever built. I have created other online spaces in the past, such as a WordPress and a LinkedIn, and both required some knowledge and practice in visual design and site organization so I didn't feel completely unprepared going into this.
Creating My Portfolio
The longest portion of my portfolio's creation was actually the color scheme. It felt like I was looking at hex codes forever. Visual design was my main focus while creating so I put most of my efforts into choosing a color palette that was interesting and personal, but still professional and legible. I also wanted to be absolutely certain that the readability of my site would not be affected by the colors I chose. My number one priority is that my site is accessible for every audience, especially since my portfolio will be in the hands of many future employers and mentors.
Implementing Changes
During my ePortfolio tutoring appointment, my tutor commended me on my work and gave a few tips on how to increase accessibility on my site (like using alt texts on photos) and how to unify my color scheme (narrowing down the palette to only two accent colors - I had three). Implementing the changes was a breeze and I feel confident about my portfolio.
My Portfolio's Focus
A major theme for the projects I'll be completing this semester for my portfolio is Work-Life balance. Well, what is Work-Life balance? While I'm still discovering all the possibilities of what it could be, it's basically the balance between one's time at work and at home. Generally, work is a separate entity, both physically and mentally, from one's home life, which includes one's relationships and personal obligations. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping a balance between work and life has become harder than ever. Managing time seems to be at its most difficult peak since two-income households came into existence.
What Should Work-Life Balance Look Like?
What a Work-Life balance should look like today is workers creating a designated space for work to occur that doesn't spill over into the other parts of the home. Workers should be sticking to their schedules and logging off their computers once the "workday" is over, aka the 9 to 5 hours or whatever shift is typical to one's practice. Once disconnected, there should be a sense of certainty that an individual can relax and focus on the important parts of their personal life outside of work.
The Reality
Instead, Work-Life looks like workers taking calls at all hours of the day, parents being pulled between their kid's zoom meetings and their own, and no physical separation between the places they work and the places they relax. Work overtakes the home, meaning there really is no balance between work and life anymore.
I'm eager to continue exploring this concept of a Work-Life balance, its definitions, and its models. I'm interested how my perception of it will develop throughout the semester and how my portfolio will grow as I delve into this topic.
Cover Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash
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