It’s tough being a designer nowadays. Just think about how many times you’ve applied to a job only to never hear back from them. Truth is, this is such a competitive market that it might seem downright impossible for a newbie designer (and even for a veteran) to build an online portfolio that stands out from the crowd.

It’s all about finding your own voice and vision. And of course, accurately displaying that in your online portfolio. A good design portfolio is enough to land you a few jobs. But a great one can make the difference between true professional success and just an occasional thing. So, what makes a great designer online portfolio? Let’s find out together!

All About That Personal Touch

We already mentioned that your online portfolio should reflect your own voice and vision. But how do you exactly do that? Well, first of all, you should work on a personal logo. This might sound cold but at the end of the day, you’re the product and the customer should have a clear idea of why they should choose you over your competition.

So, take your time and work on your personal brand. Create a logo, come up with a catchy name and even a memorable slogan. Then brand your portfolio with these – at the top of every page, as a watermark on your work or even as a whole page background. Don’t shy away from adding this personal touch. It will build a true sense of authenticity and help your customer better connect with you.

Leave Out the Questionable

Let’s be honest for a second here – not all designer work is meant to be shown off. We all have those projects that we weren’t really happy about. We’ve all lost that occasional feedback battle with a client too set in their own ways. Don’t sweat it. But don’t add that work to your portfolio either.

And since we’re on the topic of leaving stuff out – try to not overcrowd your portfolio with plenty of items from the same style. For example, if you’ve created 100 logos, you should stick with the best 10 or 20 ones. No one has the patience to scroll through an endless list of logos. Choose the best ones from different industries and display those.

Pick a Platform

Nowadays, you don’t have to work with a programmer to set up your online portfolio. Wix offers a strong selection of templates you can use or customize yourself. And the process is so easy that even a newbie will find it a piece of cake – you simply drag and drop your elements on your page. Not to mention the number of apps and widgets you can add to your online portfolio to make it more interactive and user-friendly.

No matter what platform you choose, you have to make sure it’s fully customizable. You wouldn’t want to deal with issues such as not being able to move a section or upload a relevant video, for example.

Mind the Homepage

When building an online portfolio, it’s easy to just focus on your projects – after all, those sell your services, right? Well, a homepage is undeniably the most important part of your online portfolio. It’s the very first thing clients see when they land on your website. This is where your own brand should shine (the elements that we’ve previously discussed).

So, don’t be afraid to show off your logo here and make the page as easy to navigate as possible. Include a good header image (or video), add a side menu and write a few words about yourself and your services. Just keep in mind that less is more so try not to clutter your visitors’ screens.

Get Some Feedback

Feedback is great. Sure, we might not always agree with client feedback, but this is not what we mean. When your online portfolio is done and ready, send it to some people you trust for some criticism and feedback. The more you get, the more loopholes you will find and fix. No matter how great you think your online portfolio looks, you always need a second and even a third opinion on it.

Who knows, maybe you will be presented with new ideas and perspectives to help you build the perfect portfolio. Always keep an open mind and try to put yourself in the shoes of your customer.

Show off Awards and Testimonials

If you’ve won awards, don’t keep them hidden. You could either create a separate section in your online portfolio for them or you can mention them with the project that won. In any case, you should definitely brag about them because they add value to your work.

That also goes for testimonials from clients. The best way to integrate these is to have a separate “Testimonials” section in the project page. When seeing other clients’ opinions about you, the future clients will be reassured and will have more motivation to work with you.

Make it Easy to Navigate

We cannot stress the importance of easy navigation enough. So, create categories, divide your work into segments, and add as many accessibility options as possible. It will be easier for your prospects to navigate between these segments and get straight to what interests them.

Don’t make your online portfolio a tedious experience to get through. We know that it’s tempting to just mention every little thing about your work. But you can also do that in an email, in a blog post or on social media. Just keep your online portfolio clean and simple.

Conclusion

A great online portfolio is a good step towards landing more clients, better paid projects or even that dream job you’ve been thinking about. It will help clients make a more informed choice and will help you stand out from the rising crowd of talented designers. Your online portfolio is the first impression you leave on a customer – and since first impressions can rarely be changed, make sure you truly leave your mark.