THEME RESEARCH
The reason this theme made it into my top five because it has a sleek look while also being a little flirty and fun. I like the color palettes that this theme offers and how you can customize it to your wants. Some downsides to this theme are that there is no navigation bar at the top to navigate between pages. The demo site also makes you scroll through the entire site, and I’m worried viewers of my website wouldn’t enjoy scrolling through and would rather click to different pages.
2. Clove https://www.squarespace.com/templates/clove-fluid-demo
I like Clove because it looks professional while maintaining character. There’s not too much going on, and it gets the information across in an organized manner. I also really like the color palettes for this theme. Another thing I like about this theme is the fonts it has because they go well together without being too much. The one downside to this theme is that I want my website to have a little more character because I think that represents who I am as an artist and creative.
3. Quinn https://www.squarespace.com/templates/quinn-fluid-demo
Quinn is full of character and definitely on the modern side. It makes me think of an editorial or fashion brand; it also has a gen-z vibe to it. The things I don’t love about this theme is that the red lettering doesn’t seem to be my vibe. While I think this is a beautiful portfolio theme, it doesn’t 100% encapsulate how I want to sell myself to employers.
4. Wesley https://www.squarespace.com/templates/wesley-fluid-demo
I love the colors in this theme because they are bright and fun, which encapsulates me as a human being. I think the shapes give this theme a unique quality compared to many other website themes. I don’t, however, like the font of this theme very much. I also worry that this theme will come off too childish or immature when I’m looking for internships and jobs post-grad.
5. Kusa https://www.squarespace.com/templates/kusa-fluid-demo
I really like this theme. I think it finds the balance between class and character. It has a sleek, mature look to it. I really enjoy the color palettes it offers. The layout of the site also speaks to me because I don’t get bored while going through it. My one worry is that it won’t lend itself as much to a performance portfolio.
FINAL DECISIONS:
#1: I decided to go with the ‘build-your-own-theme’ option Squarespace has, which allows you to mix and match different elements from different themes. I decided to do this because I enjoyed specific things from each of my themes, but wanted to create something that is wholly me. I love pink, and I think it describes my personality well, so I wanted to craft a website that blends my character with my professional work.
#2: Kusa
#3: Clove