As the Chief Designer of Behance, few people are better at identifying a great online portfolio than Matias Corea. While judging contests, looking for new talent, and conducting design research for the Behance Network, he has reviewed thousands of creative portfolios on the web.
1. Take a step back, and curate your best work.
Take the time to look at all of your work and carefully choose the right pieces for your portfolio. “One piece of advice I got from my mentor was to always showcase the type of work you want to be doing in the future,” says Matias. “Display only the projects that you are really proud of, that look the best, and that use the best materials.”Choose at least five projects so you can demonstrate the breadth of your work, but be selective. Remember, it’s always better to have a portfolio of a few projects that are stunning than dozens of projects where some of them are just OK. The quality of your portfolio is only as good as your weakest project.
2. Use eye-catching images, and share the backstory.
Citroën DS Line Book by Laurent Nivalle
Heydays on the Behance Network
Andy Gugel, Art Director on the Behance Network
3. Keep the website design simple, and let the work take centerstage.
When designing a portfolio, you want a website that is straightforward. You want your content to be the focal point, rather than a distracting design.
“Your website is a vehicle for people to find your work,” says Matias. “You don’t want the site to be overly flashy or unconventional — that will make the content more difficult to access. It’s not that I prefer minimalistic designs — it’s a question of creating the visual environment you need to showcase your work most effectively. Simplicity in the interface and visual design of your website will push your work to the surface, where it should be.”
This means simple navigation and the fewest amount of website sections necessary. “Have a gallery of work and a contact page? That’s a great portfolio website.”
bradgeiger.com, built on ProSite
iancrombie.net built on ProSite
4. Craft a bio that expresses your unique process and/or point of view.
- Share a Point of View. As a creative, you have your own unique perspective on your industry and the creative world. Frame your bio with your own creative focus or mission statement.
- Create an origin story. Share the backstory of how you developed your point of view. Did you have an experience as a kid or early in your career that lead you to pursue a passion or shaped your creative direction?
- Ground your experience using external details. Anchor your bio with details that demonstrate your connections through the creative world. Think notable clients, press, or publications.
- Be approachable. Round your story out with some personal trivia. Have any hobbies or interests you obsess about? Revealing some guilty pleasures keeps your bio approachable and relatable.
5. Add distinctive elements (e.g. awards, your blog), and broadcast your work.
- Mention awards. If you have mentions in press or awards, do include them.
- Invite contact. If you’re looking for freelance or contract work, consider using a contact form on your portfolio. Forms from Wufoo or JotForm allow you to customize fields so you can ask for all the information you need up front, like budget and timeline expectations.
- Make sharing easy. Including buttons to share your work on social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Google+) can help bring more exposure and an audience to your site. Promote your work on social media whenever you add new projects to draw attention to fresh work as well as your overall portfolio.
- Include your blog. If you do have a blog that you update frequently that also represents where you are professionally or adds value to who you are, include it. Matias advises, “A blog needs to add something to your site – otherwise forget about it. No clutter.”