Which is the best website for portfolios, Best portfolio websites to fuel your inspiration

Which is the best website for portfolios

Which is the best website for portfolios

Which is the best website for portfolios, Best portfolio websites to fuel your inspiration.

“Good design is innovative,” says highly influential industrial designer Dieter Rams in his list of ten principles. Yet breaking new ground with never-before-seen website designs is becoming increasingly challenging. In this competitive field, how can you make your portfolio website design stand out from the crowd?

In addition to identifying what sets you apart from other creatives and how you can express it in your design, a great place to start is to look for inspiration by looking at the work of others. Before you create your own portfolio website (see the best portfolio website builders), check out this selection of 18 of the best portfolio websites—all built with website builder Wix.

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Best Portfolio Website Examples

Christina Vanessa Graphic Designer

Sophie Westfall UX

Steve Wolf Design

Wendy Xu Graphic Designer

Chippy Design

Studio Bugz

David Milan Art Director

Ryan Haskins Brand Designer

By Experience Design Agency

Alling Wen Photography

Anna Liovi Artist and Illustrator

Reut Chen Textile Designer

Lena Steinkühler Graphic Designer

Mathias Holmberg Architectural Design

T Sakhi Interior Designer

Studio Burge Nur Saltik Industrial Designer

Rafael Verona Animator

Christina Smolier Model

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01. Christina Vanessa

Which is the best website for portfolios, Graphic designer and visual communicator Christina Vanessa clearly has an eye for aesthetics. This graphic design portfolio example that landed us on the front page is a simple expression of her creative work and personality. A fullscreen looping video with her name and discipline written above showcases her best bits.

Following this promising introduction, Christina’s “Explore” page is equally impressive, incorporating multiple design features. From the artwork to the layered blocks that make up the page layout, the website’s color scheme is cohesive and neutral. Soft shades of cream, beige, and gray create a serene atmosphere enhanced by smooth animations.

Best Portfolio Websites Christina Vanessa

02. Sophie Westfall

A specialist in branding and UI/UX design, Sophie Westfall’s UX portfolio website example certainly showcases her skills in both areas. He developed a well-defined visual language that combines bright colors, geometric shapes, illustrations, and animations when he set out to create a website as a portfolio for his work.

Additionally, subtle touches like interactive features add personality and wit. Note the comic microcopy, especially at the bottom of his site, which offers a fresh take on the usual social bar icons. “Posting on TikTok isn’t really boring, but posting consistently is too much for a perfectionist,” he writes about his TikTok profile.

Best Portfolio Websites – Sophie Westphal

03. Steve Wolf Design

With the super sharp, high-quality visuals on Steve Wolf’s design portfolio website, it almost feels like you can reach out and grab the products being photographed on this type of website. The organized grid layout and screen-to-screen visuals put the emphasis on the work itself.

A subtle hover effect over each image reveals the project name while keeping text to a minimum. To create a portfolio in a similar style, check out this template. You can add your own work and adjust the design to express your style. You'll find plenty of portfolio layout examples and portfolio website templates that you can base your design on.

Steve Wolf Design Portfolio

04. Wendy Xu

Which is the best website for portfolios, The animation that greets us upon entering Wendy Xu’s graphic design portfolio sets the tone for the rest of her site. It welcomes us into her world by revealing her name with a typing effect. The animation is subtle and precise, matching her minimalist aesthetic.

Further down the homepage, Wendy has incorporated a fun cursor interaction using Velo by Wix. Not only is this interactivity a bit addictive as part of the user experience, it also adds a splash of color to the overall neutral color palette.

Wendy Xu Portfolio

05. Chippy Design

If there’s one thing designer Claudia del Castillo does well (and we’d argue there are plenty of things) when designing the portfolio for her firm, Chippy Design, it’s demonstrating her attention to detail. From the firm’s signature cyan-green to the interactive hover effects throughout the site, he has created a cohesive visual narrative that delights and informs. 

The structure of the portfolio itself is user-centric; each work sample serves as a portal to more detailed case studies, providing depth and insight into Chippy Design’s contributions and project outcomes.

Additionally, the use of dropdown menus is a strategic choice for seamless site navigation, allowing visitors to effortlessly enter the portfolio or select a specific client’s case study. This intuitive design choice underscores the firm’s dedication to a superior user experience, demonstrating how functional elements can be perfectly combined with aesthetic presentation.

Chippy Design has one of the best portfolio websites

06. Studio Bugz’

Graphic design brand Studio Bugz’ is all about crisp aesthetics when it comes to their professional portfolio websites. This sophisticated simplicity also applies to their website navigation, thanks to the organized structure of their site. Visitors can quickly move between pages using the static website menu on the side or by clicking on images of their own work.

The menu opens as a lightbox that slides across half of the screen. Not only does it fill the screen with new compositions and color combinations, it also allows visitors to stay on the page they were browsing while simultaneously navigating around the site, creating a great user experience design.

Best Portfolio Website - Studio Bugz'

07. David Milan

Which is the best website for portfolios, Designer, art director, and hand lettering artist David Milan puts his art center stage. By including only the most important elements in the header and choosing a simple monochrome palette, David draws the viewer's attention directly to his colorful designs.

The gallery of his work spans the width of the screen, making up most of the website. David used Wix Pro Gallery to create a feed-like website layout that invites visitors to scroll down for great usability. This simple structure allows for more images to be uploaded, creating a design portfolio that’s easy to update as his body of work expands.

Learn more: Writing Portfolio Examples

David Milan Best Portfolio Websites

08. Ryan Haskins

Brand designer and creative director Ryan Haskins’ portfolio website is full of surprises, starting with the expressive typography on his homepage. Mixing more than three typefaces in an interface is usually seen as a major design no-no. But Ryan took font pairing to the extreme—and there’s no doubt that this visual hierarchy worked.

This adventurous, rule-breaking approach makes a powerful statement, which is accentuated by the collage-like approach to his portfolio. Further down, we’ll explore Ryan’s work, which is as unique, evocative, and surprising as the rest of his graphic design website. While he hasn’t included his full graphic design resume, the ‘bio’ section of his site shares his impressive client list and recognition from various publications, almost acting as a resume portfolio.

Ryan Haskins Best Portfolio Websites

09. By Experience

The design agency’s homepage is filled with a strong cobalt blue. Adding to this dynamic feel is the fast-paced animated text at the top fold of their site. The voiceover is self-assured and to-the-point, inviting visitors to reach out to their expert services.

Unlike the other portfolio website examples in this selection, Experience shares their work alongside testimonials from satisfied customers. This helps showcase their skills and past successes, helping to attract potential clients. They make it easy for visitors to contact them by including a static floating menu icon in the top right that leads to an online form for contact. It’s never a bad idea to use your professional portfolio as a personal marketing portfolio.

Best Portfolio Websites by Experience

10. Alling Wen Photography

Which is the best website for portfolios, Creating a photography portfolio is a lot like an art exhibition; it’s an intimate reflection of the artist’s eye, requiring thoughtful presentation to truly resonate with the viewer. Alling Wen’s website is a perfect example of this, drawing you in with a dreamy, full-screen portrait that spills over the edges, inviting you into the photo’s beautiful setting.

Alling has divided her portfolio into sections so that her clients can view samples relevant to their purpose. The website’s design—featuring a beautiful font, a bright logo, and a subtle color palette—complements the ethereal quality of her photos. We love that she chose to add some variety to the layout so that each fold feels like a unique treat.

The Best Portfolio Websites by Alling Wen

11. Ana Liovy

Artist and illustrator Ana Liovy proves that an illustrated portfolio doesn’t necessarily need images to be successful. In fact, the homepage of her portfolio website features no images at all, but rather a burnt orange background, her logo, and a few introductory sentences that act as an alternative navigation menu.

For all her attention to detail, typography, digital art, and color, Ana still manages to create a highly visual homepage. To showcase her work and sell art online through her shop, Ana applies a simple light gray background that gives her platform the vibrant image it deserves. It really helps establish her unique personal branding style.

ana leovy best portfolio websites

12. Reut Chen

Textile designer Reut Chen has gone for a classic grid layout on her portfolio website. The geometric building blocks that make up her site contrast with her work, which has a more organic, textured, and handmade feel. Simple, distraction-free web design sets her art apart.

If you’re wondering how to create a portfolio and looking for some good inspiration, Reut’s website is a great example to follow. A new project that’s off the grid is what she chose to highlight at the top of her homepage. By putting the spotlight on this specific section, potential clients or collaborators can immediately understand what area she’s currently exploring. Tailoring your portfolio to the type of work you want to do in the future as a freelancer is a key graphic design portfolio tip.

reut chen best portfolio website

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13. Lena Steinkühler

Lena Steinkühler, a freelance graphic designer focusing on digital film and VFX, creates an eye-catching first impression by placing her most interesting pieces at the top of her site (see Digital Portfolio Examples for more examples). A curated selection of vibrant, slightly surreal 3D visuals fill the screen in a slideshow format, piquing our curiosity.

Scrolling through Lena’s portfolio website, there’s more visual delight to be had. Her work is displayed in a full-screen grid with a clean white border to separate the images. The use of an uneven grid, with some images larger than others, adds a sense of hierarchy and draws our focus to specific pieces over others.

Best Portfolio Websites Lena Steinkuhler

14. Matthias Holmberg

This architecture portfolio example provides a simple yet powerful presentation of Matthias Holmberg’s work. Vertical and horizontal images are combined in a grid with white space between each to showcase the range of his abilities. The color palette used in both the website design and images consists of soft neutral tones, providing an inviting, accessible online space.

Unlike other portfolio examples, this site has very few links or navigation and almost no menus. The only other link you’ll find leads to an information page with contact details and a link to the architect’s Instagram. Similarly, there is very limited written content, allowing Matthias’ talent to shine through in the images alone.

Studio Holmberg Best Portfolio Websites

15. T Sakhi

Sisters Tessa and Tara Sakhi design spaces inspired by the beauty of people. Their interior design portfolio is a true expression of their work, a combination of multimedia, urban architecture and design images and videos. A video backdrop of dim city lights fades in as their work is displayed, taking you into Tessa and Tara’s artistic world.

You’ll find an updated list of current projects and exhibitions so that visitors are always informed about the duo’s latest happenings. Additionally, an “About” section shares a bit about their story, creating a personal connection between the artist and potential clients.

t sakhi Best Portfolio Websites

16. Studio Bilge Nur Saltik

This London-based industrial designer has a unique, contemporary style that shines through on her portfolio website. An eye-catching slideshow of her latest work forms the top strip of Studio Bilge Nur Saltik’s site, which features vibrant, modern imagery. As viewers scroll down, they’ll see the artist’s sleek, colorful designs arranged in a grid layout that showcases his professional style.

A menu at the top of this art design portfolio features links to “About,” “News,” and “Contact” pages, as well as an online store, a free ecommerce website. Giving viewers the option to purchase pieces directly from his website makes the process easier for those who want to do so. The online shop includes quick-view images of each product, along with a full description and price list once you click through.

studio bilge Best Portfolio Websites

17. Rafael Varona

Berlin and Rotterdam-based painter, animator, and art director Rafael Varona showcases his astonishing range of motion design on his animation portfolio website. The artist specializes in intricate animated loops, which take center stage upon entering his site with an array of colorful and detailed clips. As you scroll down the homepage, more of Varona’s work is displayed in a grid-style layout, giving you a front-row seat to her creative world.

In addition to images of her work, there’s a menu link to the artist’s Instagram account in the top right, along with a small “About” section. This portfolio example has very little text, which highlights Varona’s great artistic talent.

The Best Portfolio Websites by Rafael Varona

Learn More: How to Create an Animated Portfolio

18. Christina Smolier

Christina Smolier’s online modeling portfolio shows us the power of incorporating video effects into a website. This personal web page uses neutral tones and soft images on the homepage to showcase Smolier’s stunning work.

However, visitors will notice a dark strip at the bottom of the page that breaks up this natural, angelic feel. A photo of Smolyar wearing a white and yellow shirt on a red couch that provides a contrast in color and style, overlaid with a contact form, is an effective way to grab the viewer’s attention.

Although this model portfolio example is only one page long, the use of both the top strip and the video in the middle of the page conveys Smolyar’s brand image and modeling style and allows you to feel a more personal connection with her.

The Best Portfolio Websites by Christina Smolya

Want to take your portfolio to the next level, or design a portfolio for an agency? Check out Wix Studio.

Tips for Creating the Best Portfolio Website

Creating the best portfolio website involves attention to detail and strategic planning. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:

Focus on quality over quantity: Showcase your best and most relevant work. It’s better to have a few high-quality projects than to include everything you’ve worked on. Make sure to choose projects that effectively showcase your skills and expertise. “The most important thing before building a website is good research. Know what you want to do and gather good inspiration that will contribute to your design,” according to Anna Santsov, Blog and Social Design Team Lead at Wix.

Introduce yourself: Personalize your portfolio by including a professional photo and a short introduction that showcases your personality. Smile in your photos and provide insight into your professional background and passions. Make a first impression that makes people want to get to know you.

In the words of Adi Houri, Product Manager at WOW for Wix, “There are over 2 billion websites out there, and we all visit many of them every day. With visual and textual content, you have the opportunity to make a statement and set your site apart. This is a place to add your brand personality. If you’re more traditional, there’s no need to go wild. Often, all you need to make your site memorable is unique copy or a great visual.”

Highlight Skills and Projects: Create sections to list your technical skills and expertise, along with descriptions of your projects and the technologies used. Include links to your live project demos to provide tangible proof of your capabilities.

Streamlined Navigation: Go for a single-page layout with all the essential details easily accessible. Use buttons or links to navigate to additional pages for more in-depth information, such as project descriptions or a dedicated “About Me” section. Make it easy for visitors to contact you by including links to your LinkedIn profile, email address, and resume in your portfolio.

Keep it simple: It’s easy to get distracted by flashy elements, but remember that simplicity often speaks volumes. A clean and simple design ensures that your work is the star of the show, making your accomplishments clear and accessible. By focusing on a simple layout, you enhance the viewer’s experience and make it easier to appreciate your skills and projects without unnecessary distractions. Make sure to do this.

Add a blog: George Nguyen, an editor at Wix, notes, “Creating topical blog posts allows you to create keyword-rich content that tells potential site visitors and search engines what your brand is about, which can be a significant advantage on portfolio websites, where there may not be much opportunity (in text) to express your skills or how your business is unique.” Aim to leave a lasting impression on your audience by presenting yourself as approachable and knowledgeable.

Best Portfolio Website FAQ

Is having a portfolio website worth it?

Yes, having a portfolio website is definitely worth it. It’s a great way to showcase your work, attract potential clients or employers, and establish yourself as a professional in your field. A well-designed portfolio website can help you stand out from the competition and make a positive impression on potential clients or employers.

What should you avoid in a portfolio?

When creating your portfolio website, there are a few things you should definitely avoid:

Using too much text: Your portfolio website should primarily focus on showcasing your work, so avoid using too much text. Keep your descriptions short and to the point.

Not including your best work: Your portfolio website should only include your best work. If you have any projects that you’re not proud of, don’t include them.

Lack of a clear call to action: What do you want visitors to do after viewing your portfolio? Make this clear by including a call to action like "Contact me" or "Learn more."

Not Making It Mobile-Friendly: With the increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets, it’s important to make sure your portfolio website is mobile-friendly.

Not Using High-Quality Images: The images on your portfolio website will make your work stand out, so make sure they are high-quality and visually appealing.

Should I use my real name on my portfolio website?

Yes, you should use your real name on your portfolio website. This is the most professional way to present yourself and will make it easier for potential clients or employers to find you.

Do employers look at a portfolio website?

Yes, employers do look at portfolio websites when considering job candidates. In fact, a recent survey found that 78% of employers use social media to screen job candidates. This means your portfolio website is one of the first things potential employers see, so make sure it makes a good impression.

Can I create a free online portfolio?

You can use a portfolio website builder like Wix. You can create a free online portfolio or choose from a paid plan. Either way, you’ll benefit from a variety of portfolio templates, robust website infrastructure, and web security.

Which portfolio platform is best for creating a portfolio website?

It all depends on what you need from it. Consider your design needs, easy-to-use template choices, and the platform’s reliability and security. Wix, for example, has a very user-friendly interface, extensive template library, and customization options.

What are some tips for creating the best portfolio for a graphic designer?

Be sure to showcase the various projects you’ve completed or were involved in, emphasizing your creativity and problem-solving skills. Keep the portfolio visually appealing, organized, and easy to navigate. Highlight key graphic design projects, provide context, and share your design process.

What are some tips for creating a great portfolio for web developers?

It’s important to include a variety of projects in your portfolio that demonstrate your skills and versatility as a developer. You can include how you’ve used your skills to solve business problems, your knowledge of coding languages, and your ability to problem solve.