Portfolios
A portfolio is your proof of work. It should demonstrate not just what you’ve made, but how you think. These resources offer inspiration and patterns for presenting your work effectively.
What Makes a Strong Portfolio?
Section titled “What Makes a Strong Portfolio?”| Element | Purpose | Common Mistakes |
|---|---|---|
| Case studies | Show process, not just outcomes | Too brief, no context |
| Clear navigation | Let visitors find relevant work | Buried or unclear categories |
| Contact info | Make hiring you easy | Hidden or missing entirely |
| Performance | Respect visitors’ time | Heavy images, slow loads |
| Personality | Stand out from templates | Generic, interchangeable |
Inspiration
Section titled “Inspiration”One Page Love
Section titled “One Page Love”One Page Portfolio Websites — Curated collection of single-page portfolio designs.
Why single-page?
- Forces ruthless prioritization
- Works well on mobile
- Creates clear narrative flow
- Eliminates navigation friction
Browse by:
- Industry (design, development, photography)
- Style (minimal, bold, experimental)
- Technology (React, plain HTML, Webflow)
Portfolio Structures
Section titled “Portfolio Structures”The Case Study Format
Section titled “The Case Study Format”- Overview — What is this project? (1-2 sentences)
- Problem — What challenge were you solving?
- Process — How did you approach it?
- Solution — What did you create?
- Results — What impact did it have?
- Learnings — What would you do differently?
The Gallery Format
Section titled “The Gallery Format”Best for:
- Visual work (illustration, photography)
- High volume of similar projects
- Work that speaks for itself
Tip: Even galleries benefit from hover states or click-through that reveal context.
Technical Considerations
Section titled “Technical Considerations”| Concern | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Images | WebP/AVIF, lazy loading, responsive srcset |
| Hosting | Vercel, Netlify, or GitHub Pages (free, fast) |
| Analytics | Plausible or Fathom (privacy-respecting) |
| Domain | Your name or a memorable brand |
| Updates | Build with a CMS or static site generator |