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As a website designer, the quest to craft a captivating showcase for your work can be both exciting and challenging. To achieve this, exploring web design portfolio examples from fellow professionals can prove invaluable. As we delve into this list of portfolio websites, we will shine a spotlight on the elements that make them truly effective. By carefully considering these characteristics, you'll be empowered to make a website that authentically represents your business, leaving a lasting and impactful impression on your audience.
12 web design portfolio examples
No matter how many client sites you may have worked on, sometimes creating a site for yourself can feel like the hardest job of all. Not sure where to get started? These web design portfolio examples will help get your creative juices flowing.
01. Olya Black
Olya Black’s web design portfolio excels in its simplicity. The minimalist menu is easy to read, and the clean gallery layout only shows two examples per row to help visitors focus. "Another nice touch: when you hover over an image, it magnifies, communicating to visitors that they can click to learn more. Doing so opens a lightbox that features a screen recording of the entire site.
02. Daydov Consulting
Daydov Consulting makes great use of buttons to let visitors filter through their many work samples by website platform, type of website or client industry. By incorporating these intuitive filtering options, Daydov Consulting empowers visitors to quickly access the specific projects or examples they are interested in. This thoughtful approach showcases Daydov Consulting’s user-centric design and elevates the overall usability of their portfolio.
03. AST & Partners
The black background of the AST & Partners portfolio adds drama and allows the site screenshots to shine. Another highlight is the scrolling effect, which fills the laptop and phone with work sample images, as text floats into view on the right. This unconventional design choice shows clients who want a unique website that AST & Partners will deliver.
04. Zhoosh Creative
Zhoosh Creative masters an important element of portfolio websites: white space. By using white space (or in this case, beige space), Zhoosh Creative draws attention to portfolio elements, like services, team members and testimonials.
Another noteworthy aspect is their adept use of animation. The letters in the main header function as windows to a mesmerizing video of moving water, enticing viewers to linger longer than expected. Beneath it, a 3D visual of a laptop reveals a screen recording of their latest project.
05. Vision Marketing
Animation is the name of the game for Vision Marketing’s website design portfolio, which shows a video of the team in action above the fold. Thanks to translucent overlay and simple text, this background video is effective rather than distracting.
06. Hausman Graphics
This web designer portfolio example from Hausman Graphics demonstrates how to create an effective call-to-action button. The “Start a Project” button at the top of the page stands out thanks to the contrast of its white face against the black background. The arrow emphasizes that this button will help potential clients move their project along.
07. Design It Up
Design It Up uses Wix Chat to encourage conversions and capture contact info from potential clients. The blue color scheme is another smart choice, as it helps the buttons and headers pop.
08. Digital Edge
Digital Edge wows with this website design portfolio example thanks to the video of clouds rolling in on a mountainscape, which emphasizes the headline’s reference to a “digital landscape.” The italicized font matches the motion of the clouds for further parallelism.
09. DA Creative
DA Creative makes each entry to their web design portfolio stand out by displaying them in non-uniform tiles. One example takes up a third of the width of the page, while the other takes up the remaining two thirds of the width. This unconventional layout allows DA Creative to show off the breadth of their portfolio while highlighting their best work.
10. Seven Circle Media
Instead of making you scroll to see work samples, Seven Circle Media’s portfolio displays many examples above the fold. This portfolio design strategy works well because it gets right to the point and therefore saves potential clients time.
11. Simple Sweet Sites
True to its name, Simple Sweet Sites takes a no-nonsense approach to their portfolio design. Instead of previewing these projects with images, the web designer lists all client names in buttons that link to live client websites. When you hover over the buttons, they turn a blue-green color that contrasts against the gray, clearly indicating their clickability. If you’ve also worked with dozens of clients and are pressed for time, this layout could be an efficient solution for showing off your work.
12. Ouma Group
Our final web design portfolio example displays a playful and interactive way to show off work. Below the fold, you’ll find work samples displayed on various formats: in a laptop, on a tablet and on a phone. This technique shows that Ouma Group designs websites to look great on any device.
What to include on your web design portfolio
Here are some of the things you should include on your web design portfolio website:
Homepage: The homepage is the first thing potential clients will see, so it's important to make a good impression. The homepage should include a brief introduction about you and your work, as well as a selection of your best projects.
About page: The about page should give potential clients a more detailed overview of your skills, experience and personality. This is a good place to share your story and what motivates you as a web designer.
Portfolio: The portfolio is the heart of your website, so it's important to make sure it's well-curated and visually appealing. Your online portfolio should include a selection of your best work, with clear and concise descriptions of each project.
Testimonials: Testimonials from past clients can be a great way to build trust and credibility with potential clients. Be sure to include testimonials from clients who have been happy with your work.
Contact page: The contact page should include your contact information, such as your email address, phone number and social media profiles. This makes it easy for potential clients to get in touch with you.
In addition to these essential elements, you may also want to consider including the following on your web design portfolio website:
Blog: Starting a blog is a great way to share your thoughts and ideas about web design, as well as to showcase new projects you're working on.
Case studies: Case studies can be a great way to show potential clients how your work has helped other businesses achieve their goals.
Skills: List your skills and experience so potential clients can see what you're capable of.
Awards and recognition: If you've won any awards or been recognized for your work, be sure to mention them on your website.
Social media links: Include links to your social media profiles so potential clients can connect with you and see more of your work.
When creating your web design portfolio website, it's important to keep your target audience in mind. What are they looking for in a web designer? What kind of work are they interested in? Tailor your website to their needs and interests to make sure you're reaching the right people.
How to make a great web design portfolio
A great web design portfolio is one that showcases your skills, experience and creativity in a way that is visually appealing and easy to navigate. Here are some tips for creating a great web design portfolio:
Select your best work. When selecting projects to include in your portfolio, choose projects that are the most representative of your skills and experience. Make sure the projects are well-designed and visually appealing.
Write clear and concise descriptions. For each project, be sure to write a clear and concise description that highlights your role in the project and the results you achieved.
Use high-quality images and videos. Images and videos can be a great way to showcase your work and make your portfolio more visually appealing. Be sure to use high-quality images and videos that are relevant to your projects.
Make it mobile-friendly. More and more people are viewing websites on mobile devices, so it's important to make sure your portfolio is mobile-friendly. This means ensuring that the text and images are easy to read on smaller screens.
Use high-quality images and videos. Images and videos can be a great way to showcase your work and make your portfolio more visually appealing. Be sure to use great images and videos that are relevant to your projects.
Get feedback. Once you've created your portfolio, ask friends, family and colleagues for feedback. This will help you identify any areas that need improvement.
Web design portfolios FAQ
How do I create a web designer portfolio?
While making a portfolio from scratch may seem like a good way to showcase your capabilities, it can actually take time away from working on client projects. Consider starting with a portfolio template, then customizing it to fit your brand. You’ll save a ton of time, and the best templates will help to showcase your work in a professional, yet creative way.
Note: If you use Wix, you can adjust the template’s code with Velo to really make it your own or use Wix Studio for a more advanced web creation process.