As a graphic designer, your portfolio acts as a visual CV that showcases your skills, versatility and growth. Whether you’re a freelance designer looking to attract clients or a professional looking to showcase their designs, a curated graphic design portfolio website is an important asset.
This guide will walk you through the steps for designing a graphic portfolio and provide valuable tips to make your site stand out. We’ll also explore some graphic design portfolio examples that you can use for inspiration.
How to Make a Good Portfolio for Graphic Design
Let’s explore the steps to create a graphic design portfolio website:
1. Get a Website Builder
A website builder provides a straightforward approach to creating an online portfolio. It can help designers create professional graphic design portfolio websites without any site development or coding experience.
Hostinger Website Builder offers an all-purpose solution that can help graphic designers easily create, host, and maintain their entire portfolio online.
Let us know about some of its key features:
- User-friendly interface – the platform is crafted for users of all skill levels. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface can help you make a graphic design portfolio with no experience.
- Tailored portfolio templates – Hostinger offers specialized templates designed specifically for portfolio websites, ensuring your work is displayed prominently and professionally.
- AI Website Builder – designers can generate their own graphic design portfolio, complete with copy and placeholder content, using our AI Website Builder.
- AI Writer – this AI-powered tool helps designers generate descriptive and relevant text for their personal website, ensuring that the portfolio communicates effectively with potential clients.
- AI Logo Maker – a designer or creative agency can use this tool to give their website a professional look by generating a logo for their personal brand.
- Customizable designs – beyond its rich template library, Hostinger Website Builder offers extensive customization options. This flexibility ensures that every portfolio reflects the designer’s distinct style and brand.
- Comprehensive website elements – add a contact form, booking function, and shopping cart for your graphic design prints with our built-in features.
- Secure hosting – Hostinger provides robust and secure hosting solutions with free SSL certificates, ensuring that your portfolio runs smoothly and remains protected from potential threats.
- Free domain – our builder plans also come with a free domain name if you subscribe for 12 months or more.
2. Select a Template
Once you’ve purchased the Hostinger Website Builder plan and completed the setup instructions, you can head over to either the AI Website Builder or the Template Library.
Our platform offers a diverse range of portfolio templates, each catering to different design tastes and layout preferences. When considering these options, consider your work and personal design style.
It’s essential to choose a template that matches the type of graphic design work you specialize in. The best graphic design portfolios use web design templates that complement the design style rather than overpower the work.
Here are some exceptional graphic design portfolio templates from the Hostinger website builder library:
Felicity Wynne
This template, with its emphasis on visuals and a minimalist layout, is ideal for a creative director who wants their work to be the highlight of the portfolio. The clean portfolio design ensures your personal projects stand out to prospective clients.
Lucca Mayers
The Lucca template offers a modern design that lets you showcase an attractive personal project on the landing page. It provides a dedicated space for project details, helping to give designers insight into their creative process. The layout also uses a clear call-to-action button that invites visitors to learn more.
Adelina Palmer
Facilitating a more dynamic portfolio presentation for designers, this template offers vibrant color options and diverse layout options more suitable for diverse graphic design portfolios. As visitors scroll, website elements change in place, making the browsing experience more engaging.
3. Customize the Design
Since our templates are built with adaptability in mind, they can be extensively customized to reflect your personal branding, preferences, and unique graphic design portfolio ideas.
You can easily customize colors, buttons, text, and animations by clicking the website style icon in the left-hand menu. These changes will apply to the entire site.
To change the layout, simply drag and drop elements as you like. To make sure the new layout also looks good on different screen sizes, click the smartphone and tablet icons at the top of the interface.
You can use the preview functionality to see how the customization will look when your website goes live.
If you want to change the template, you can go back to the Library and choose a different template.
4. Add Your Projects and Images
Uploading and showcasing graphic design projects is important for an attractive online portfolio. Make sure you use high-quality images, as the clarity and resolution of your visuals can directly impact viewers’ perception of your design skills.
To add images, open the Elements tab by clicking the plus sign in the left-hand menu bar. Inside the tab, locate the image element and drag and drop it where you want on the page.
Elementor will add a default stock image to your page for reference. Once you’ve adjusted and resized the element to your liking, select the element and click Change Image. You can then upload the image you want to display through the media library.
5. Write Compelling Descriptions
Writing a clear and engaging project description is one of the most important graphic design portfolio best practices. These short stories help the audience understand your work better.
Highlight key points in each description, including the client, project objectives, and the methods and tools employed to create the final product. We recommend keeping copy simple and concise to attract a wide range of potential customers.
To add description next to your project images, drag and drop the text element from the Elements tab and start typing.
If you feel the text is too long for mobile screens, write two descriptions for the same image using different text elements. Make one visible for mobile screens and the other for desktop.
The text element also gives you access to our AI Writer, which is an excellent tool for quick content creation or whenever you’re experiencing writer’s block. Simply describe what you want to say in text and the AI will generate it automatically.
6. Organize Your Portfolio Sections
Organize your projects into intuitive categories or sections like branding, web design or images. Think of your portfolio as a gallery – the artwork is essential, but so is the way it is presented. Alternatively, grouping your portfolio page layout by client can also be effective.
This approach not only makes your portfolio structured but also helps potential clients navigate your work intuitively, which significantly enhances the user experience.
Standout Graphic Design Portfolio Examples
Now, let’s go through some great graphic design portfolio examples built using Hostinger Website Builder.
This professional portfolio example features a modern design dominated by shades of blue. It reflects the contemporary aesthetic tastes of the designer.
The highlighted projects showcase a mix of both print and digital work, underscoring the designer’s versatility in the field.
This example of a graphic design portfolio is easy to navigate with a sticky menu, clearly marked sections, and call-to-action buttons that guide users through the designer’s extensive portfolio.
A notable feature is the services section, which caters to those seeking information for brands or entrepreneurial projects. Meanwhile, the Contact Me section is seamlessly integrated at the bottom, which includes the designer’s social media accounts.
2. Juanma
This graphic designer presents his portfolio with a modern look highlighted by bright color blocks and unique typography. The landing page uses a main banner that combines stylish fonts and showcases the artist’s graphic design skills through past personal projects.
The statement “Convierto la nada en arte,” which translates to “I don’t convert anything into art,” is prominently displayed at the bottom of the page. It’s an excellent way to communicate the designer’s vision and art direction.
Easy-to-access tabs like Brand Image, Tags and About Me ensure smooth navigation. Overall, the site does a great job of reflecting the designer’s talent in transforming simple ideas into attractive designs.
This website is a good minimalist graphic design portfolio example, with a simple logo paired with the designer’s name and profession.
Below that, we see a variety of design projects that highlight the designer’s expertise in website design, colorful illustration, and other visual materials.
The layout is clean, making it easy for viewers to focus on the work displayed. Additionally, the dropdown menu is set to Projects by default to ensure that the target audience can immediately see the designer’s portfolio.
This graphic designer website effectively showcases the versatility and expertise of the art director. It emphasizes four main services – creating a logo design, designing digital content, developing printed materials and producing custom images.
Website design Professional project uses a harmonious color palette to complement the images. This combination creates an engaging user experience.
Additionally, the site includes a section that clearly outlines the designer’s project methodology, detailing a three-phase approach to ensuring client satisfaction.
Tips to Create an Outstanding Graphic Designer Portfolio Site
In this section, we’ll look at key graphic design portfolio tips that can help you build a stunning online design portfolio:
Choose the Right Domain Name
Your domain name is a reflection of your personal or brand identity. As such, a custom domain name is one of the most crucial elements of building an effective graphic design portfolio website.
It’s best to avoid names that are convoluted or exceedingly long, as they can be hard for potential clients or employers to remember. Instead, we recommend using your own name or business name as the domain. You can also include a keyword for relevance, like yournamedesign.com.
Domain Name Checker
Instantly check domain name availability.
Design Consistency and Aesthetics
Pay attention to aesthetics and consistency when designing your portfolio website. It plays a vital role in conveying your graphic design abilities.
Ensure creative consistency in the design elements you use, whether the color palette, typography, or layout structure. A harmonious design makes the site aesthetically pleasing and leaves a lasting impression on your visitors.
Prioritize Navigation and User Experience
Do not overlook the importance of visitor experience while crafting your graphic design portfolio. A clear, intuitive interface with an easy-to-access menu allows visitors to effortlessly find what they’re looking for.
To take your user-friendly portfolio-building efforts a step further, consider integrating supplemental navigation tools such as search bars during the design process. Additionally, keep the contact page simple to facilitate ease of communication.
Include Contact Information
Your portfolio website acts as an online business card. As such, it is important that you craft an effective contact page while creating a visual portfolio as a designer.
Present clients with various options to reach out to you. A good practice is to list your business email and feature your social media pages.
If you prefer not to publicly list your email, consider including a contact form on the website for visitors to leave their contact information. This practice is also a great way to generate leads for people to opt in to marketing emails and newsletters.
Ensure that your contact section is visible and easily accessible during online portfolio development, so visitors can find it regardless of what page they are on.
Regularly Update the Portfolio
Since a personal portfolio website is accessible to potential clients, it is crucial that you keep it up-to-date with the most recent information.
Add your latest personal projects, showcasing your work as a designer who is evolving in terms of skills and design styles. At the same time, curate your portfolio by removing older work from past employers that may underrepresent your current level of expertise.
Conclusion
Having a portfolio website is essential as it provides a dedicated space for potential clients or employers to explore and understand your work and expertise. Without this online platform, you risk missing out on valuable opportunities.
With the right steps, the proper tools, and a well-thought-out approach, it is possible to create an excellent graphic design website. This enables you to showcase your work in a way that highlights your skills and attitude.
Be sure to choose a solution that suits your needs, like Hostinger Website Builder. Its editing tools remove design challenges, simplifying the process of designing a great portfolio site.
By creating a graphic design website, you are setting the stage for an online identity that attracts attention and creates pathways for professional growth.
How to Make a Graphic Design Portfolio FAQ
Let’s review some frequently asked questions about creating a graphic designer portfolio.
How Do I Select Projects for My Portfolio?
Choose projects that best showcase your skills and versatility. Include work that you’re proud of and that received positive feedback. Diversity in your selections will appeal to a broader audience.
What Should I Include in Each Portfolio Project Description?
Project descriptions should include a brief overview of the project assignment, goals, design approach, and tools used. It should also highlight the solutions you provided that helped meet the client’s objectives.
How Many Projects Should I Include in My Portfolio?
There is no rule for the number of projects you should include while creating a graphic design portfolio, as it depends on your experience and objectives. Work on maximizing your graphic design showcase without overwhelming potential clients with too much content.
If you’re just getting started as a freelance graphic designer, aim for quality over quantity. Having fewer curated pieces that highlight your expertise can make a stronger impact than including old work that no longer reflects your skills.
What Not to Include in a Graphic Design Portfolio?
Don’t overcrowd your graphic design portfolio with irrelevant or dated work, as this may harm visitors’ perceptions of your skills. We also recommend avoiding adding too many unnecessary design elements like animations or complex transition overlays, as they can distract from your work.
