Striking a Balance

Thinking about my porfolio, it’s tough to strike a balance between utility and “Flash.”  I would like to show off some of my abilities, but at the same time I want it look natural and not forced.  This is tough, though, because if I don’t highlight the technology will folks looking at my portfolio notice?  In the end it should not be strictly about the technology, but rather does it get the job done and look nice doing it.  There are ways of strictly showing skills through demonstration and I think that’s what I would like to do.  It looked to me to be a good way to show skills when a designer hasn’t had any customers.  Still, though, I think many people get hung up on the technology without considering whether the technology is best tool to do what needs to be done.  There are several ways to “skin” the same “cat” in web design.