Do mobile devices hate your online portfolio?

A few years back, I was introduced to FlashPaper as a way of displaying my portfolio work online.

PDFs are most common, but sometimes the file size would be larger than a Flash file. And there were some easier zoom-in and move-around functions that I liked with FlashPaper. FlashPaper files could also be embedded in your site for automatic viewing when your site loaded.

Since most computers had a Flash viewer installed (and still do as I write this) having a portfolio in Flash wasn’t a big deal.

Now, it is.

In fact, I’m in the process of replacing my Flash portfolio pieces with PDFs.

The reason?

My iPhone, and soon-to-be-arriving iPad, don’t like Flash. More specifically, Apple doesn’t like Flash. (If you’re somewhat of a technology geek, you know the Apple vs. Adobe issue that’s been going on since the arrival of the iPhone.)

While the world doesn’t revolve around Apple, there’s enough of a user base (in the millions) that you can’t ignore the fact that their iPhone and iPad won’t display a Flash file.

I trust you can see the dilemma for someone like me who has had all his portfolio pieces in Flash.

It’s not unusual for me to be out somewhere and use my iPhone to show someone my site. But the portfolio pieces are a no-go because they’re all Flash.

Click on one of the Flash pieces and you get a pop-up that basically says, “Yeah, right. Nice try. Ain’t gonna happen.” And from there, a potential client moves on.

With an iPad, my site and portfolio will look even nicer, but I’m going to feel silly if I can’t show people my actual work while we’re on my site. And I certainly don’t won’t people who are browsing the web on their own with those devices to give up and move on.

It doesn’t matter whether you have an iPhone/iPad, or even if hate Apple… the fact is millions of people will be using those two devices. Don’t lock them out from viewing your site and your work.

I know it’s nice to get fancy with your site and portfolio, tossing in whatever technical tricks might be available. But what good is it if large groups of people can’t see it because of technical limitations on mobile devices?

Yes, you could also have a mobile edition of your site. For a freelance direct market designer who works mainly on print projects and doesn’t have website experience, I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble, but that’s just me.

You could hire a specialist in website design to help out. But I know most people reading this blog are beginning direct market designers and my guess is your budget doesn’t cover a web designer at this point. You’re still in DIY-mode when it comes to your site.

As always… just something for you to think about.