How to Make an Online Portfolio, Top 10 Portfolio Tips

How to Make an Online Portfolio

How to Make an Online Portfolio

How to Make an Online Portfolio, Top 10 Portfolio Tips

A sharp online portfolio is a must for every designer or creative. That’s why we’ve put together this complete guide to building a portfolio.

An online portfolio with a spot-on website design is the modern version of a business card, a resume, and a showcase of projects. After all, it’s what all potential clients and employers are looking to hire you for.

For Hani Seif, Head of Portfolio Products at Wix.com, “A great portfolio is all about storytelling. It’s not just a showcase of work but a narrative that brings together a professional’s skills, creativity, and personality. Dynamic presets, AI-powered feature setups, and beautiful templates allow creators to bring their stories to life, ensuring that each portfolio not only stands out for its aesthetic appeal, but also tells a compelling story about the creator behind it.”

Creating a portfolio website is an opportunity to create something that showcases your skills and expresses your unique voice, while looking as crisp and professional as your other work. With the right tools, you can go beyond technical limitations and artistic compromises and create a powerful online presence. To get started learning how to create a website that shows your appeal, here’s a guide to creating an online portfolio that you’ll be proud of.

Starting a design business? Use this design name generator to name it.

Start your site

Ready to create an online portfolio? Start designing yours now.

What is a portfolio

How to Make an Online Portfolio, An online portfolio is a collection of your work, experience, qualifications, skills, and A collection of testimonials. And/or a digital collection of testimonials. Historically used to showcase your talents to potential employers, it is now also used to build your personal brand or attract clients for your own business.

Portfolios are used in all fields, but the most common include creative industries (graphic designers, photographers, writers, musicians, etc.), technical fields (software and web developers, engineers), and business.

How to Create an Online Portfolio: Top 10 Tips

No matter what industry you are in, there are some key tips you need to keep in mind when creating your online portfolio. These range from designing your portfolio in an attractive way to making sure it sees the light of day.

Gather Inspiration for Your Portfolio

Choose Your Online Portfolio Design

Showcase Your Best Projects

Use High-Quality Images

Include the Right Portfolio Content and Features

Improve the UX of Your Portfolio

Work on Your Site’s SEO

Make It Mobile-Friendly

Ask for Honest Feedback

Promotion and Promotion

01. Gather Inspiration for Your Portfolio

Creating an online portfolio starts with some visual research. Check out other online portfolio websites or digital portfolio examples to get some initial ideas.

As you browse these resources, start thinking about the look and feel of your portfolio. Take notes or create a mood board to accompany you throughout your creative process. Consider essential details like your preferred color palette, typography, and site structure, and stay current on current web design trends.

02. Choose your online portfolio design

How to Make an Online Portfolio, How do you want visitors to navigate from one page to the next? What do you want them to see first? These are questions you’ll ask yourself in the next step when you’re designing your actual site.

There are two easy ways to get started at this stage:

Choose a template: Almost all portfolio website builders will offer pre-built templates that you can choose from. For example, Wix has dozens of portfolio and CV templates (not to mention 900+ total website templates) spanning all kinds of industries. Learn more about website builders in this comparison guide: Wix vs Squarespace.

Design with AI: Use an AI website builder like Wix that can create a bespoke site for you in minutes. With Wix, you chat with AI about the kind of portfolio you want to achieve—then the AI ​​designs a site that matches your goals and desired aesthetic.

Portfolio Website Templates

03. Showcase Your Best Projects and Work

Your actual work is the core of your online portfolio, so make sure to showcase it in the best possible way. It should stand out and be easily accessible via the homepage and/or website menu. You can highlight this work by creating a dedicated “Projects” page on your website.

Did you know? Wix’s AI portfolio builder saves you hours of repetitive work by allowing you to upload media and instantly sort it into completed projects with suggested titles and descriptions.

Showcase your creativity and expertise to clients by sharing only your best work. This way, you’ll draw their attention to your strengths and maintain quality throughout your portfolio.

In addition to showcasing your best work, make sure to update your website regularly so you can always share your latest creations. Having a variety of pieces can help people get an idea of ​​your range.

It’s helpful to add a description for each project so that viewers can understand how you come up with creative solutions and/or work with your clients. An often overlooked portfolio design tip: Be sure to provide a brief description of the project and mention your role, as well as any collaborators you’ve worked with.

“A great portfolio is about telling a story. It’s not just a showcase of work, but a narrative that captures a professional’s skills, creativity, and personality. Features like dynamic presets, AI setups, and beautiful templates allow creators to bring their stories to life, ensuring that each portfolio not only stands out for its aesthetic appeal, but also tells a compelling story about the creator behind it." - Hani Seif, Product Manager at Wix

04. Use high-quality images

How to Make an Online Portfolio, It's not just photography portfolios that need high-quality images; all portfolios need them, whether you're creating a fashion portfolio or a marketing portfolio.

To ensure your work looks as impressive online as it does in real life, invest the time and effort into taking photos of your work, your process, and your products. In cases where professional photography or photoshoots aren't possible, follow product photography best practices or use free photo-editing tools to enhance your images.

When it comes to showcasing your images, Wix Pro Gallery can set you up with customizable layouts and effects. You can use the AI ​​available in Wix You can use tools to make your images look professional—like object eraser, background remover, and more.

05. Include the right portfolio content and features

Once you have a good foundation and a collection of projects ready to showcase, it’s time to decide what additional content you want to include in your online portfolio and how you want to strategically present it.

This includes text, images, and other media. Whether you need some sample portfolio examples or you’re building an art design portfolio, graphic design portfolio, a stunning photography portfolio, or any other type of website, here are the most important pages and sections to include, plus some professional design features to consider:

Homepage

The virtual home of your portfolio will grab your visitors’ attention with an eye-catching design. Beyond the visual aspect, your homepage is an opportunity to pique the curiosity of potential clients and employers with a strong introductory sentence. Keep this sentence short and sweet, clearly expressing who you are and what you do. You don’t need to go into biographical detail here (that’s what your ‘About’ page is for), but your name and key areas of expertise are absolutely essential.

Since your homepage serves as a starting point for visitors, be sure to also include a menu of items that are easy to find and take users to the right place on your site.

About Page

The About page is where you present your background and brief biography, provide essential information about your activities, and summarize your unique identity and values. Include any standout elements, such as your accomplishments and skills.

It might be a good idea to clarify your current employment status and include your CV. We recommend adding a downloadable PDF so that those interested in hiring you can add it to their systems.

You can show your personality through puns, clever microcopy, images, or anything else that’s true to you. Take a cue from DA Creative, which emphasizes its confident and powerful resume with bold bits of futuristic graphics and microcopy.

How to Create a Portfolio Example

Contact Information

Make sure that people who visit your site can easily contact you to learn more about your services or employment status. Add a contact form, your email address, phone number, and links to your social networks.

These elements can be featured in different areas of your site: your main menu, on a dedicated contact page, or as a pinned element on the side of the screen. It’s also a good idea to repeat your contact details in the footer of your website, providing a final invitation for visitors to get in touch.

Clients and Testimonials

Highlight your professionalism with a list of esteemed clients who have chosen to work with you in the past. If any of your projects have been featured elsewhere or received press coverage, mention that as well (especially for a portfolio dedicated to high-ticket industries, such as an architecture portfolio).

You may want to drop a testimonial or two from satisfied clients. As long as the feedback feels genuine and isn’t over-the-top, testimonials often add credibility to your online portfolio. Adding references can also achieve this.

What awards have you won? Include these too. The type of award, the awarding organization, and the date you received it. Also provide any necessary context for the competition.

Include professional features

To create a professional look and an engaging experience, look at how you can incorporate design features that will take your online portfolio design up a notch and grab your visitors’ attention. From hover effects and parallax scrolling to animations and lightboxes, these finishing touches can help bring your website to life. They can also act as functional tools, drawing your visitors’ attention to a specific location or creating interactions.

Tata Rekso demonstrates how these elements can have a big impact on the user experience. When you hover over one of her featured works, the text changes color and a sneak peek of the work pops up next to it.

With Wix, adding such hover effects is easy. If the effect you’re looking for isn’t available, you can use Velo by Wix to make your site more dynamic and tailor it to your specific needs. This web development platform lets you insert code elements into your website with a variety of custom interactions, helping you bring your most complex vision to your portfolio.

Tata Rekso shows how to create a portfolio that’s interactive

Contents page

If your portfolio has a lot of examples of your work and projects, you might want to consider including a content section to organize them. This is a good idea if you plan to create a portfolio to reflect your diverse projects and skills. You can use the content page to organize your content by project or skill — and help people you share it with navigate to the most relevant work.

Resume

Creating an online portfolio to showcase your work means it also serves as a resume. Go a step further and include a page that summarizes your work experience to date — in-house, freelance, or contract. Include where you worked, your main responsibilities, and projects, and dates. Start with the most recent first. Be sure to provide a list of your hard skills and abilities. You can also include design tools that you know how to work with or that are relevant to your field.

Personal Statement

Consider starting your resume page with a personal statement to set the tone and provide context for your entire body of work. This allows you to share your background, highlight unique skills, and clarify your professional goals. A well-crafted personal statement turns your portfolio into a compelling narrative that sets you apart in a competitive marketplace.

Showcase Your Design Process

Showcasing your design process in a portfolio offers a window into your creative journey and problem-solving abilities. By including sketches, drafts, and various development stages, designers can clearly illustrate their approach to tackling challenges and refining ideas. This level of transparency not only highlights your creativity and adaptability but also builds trust with potential clients and employers.

06. Improve the UX of your portfolio

Now that you have your content, it’s time to put all the pieces together. There are many factors to consider in creating a strong UX, or user experience, on your website.

Start by listing all the web pages you’ve decided to create. Then, identify which elements you need to include on each page (although if you’re using an AI website builder, your site may already have all the core elements and content you need).

For example, a project page might include a featured image, title, and description, and some additional images or media features. Listing the items on each page will help you decide on their hierarchy before arranging the content.

Once you know which pages will make up your online portfolio, you’ll be able to decide on navigation. How do you want your visitors to move from one page to the next? Will you include a hamburger menu that opens to a fullscreen list, or a specific menu at the top of each page? How will you indicate which page people are on?

UX designer Diana Renko’s portfolio illustrates that great UX design can be both functional and innovative. Her redesigned hamburger menu is distinctive and easily recognizable for its unique spin on it. This creative approach showcases Renko’s ability to blend familiar usability with her personal style, proving that good UX design doesn’t have to be boring.

For more ideas, check out this collection of the best UX portfolios.

Diana Renko shows how to create a portfolio that features great UX design.

07. Work on your site’s SEO

How to Make an Online Portfolio, What’s the point of having an online portfolio if no one can see it? Work on optimizing your website to rank high in Google search results to make it easier for your clients to find you and book your services.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an ongoing process that involves different elements of your site. Here are some pointers to get you started:

Create unique, fresh, and valuable written content: See writing portfolio examples for inspiration). A good way to do this is to write blog posts, as they give you the opportunity to share ideas that other designers and creatives will enjoy reading. This will also show Google (and site visitors) that you are actively working.

Do keyword research to find the right keywords for your site: Keywords are the most searched phrases on Google when people are looking for creatives like you. An example of a keyword might be “freelance web designer” or “Toronto architect”. Once you have some keyword research, use these phrases in strategic places throughout your website.

Write Alt Text for Your Images: Short for alternative text, Alt text is a brief description of the images and photos on your site (for example, “postcards and business cards for a branding project”). Writing SEO-friendly alt text can also help improve the accessibility of your website. You may have a lot of visual elements in your online portfolio, so take this opportunity to integrate your keywords into your alt text.

Write titles and descriptions (also known as metadata: for each page of your design portfolio.

Get found in your area using local SEO: If you’re a freelance designer with a permanent location, use local SEO to make sure anyone in your specific area is looking for you. Verify your business claim on Google My Business, register your website with relevant directories, and add your location to your website pages.

Pro tip: If you have a Wix website, try Wix SEO. It’s a free, step-by-step checklist designed with a simple checklist and helpful tips to improve your site’s SEO. You can additionally use Wix’s AI meta tag builder to write title tags and descriptions at scale.

Stay in the know – Subscribe to the Wix Blog to get a weekly dose of tips, trends, and updates.

08. Make it mobile-friendly

It’s easy to forget about the vast amount of users who are likely to be viewing your site from smartphones. In fact, mobile devices account for nearly 60% of web page views worldwide. That’s why the best website designs should look just as good on mobile as they do on desktop.

One of the main challenges designers face when creating an online portfolio is making sure it’s mobile-friendly. Your mobile website is more than just a scaled-down version of your web design, so there are a few rules to keep in mind when designing for mobile.

For smaller screens, you’ll want to slim down the mobile version of your site, leaving only the most important elements visible.

Additionally, pay attention to the fonts and colors you use and make sure they’re legible. Reduce the amount of typing required, and consider adding a search bar to make navigation easier.

Check out journalist Lorin Higgins’ portfolio for an example of mobile design done right. Her minimalist design translates easily to mobile—a good argument for choosing a minimal design style if it’s right for your brand.

If you build your portfolio with Wix, your site will automatically create a mobile-friendly version, complete with an adaptive gallery for your photos. This cuts down on a significant amount of work, but it’s important to test the mobile editor whenever you update your site’s design to ensure the resulting site accurately captures your vision.

Desktop and mobile versions of Lorin Higgins’ website

09. Ask for honest feedback

We all know the feeling of being lost in a project until we see it through. So it’s always a good idea to run your website through a second set of people for some insight and new ideas. Ask your trusted friends what they have to say about the content and visuals of your portfolio. Did they think your portfolio lacked information? 

What did they like or dislike about the look of your site? Was it easy to navigate? Even if it means making adjustments, critical feedback from your peers can help you fine-tune the details of your site.

10. Publish and Promote

Once you’ve published your online portfolio, be sure to share it across all your social channels, from Pinterest to Dribbble and more. This straightforward social media marketing strategy will help you reach more potential customers, improve your SEO rankings, and hear honest feedback.

Another Instagram tip for designers is to add social buttons to your site, which makes it easy for viewers to reach your social media profiles.

Once you get the word out, remember that your portfolio will grow with you. There’s always one more tweak around the corner to make it better. Keep updating your site with new content and projects, implement different features, improve the user experience, and stay up to date with current design trends.

How to Create an Online Portfolio—With AI

AI has changed the game, providing a near-instant way to create an online portfolio that’s completely unique to you. Getting started is easy.

From Wix, you can access the AI ​​website builder from any account type. All you have to do is tell the AI ​​about your background and your portfolio goals. In seconds, the builder will create a website with all the core pages, images—even text—you need. It will also install the Wix Portfolio app on your site, i.e., add the back-office tools you need to easily manage your portfolio content.

Portfolio examples created with Wix’s AI Portfolio Builder

All in all, Wix has a ton of AI tools to choose from:

Website Builder: Create a custom portfolio site by chatting with AI.

Portfolio Builder: Upload all the images you want to include in your portfolio. The AI ​​will automatically organize these images into collections that represent the different projects you’ve worked on, as well as suggest catchy titles and descriptions for those collections. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a professional portfolio ready to publish.

Image Editing: Automatically enhance photos or use AI to remove and replace distracting elements.

Image Creation: Create new images and graphics to enhance your online portfolio. This can be extra helpful if you’re in a role that’s not design-oriented or work on projects that aren’t visual in nature.

Text Creation and Editing: Whether you need a zinger for your homepage or a bio for your ‘About’ page, tap into AI to help you create website copy. The text builder will consider your brand voice, audience, and goals.

SEO: Get help optimizing any page for your meta tags and/or a target keyword.

Branding: With the AI ​​Logo Maker, get a custom logo that represents you and your work while making your portfolio feel more professional.

Additional Tips for Creating a Portfolio That Stands Out

Now that you know how to create your portfolio, here are some additional tips to make sure you really nail it:

Use consistent branding throughout your portfolio

This means using the same fonts, colors, and overall style throughout your portfolio. This will help create a cohesive and professional look. On top of that, only include your best work in your portfolio. This will help you showcase your skills and abilities to potential employers or clients.

Keep your portfolio up-to-date

Be sure to add new work to your portfolio as you build it. This will help keep your portfolio fresh and relevant. Make sure your images are clean, sharp, and well-lit, and add clear and concise descriptions to each one.

Tell a Story with Your Portfolio

Make sure each section of your portfolio transitions smoothly to present a unified theme, hold the viewer’s attention, and demonstrate your ability to organize your work in a compelling way. Arrange your projects to tell a story — chronologically, thematically, or by expertise.

Focus on the type of work you want to do in the future

If you want to branch out into new areas or focus more on one type of project than another, be sure to highlight relevant experiences and skill sets. Don’t spend too much time talking about projects you want to avoid in the future.

How to Create a Portfolio FAQ

How should you start a portfolio?

A portfolio should start with a strong introduction that tells your story and what you’re about. You can include a short biography, your contact information, and your goals. You may also want to include a statement of purpose that explains why you are creating a portfolio and what you hope to achieve with it.

What makes a good portfolio

A good portfolio is one that is well-organized, easy to navigate, and showcases your skills and abilities. It should be visually appealing and engaging. Here are some tips for creating a good portfolio:

Be selective. Only include your best work in your portfolio.

Be organized. Arrange your work in a way that is easy to navigate.

Be clear. Include clear and concise descriptions of your work.

Be professional. Your portfolio should look and feel professional.

Be consistent. Use a consistent design throughout your portfolio.

Be creative. Don't be afraid to get creative with your portfolio.

How do I create a student portfolio?

To create your student portfolio, determine its purpose so that you can narrow down the content you want to include. Next, you need to select your best work, organize it in a way that makes sense, and add annotations to explain what the work is about. Then, design your student portfolio in a way that is visually appealing and easy to navigate.

The final step is to share your portfolio with your teachers, classmates, and potential employers. You can submit your portfolio to online competitions or portfolio review websites.

Creating a student portfolio can be a lot of work, but it is a worthwhile investment. A well-designed and informative portfolio can help you showcase your skills and talents to potential employers, colleges, and other opportunities.

How can I improve my portfolio?

Update your portfolio content regularly to reflect your recent projects and accomplishments, keeping it fresh and relevant. This can include images, videos, and explanations of your projects. Always test your site’s speed and load times to ensure it provides the best user experience for visitors. It’s natural to review and update your portfolio as your goals change. This can vary depending on whether you’re using it to find work or to establish your professional expertise with your colleagues or clients.

How to Create a Portfolio for Job Hunting?

Create a job security portfolio by organizing your best work with clear project descriptions and results. It’s important to create content specifically for the job you’re applying for, emphasizing your relevant skills and experience. It’s always best to use a clean and professional design that reflects your personal brand but is versatile for different roles and companies. 

Always include a concise resume in your portfolio and take the opportunity to showcase a variety of projects to demonstrate your versatility. You should also include your contact information for easy access.

How do I create a portfolio for my art?

Create an eye-catching art portfolio by selecting your best artwork that showcases your style and abilities. Consider organizing your examples in a clear and visually appealing format. Include a short statement about yourself as an artist that conveys your inspiration and vision. Using high-quality images is important to ensure the quality of your art online.

How do I create a portfolio for modeling?

Create a standout modeling portfolio by featuring a variety of professional, high-quality photos that showcase your range and experience. This should include headshots, full-body shots, and a variety of poses. Highlight your experience, measurements (if relevant), and any notable collaborations with brands or companies. Keep the layout clean and easy to navigate, and share a short bio that shares your passion for modeling.

How do I create my portfolio?

To build your portfolio, look for freelance work, internships, or volunteer opportunities to gain practical experience. Consider starting personal projects to showcase your skills and creativity. Collaborate with others on projects to expand your skill set and produce high-quality work. Continually educate yourself through relevant courses and workshops to stay up-to-date with industry trends. Seek feedback from peers and mentors to refine your portfolio and improve the quality of your work.

What does a portfolio look like?

A portfolio visually resembles a sleek, professionally designed book or a clean, organized layout. It features sections with bold titles and high-quality images or videos that showcase work samples, each neatly arranged to attract attention. The overall design emphasizes clear and intuitive navigation, often using a consistent color scheme and typography to create a cohesive look that reflects the creator’s style.

Do I need a physical portfolio?

A physical portfolio is not always necessary these days, as most employers and clients prefer digital versions for convenience. However, it can still be useful in certain situations, such as job interviews, meetings, or events where you want to make a lasting impression. 

A well-designed physical portfolio can showcase your attention to detail and make your work feel more real and personal. It is a great complement to your online presence, not a replacement.