How to create a graphic design portfolio [+ pro examples]
As a creator who has to prove their capability through evidence, a business card or sales pitch may not cut it. You need to show who you are and what you can do.
You can look to fellow designers' portfolios for fresh ideas and to see what's possible for your career. There are worlds upon worlds of design books, projects, styles, layouts, and niches to explore on the internet. We've listed a few of our favorites below.
Plus, we'll share some tips on creating your portfolio to help if you're just starting out or if you're a graphic design professional looking to launch your freelance career.
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Choose a hosting platform
With the help of website-building software or professional web development, you can create something unique for your online design portfolio. A personal site is a great platform to showcase your creative skills.
Best website hosting platforms for designers
There are a few options when it comes to building your online portfolio. The most professional way to go is to get a custom domain and host your personal website on a hosting platform.
Graphic design portfolio platforms
There are many dedicated platforms for supporting artists and designers in getting their work out there, connecting with clients, and building community.
While the platforms listed below are somewhat customizable, this route is more limiting than building your own website.
The ideal approach is to showcase your work on one or multiple online creative communities listed above in combination with your own website to reach as many potential clients as possible.
What to include in your graphic design portfolio
Show a variety of your best work
It's the chicken before the egg situation: you need a portfolio to get work, but to build a portfolio you need work to showcase.
It's a good idea to show some variety in your projects and skills. Choose the best from as diverse a range of projects if you can.
While you want to showcase a variety of work, don't put projects you're not proud of up simply for the sake of variety. Of course, you're not going to feel like every project is perfect and you'll have to have some lesser favorites up in the beginning but be sure to keep updating your site to make sure it's full of only your best work.
You could create an entirely imaginary brand just to use as an example. This is also good practice for improving your craft and experimenting.
Having the space to experiment will prepare you to deliver your best work when you're hired. You could even rebrand or create a mock project for an existing brand.
You can also participate in online design challenges to get the juices flowing.
Add your contact details and social media handles
Make sure your contact details are easy to find and that you include links to your relevant social media platforms.
LinkedIn, Instagram, and any other places you might share your work will be a good idea. Make sure that the links work and that you show your social spaces love by keeping them up to date.
Include your bio
Share a bit more about what you do and who you are. Potential clients or employers will be more drawn to you if they can feel a connection with who you are. Your bio or about page should include:
- A bit about your work and what motivates you
- A bit about who you are personally and what inspires you
- What makes your approach unique
- A profile picture
Keep it short and impactful.
Put some love into the wording
While a graphic design portfolio is visually driven, some clever copy here and there will guide the experience of your portfolio website and help bring the visuals to life.
Create case studies
Including case studies will provide social proof of your professional experience.
A case study needs to:
- Showcase a project you've completed in full
- Define the "problem" of the brief
- Share the thinking behind your solution
- Describe the design process that led to the end result
Whether it's for visual design, brand identity, 3D interaction, UX, environmental design, or any other kind of design, including comprehensive case studies about your projects will provide important information to your potential clients.
You'll notice that some designers get away with minimal case study information in their portfolios, but the more detail you can give regarding your design process and how you solve problems, the better.
Check out the case studies below for some guidance:
Share testimonials
Along with case studies, client testimonials are a very effective way to share your credibility and build trust. Ask clients if they wouldn't mind writing or recording a short testimonial and sharing it on your portfolio website.
Share your side hustle
Showcasing your personal art projects will only give anyone who's viewing your portfolio deeper insight into who you are—and hey, you might end up getting more work based on this.
Practical tips for your online portfolio
For an effective design portfolio website, there are a few fundamentals you need to get right. Below are some basic guidelines to make sure it stands out and communicates everything necessary to keep the gigs rolling in.
Make it user-friendly
Let's start with the basics here. You don't want your portfolio to be some kind of Avante Garde labyrinth of obscure artwork. You can create a separate site for that.
Choose a layout that showcases your work with ease and simplicity. When putting it together, you can employ basic UX best practices and put yourself in the perspective of the potential client visiting your profile.
Express your identity
This is an opportunity to express your originality as a designer. Clients are always looking for something unique to bring to their brand or project in this competitive space.
So, it will serve in your favor if you can show that you have something truly authentic or a signature style to contribute.
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Consider your ideal client or job
It will be hugely beneficial for your career to get clear with yourself on the kind of work you'd love to create, the types of people and companies you'd like to work with, and the range of clients you'd like to have.
Be confident
The point of your portfolio is to show that you can deliver on a job. Show that you trust yourself through the wording you choose, and be confident in the pieces you choose to show.
Take the layout seriously
The layout is pretty much everything. If you have the skills, you can get creative with it, but you want to do your work justice by having it presented simply and cohesively.
A layout with a white background or muted colors works best. You can browse lots of layout options in the examples we provide below.
Don't forget the favicon
In case you don't know, the favicon is the little icon on the left-hand side of a browser tab. It's usually represented by the logo of the website.
When you don't customize this it will show up as a placeholder of whatever web builder you're using, like WordPress. This can look unfinished and unprofessional.
The favicon is another opportunity to get creative and showcase your skills as a designer with something that represents you. Remember to keep it simple as it's only about 16 x 16px in size.
Include your awards
If you're an award-winning graphic designer, shout about it (with humility). List the awards you've won on your site and provide details about the projects.
Include your resume
You might want to provide the option to download a PDF version of your resume. You could include it as a page on the website, too. You'll see some examples below.
Include a call to action
Make sure you're opening up a conversation with any potential clients browsing your site. Make a clear call to action to learn more, get in touch with you, or sign up to your mailing list.
Consider mobile viewing
When designing your online portfolio, keep in mind that most people might be browsing on a mobile device. Ensure your site design is responsive and the user flow works well on mobile.
Keep a blog
Including a blog on your portfolio site is an opportunity to share your thoughts, expertise, and personality. You can position yourself as a thought leader in your field through blog content and improve your discoverability online.
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Get our softwareProfessional graphic design portfolio examples
Part of growing as a designer is looking to others in the community for inspiration.
We share some of the designer portfolios that have inspired us below.
Robby Leonardi
Robby Leonardi uses interactive design to make his portfolio website an exciting, gamified experience. This is a notable example of interactive design bringing a project to life.
Robby is a freelance designer focused on illustration, design, and animation. He combines design and illustration to specialize in “illustrative design.”
When you land on the website, there are three options to view three separate resumes: an interactive resume, an illustration portfolio, and a design portfolio. Segmenting a portfolio like this makes for simple browsing.
The interactive resume is inspired by the classic Super Mario game and is a personal project of Robby's.
As you scroll down, the character (Super Mario-ified Robby supposedly) passes through each level, communicating a section of information about his skills and personal details.
Once you arrive at the end, you're given the option to send Robby a message via email.
This designer portfolio showcases:
- Taking initiative by creating a personal project.
- Maintaining brand consistency through theme and demonstrating a distinct style.
- Creating an engaging user experience.
- The designer's personality and interests.
Want to get your fun on? Download one of our free design templates below to try a quirky style like Robby's.
Aries Moross
Aries Moross is an illustrator, art director, designer, and keynote speaker. This portfolio exemplifies a distinct style coming together in a captivating theme.
You're met with large text tickers linked to some of Moross' major projects when you first land on the site. But as you scroll down, you'll see tiled images showcasing Moross' work—most often based on colorful doodle patterns.
Once you click on a tile image, you’re taken to the project page, where there's ample visual evidence of their work and a short description.
The project descriptions aren’t exactly in-depth case studies, but the visual layout is eye-catching and worth drawing inspiration from.
The + symbol in the top right corner of the website reveals a menu that breaks down the projects into themed segments, which is a good idea to help guide potential clients toward work within the particular category they might be searching for.
There's also a link to the Studio Moross shop, which is an extra revenue stream. You might want to think of what you could sell in your own online shop as part of your freelance design business strategy.
Gavin Strange
Gavin Strange is a director and designer with a rich and diverse spread of work. He's a creative all-rounder with many side projects to be inspired by, from his book to music projects and more.
This is a place of personal creativity, which has its very own name—“Jam Factory.” You can also create a unique name for your portfolio to make it stand out.
The landing page of Jam Factory gives a succinct description of who Gavin is, making use of clever copy and guiding the viewer through a story of who he is, where he’s been, what he’s done.
Strange uses words in conjunction with visuals to bring his portfolio to life and guide the viewer.
Anthony Burrill
The profile on his portfolio website reads, “Graphic artist Anthony Burrill combines a knack for simplicity that packs a punch with analog craft skills and powerful, positive messages.”
The layout and flow of his website capture the essence of Anthony's work. When you scroll through, each project is presented in a simple gallery view on a white background. The minimalist style of the website helps keep the focus on the work itself.
Once the image is clicked on, a comprehensive written and visual description is provided.
Think about how you can combine the theme, layout, and messaging in your portfolio to reflect your design style.
Maria Marie
Marioly’s romantic, fairytale-esque website exemplifies how storytelling and a cohesive theme can be woven into a captivating personal brand, and the many business opportunities available through design work.
When you land on the page, you’re presented with a few images that capture the essence of Marioly’s style. This is encapsulated in a line of copy that reads “finding beauty in the unexpected.”
Following this is a bio that’s just as enchanting as the rest of the site. Her use of wording mirrors the sense of romance in the visual identity of her portfolio.
If you explore some more, you’ll find that Marioly also offers online courses and creative mentoring. She sells Lightroom presets and even has a blog on her site.
These are all noteworthy ideas you might want to integrate into your portfolio for creative expression and business opportunities.
MR Bingo
MR Bingo is, according to his website, an “artist, speaker, and twat.” This is a good example of a bio that clearly states what you can expect from the designer.
His full bio reveals that he was a commercial illustrator for 15 years working with clients such as The New Yorker, The Guardian, TIME, CH4, The Mighty Boosh & The New York Times. But, the portfolio also states that “an archive of the thousands of illustrations from this period doesn’t exist online because he got bored once in a motorhome and deleted his entire portfolio website.”
It's a pretty edgy portfolio that positions MR Bingo as an artist who has moved on from the days of his client illustration work, but you'll find that he links to some of his earlier client work, too.
Julie Bonnemoy
Julie Bonnemoy’s portfolio is straightforward. No fluff.
Once you scroll, you see large tiles showcasing her best or most recent work. There are only two menu items: Projects and About. All the information the potential client needs to decide whether to hire Bonnemoy is easily accessible.
Bonnemoy brings the portfolio to life with animations and videos.
Anna Dunn
This is an example of how the Behance platform can successfully be used in its most simplistic form, allowing the work to speak for itself.
On Behance, you'll have an About tile on the left with all the contact details your potential customer needs. On the right, you can showcase your best work to win them over.
Tiffany Larson
This is a simple portfolio of a younger designer hosted on Crevado.
Larson provides a bio on the landing page and showcases her variety of work well. From UX/UI design to marketing, personal art, and logos, this is a good portfolio to get some guidance from if you're just starting yours up.
It also gives you good idea of what to expect if you're curious about using Crevado.
Tobias Van Schneider
Tobias Van Schneider is a designer working at the intersection of digital product design and graphic design. He founded HOVS design studio, which worked with NASA on the brand identity for their 2020 Mars Rover Launch.
Van Schneider has worked with some of the most well-known brands in the world, so his portfolio is a good place for any graphic designer to get inspiration. He even did a stint as art director for Spotify.
The projects in this portfolio are presented in an easy one-page scroll-down layout. The visuals for each project lazyload with eye-catching animations to keep the viewer engaged.
An important marketing channel for Van Schneider is his newsletter. His newsletter has an audience of 30,000+ and is worth signing up for to get industry-related insights.
Consider working on an email marketing strategy and adding a newsletter sign-up CTA on your portfolio site.
Pawel Nolbert
Pawel Nolbert is a visual artist and image-maker who explores color, expression, and visual languages.
Nolbert's portfolio is inspiring if you're a graphic designer who wants to stay true to your visual arts roots. Like Nolbert, you can make your mark on brands with your signature style.
Nolbert's vibrant designs speak loudly against the clean design of the website.
Timothy Goodman
Goodman is an illustrator, muralist, environmental designer, and through-and-through artist with an inspiring personal brand that communicates positive messaging.
When landing on the site, you're greeted with a lively, interactive illustration.
If you explore further, you'll find all kinds of ideas for how to present your projects and possibly turn your design work into a personal brand.
Goodman's About page is straightforward and mentions the impressive big brands he's worked with, showcasing social proof of his work quality and demand.
Anton & Irene
This portfolio is pretty mind-blowing. The homepage features an interactive photograph of the designer duo that reveals different poses when you hover over them or scroll.
This is a combined portfolio site for "agency directors turned hands-on designers" Anton Repponen and Irene Pereyra.
Many designers collaborate by creating duos and collectives, so having a site together with your partners will increase your reach and chances of getting work.
There are also a number of case studies on this website, so if you're looking for some comprehensive case study guidance, check it out.
Online communities for graphic design
Whether you're a design student or have been in the game for decades, every creative needs a place to connect and engage with a like-minded community.
Check out these graphic design communities if you're looking for an online space to connect and share your work:
Graphic Design Forum (GDF)
GDF is one of the oldest and biggest graphic design forums around with over 20k members. The community is very active, significantly large and consists of a variety of general categories that can help you with whatever it is that’s bothering you.
Designer Hangout
Designer Hangout is a dedicated, invite-only network of UX designers and researchers who discuss trends, give advice, share stories, uncover insights, and even connect in-person. If you’re into UX, you need to join.
Web Designer Forum
This is a popular community graphic design website where you can find answers to your questions and discussions quickly. The community is long running with membership in the thousands and constant new posts regarding trends and updates. In addition, the forum is split into useful sub-sections, so you can discuss design, get development help for any web programming language, or find what you need.
Your next step as a designer
Building and maintaining your designer portfolio is an exciting, ongoing endeavor. The more love and attention you give it, the more likely you are to get work that's aligned with what you truly want to do—which is why we're in this game to start with, right?
Stay inspired, keep creating, and use your portfolio to branch out your revenue streams.
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Get our softwareDo I need a graphic design portfolio?
A graphic design portfolio site can aid your freelance business strategy. You can also broaden into teaching elements like online courses and add marketing elements like a newsletter.
You can include personal content creation in the form of a blog on your personal website as well. Your website essentially becomes an online studio representing your business.
Graphic designers need a portfolio to showcase their work and gain potential clients or jobs. Your portfolio is an opportunity to share your design experience and give potential leads an idea of your design style.
What types of graphic design portfolios are there?
The umbrella of graphic design includes many types of design. Some designers choose to focus on one niche, while others work on a variety.
This is really up to you as a designer, where your career takes you, and where you decide to direct it.
Types of graphic design portfolios include:
- Logo design
- Typography/ Lettering
- Illustration
- Editorial Design
- User Experience
- Interface Design
- Packaging Design
- Environmental Design
- Branding and Visual Identity
- Product design
Some designers even opt to have two websites: one for their personal art and one for their professional work.