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“Good design is innovative,” stated the highly influential industrial designer Dieter Rams in his list of ten principles. Yet breaking new ground with never-before-seen website design is becoming increasingly challenging. In this competitive field, how can you make your portfolio website design stand out from the crowd?
On top of pinpointing what distinguishes you from other creatives and how you can express this in your design, a great place to start is to search for inspiration by looking at the works of others. Before creating your own portfolio website (see best portfolio website builders), check out this selection of 18 of the best portfolio websites—all made with the website builder Wix:
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Best portfolio website examples
Graphic designer and visual communicator Christina Vanessa clearly has an eye for aesthetics. The first page we reach on this graphic design portfolio example is a simple expression of her creative work and personality. There’s a fullscreen looped video showcasing her best pieces, with her name and disciplines written above.
Following this promising introduction, Christina’s ‘Explore’ page is just as impressive, incorporating multiple design features. From the works themselves to the layered blocks that make up the page’s layout, the website’s color scheme is cohesive and neutral. The soft shades of cream, beige and gray craft a serene atmosphere, further reinforced by the smooth animations.
02. Sophie Brittain
Specializing in branding and UI/UX design, Sophie Brittain’s UX portfolio website example certainly demonstrates her skills in both areas. She’s crafted a well-defined visual language when planning how to create a website as her career portfolio, made up of three colors, geometric shapes, vector line icons and plenty of white space.
In addition, subtle touches like a smiley face in place of the ‘O’ in her name exude personality and wit. Also take note of the comic microcopy, particularly at the bottom of her site, offering a fresh take on the usual social bar icons. Last but not least, Sophie has brought everything together by incorporating a favicon that echoes the striking visual on her homepage.
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 photographed in this type of website. The organized grid layout and screen-to-screen visuals put the emphasis on the works themselves.
A discreet hover effect on each image reveals the name of the project, while keeping text to a minimum. To make a portfolio in a similar style, head over to this template. You can add your own works and adjust the design to express your style. You'll also find plenty best portfolio layouts and portfolio website templates as examples on which you can base your design.
04. Wendy Ju
The animation that greets us upon entering Wendy Ju’s graphic design portfolio sets the tone for the rest of her site. It smoothly welcomes us into her world, depicting a book or fan opening up, along with the word “hello” in both English and Mandarin. The animation is subtle and precise, matching her minimalistic aesthetic.
Further down the homepage, Wendy incorporates a fun cursor interaction using Velo by Wix. Not only is this interactivity somewhat addictive as part of the user experience, it also adds a drop of color to the overall neutral color palette.
05. Chipie Designs
If there's one thing designer Claudia del Castillo did well in designing the portfolio for her firm, Chipie Designs (and we would argue there are plenty of things), it's demonstrate her attention to detail. By infusing the firm's signature cyan-green across the site, down to the interactive hover effects, she crafts a cohesive visual narrative that both delights and informs. The structure of the portfolio itself is user-centric; each work sample serves as a portal to a more detailed case study, offering depth and insight into Chipie Designs' contributions and project outcomes.
Moreover, the use of dropdown menus is a strategic choice for seamless site navigation, allowing visitors to effortlessly delve into the portfolio or select a specific client's case study. This intuitive design choice underscores the firm's dedication to a superior user experience, showcasing how functional elements can align perfectly with aesthetic presentation.
06. Studio Bagaz’
Graphic design brand Studio Bagaz’ is all about crisp aesthetics when it comes to their professional portfolio website. This sophisticated simplicity also applies to their website navigation, thanks to the organized structure of their site. Visitors can swiftly move between pages using the fixed website menu on the side, or by clicking on the images of the works themselves.
The menu opens up as a lightbox that slides onto the screen, covering half of it. Not only does this fill the screen with new compositions and color combinations, but it also lets visitors remain on the page they were browsing while simultaneously navigating around the site making for great user experience design.
07. David Milan
Designer, art director and hand lettering artist David Milan places his art center stage. By including only the most crucial elements on the header and opting for a simple monochrome palette, David draws visitors’ eyes directly to his colorful designs.
His gallery of works spans the width of the screen, making up the majority of the website. David has used the Wix Pro Gallery to form a feed-like website layout that visitors are invited to scroll down for great usability. This straightforward structure allows for more and more images to be uploaded, making for a design portfolio that is easy to update as his body of work expands.
Learn more: Writing portfolio examples
08. Ryan Haskins
Brand designer and creative director Ryan Haskins’ portfolio website is full of surprises, starting from the expressive typography on his homepage. Blending more than three typefaces on one interface is generally seen as a big design no-no. But Ryan has taken font pairings to the extreme - and has no doubt made this visual hierarchy work.
This adventurous, rule-breaking approach makes a strong declaration straight away, which is accentuated by the bold written content stating that Ryan is ‘world famous’ and ‘very expensive’. Further down, we’re introduced to Ryan’s works, which are equally 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 the recognition he's received from a variety of publications, acting almost as a resume portfolio would.
09. By Experience
An energizing cobalt blue fills the screen on design agency By Experience’s homepage. Adding to this dynamic sensation is the fast-paced animated text on the top fold of their site. The tone of voice is self-assured and to-the-point, inviting visitors to reach out and hire their expert services.
As opposed to the other portfolio website examples in this selection, By Experience shares their work alongside testimonials by satisfied customers. This demonstrates 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-hand corner that leads to an online form for getting in touch. Using your professional portfolio as a personal marketing portfolio is never a bad idea.
Crafting a photography portfolio is much like curating an art exhibition; it's an intimate reflection of the artist's eye, requiring thoughtful presentation to truly resonate with the viewer. Aling Wen's website perfectly exemplifies this, drawing you in with a dreamy, fullscreen portrait that spills over the edges, inviting you into the photo's idyllic setting.
Aling has separated her portfolio into sections so that her clients can view samples that are relevant to their purposes. The website's design—featuring a graceful font, a sprightly logo, and a subtle color palette—wonderfully 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.
11. Ana Leovy
Artist and illustrator Ana Leovy proves that an illustration portfolio doesn’t necessarily need images to succeed. In fact, the homepage of her portfolio website contains no images whatsoever, but rather a burnt orange background, her logo and a few introductory sentences that act as an alternative navigation menu.
With no imagery at all, Ana still manages to form a highly visual homepage, thanks to her attention to detail, typography, digital art and color. To showcase her works and sell art online through her store, Ana implements a simple light grey background that gives her vivid illustrations the platform they deserve. This also really helps establish her unique personal branding style.
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 works, which have a more organic, textured and handmade feel. The simple, distraction-free web design lets her art stand out.
If you’re wondering how to make a portfolio and in search of some good inspiration, Reut’s website is a great example to follow. Breaking away from the grid is a new project that she has chosen to highlight at the top of her homepage. By putting the spotlight on this particular piece, potential clients or collaborators can instantly understand which areas she is currently exploring. Tailoring your portfolio to the type of work you want in the future as a freelancer is a key graphic design portfolio tip.
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13. Lena Steinkühler
Lena Steinkühler, a freelance graphic designer focusing on digital film and VFX art, creates a striking first impression by placing her most eye-catching pieces at the top of her site (see digital portfolio examples for even more examples). A curated selection of vibrant, somewhat surreal 3D visuals fill the screen in a slideshow format, piquing our curiosity.
Scrolling down Lena’s portfolio website, plenty more visual delights await. Her works are displayed in a fullscreen grid, with a clean white border to separate between images. The use of an uneven grid, with some images larger than others, adds a sense of hierarchy and brings our focus to certain pieces more than others.
14. Mathias Holmberg
This architecture portfolio example offers a simple yet powerful representation of Mathias Holmberg’s work. Vertical and horizontal images are pieced together in a grid with white space between each to display the range of his capabilities. The color palette used on both the website design and the images encompasses soft neutral tones, offering an inviting, approachable online space.
Unlike other portfolio examples, this site contains very minimal links or navigation and almost no menu. The only other link you’ll find leads to an Info page with contact details and a link to the architect’s Instagram. Likewise, there is very limited written content, allowing Mathias’ talent to shine through in images alone.
15. T Sakhi
Sisters Tessa and Tara Sakhi design spaces inspired by the beauty of the human experience. Their interior design portfolio is a true expression of their work, combining multimedia, images and videos of urban architecture and design. A video background of blurred city lights disappears as their work is faded into view, sweeping you into Tessa and Tara’s artistic world.
You’ll find an updated list of current projects and exhibits so visitors are always informed of the duo’s latest happenings. Additionally, an About section shares a bit about their story, creating a personal connection between the artists and potential customers.
This London-based industrial designer has a unique, contemporary style that shines through in her portfolio website. A striking slideshow of her latest work makes up the top strip of her site, containing vibrant, modern images. As visitors continue to scroll, they’ll see sleek, colorful pictures of the artist’s designs pieced together into a grid format with corresponding tones that show off her professional style.
A menu at the top of this industrial design portfolio contains links to About, News and Contact pages, as well as to an online store, which is all part of a free eCommerce website. Allowing visitors the opportunity to purchase pieces directly from her website simplifies the process for those who want to do so. The online shop contains quick-view images of each product, with a full description and price listing once you click through.
17. Rafael Varona
Berlin and Rotterdam-based illustrator, animator and art director Rafael Varona, showcases his astonishing range of motion design on his animation portfolio website. The artist specializes in complex animated loops, which takes center stage upon entering his site with an array of colorful and detailed clips. As you scroll through the homepage, more of Varona’s work is featured in a grid-type format, giving you a front row seat to his creative world.
In addition to images of his work, a menu link to the artist’s Instagram account is in the upper right hand corner along with a short About section. This portfolio example has very little text, highlighting Varona’s exquisite artistic talent.
Learn more: How to create an animation portfolio
18. Kristina Smolyar
Kristina Smolyar’s online modeling portfolio shows us the power of incorporating video effects into a website. This personal web page uses neutral tones and soft imagery on the homepage to showcase Smolyar’s stunning work. However, visitor’s will notice a bold strip at the bottom of the page that breaks this natural, angelic vibe. A picture of Smolyar wearing a white and yellow shirt on a red couch that’s overlaid with a contact form provides contrast in color and style, an effective way to grab visitors’ attention.
Despite the fact that this model portfolio example is only one page, the use of video in both the top strip and the middle of the page is used to convey Smolyar’s brand image and modeling style, and allows you to feel a more personal connection to her.
Learn more: How to make a fashion portfolio
Looking to take your portfolio to the next level, or designing portfolios for agencies? Check out Wix Studio.
Tips to create the best portfolio website
Creating the best portfolio website involves attention to detail and strategic planning. Here are some tips to help you achieve that:
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 ever worked on. Make sure to choose projects that demonstrate your skills and expertise effectively. "The most important thing before building a website is good research. Know what you want to do and collect good inspirations that will contribute to your design," according to Anna Suntsov, Blog and Social Design Team Lead at Wix.com.
Introduce yourself: Personalize your portfolio by including a professional photo and a brief introduction that showcases your personality. Smile in your photo and provide insights into your professional background and passions. Leave a first impression that makes people want to get to know you. In the words of Adi Huri, Product Manager at WOW for Wix.com, “There are over 2 billions websites out there and we all visit many of them daily. With visual and textual content you have the opportunity to make a statement and have your site stand out. This is the place to add your brand personality. If you are more traditional, no need to go wild. Often, unique copy or a cool visual is all you need for your site to be memorable.”
Highlight skills and projects: Create sections to list your technical skills and expertise, along with detailed descriptions of your projects and the technologies used. Include links to your live project demos to provide tangible evidence of your abilities.
Streamlined navigation: Go for a single-page layout with all essential details readily accessible. Use buttons or links to navigate to additional pages for more in-depth information, such as project details or a dedicated About Me section. Make it easy for visitors to contact you by including your LinkedIn profile, email address and resume links prominently on your portfolio.
Keep it simple: It's easy to get distracted by flashy elements, but remember that simplicity often speaks volumes. A clean and straightforward 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 ensure that your skills and projects are easily appreciated without unnecessary distractions.
Add a blog: As George Nguyen, an Editor at Wix points out, "Creating topical blog posts enables you to create keyword-rich content that tells potential site visitors and search engines what your brand is all about, which can be a crucial advantage for portfolio websites where you may not have as many opportunities to convey (in text) your expertise or how your business is unique." Aim to leave a lasting impression on visitors by presenting yourself as approachable and knowledgeable.
Best portfolio websites 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.