Seeking portfolio advice

I contacted one of the UK's leading up-and-coming UX recruitment consultants, Tom Cotterill, and asked if, although my focus is on UI, he had the time to give feedback on my online portfolios. His reply can be seen on the screenshot below; it's incredibly useful and insightful feedback, and will be actioned on. 

AkzoNobel's 2018 Colour of the Year

AkzoNobel Colour Trends 2018

A Welcome Home

The mood of the moment:

"We live in a world where we don't know what the news will bring every day. We have access to more information and more choices than ever before. there are more expectations and more demand on our time. We have seen evidence of division within our societies. Our usual sources of reassurance can't be relied upon. We are living in a time of unpredictability." 

"During times of unpredictability, consumers need to feel confident about the decisions they make about their homes. Our ColourFutures 2018 palettes have been designed with this in mind. Each palette offers a collection of shades that are easy to use and flow seamlessly from one tone to the next. The Colour of the Year 2018, Heart Wood, features in all four colour palettes and represents the warmth of natural wood -- the warmth that consumers turn to during times of flux."

The Heart Wood Home

A Welcome Home is a Heart Wood home. This is where you feel instantly at ease, surrounded by the gentle grey-pink tones of Heart Wood. The nourishing warmth of wood and tactile comfort of leather add to the sense of harmony. The Heart Wood Home palette reflects this versatility, with soft cocoa flowing into bolder shades of ink blue and purple.

The Comforting Home

The Comforting Home combines warm woods, leather, silk and velvet to create a space that you want to touch and sink into. Rich, welcoming interiors offer you a restorative embrace and are filled with deep colours, such as terracotta, generously layered with textures. The Comforting Home palette encourages cocooning and re-setting – warm earth tones bring a sense of comfort, while clay and blush pink help calm the mind and soothe the senses.

The Inviting Home

The Inviting Home can be your den to snuggle in, your nest to grow in, your camp in which to create memories. Comfort and convenience reign supreme in the Inviting Home. The Inviting Home palette is for those who seek to bond with the people that matter to them most. Cool shades of blue encourage a clear-headed approach to life, while easy-going neutrals and sea-green support the need for connection.

The Playful Home

The Playful Home can be your hub to recharge in, your space to create and dream in. There is a sense of energy with vibrant color focal points and plants hanging from walls. With the Playful Home palette consumers can create a space that is invigorating and full of life. Yellow-toned green and gold help spark the synapses and encourage a creative approach to life.

Trend: Mondrianism in User Interface Design

A design trend in contemporary user interfaces is the utilisation of modular elements, similar to the fine art style De Stijl, also known as Neoplasticism or Mondrianism. It tends to involve the use of the entire available display with a widescreen aspect ratio, and either a bright and primary or muted and pastel colour system. Photographic imagery tends to be paired with contrasting large and small type, with the visual elements often overlaying each other. 

It's a well received visual style, and has inherent user experience advantages through its ability to create a clear cut sense of hierarchy and keep users interested with its smooth, attractive animations. 

Scandinavian design in particular has adopted this trend, eschewing the bright colour palettes for monochrome or muted alternatives.