Written by Julia Gralki. Photo Courtesy of Envato Elements.
As artists, we all have something in common: we need an online portfolio to showcase our (design) skills, talent and creativity. A portfolio website helps clients or employers imagine what they can expect when they hire you. But how can you make your portfolio stand out?
Before you start designing your website, make sure to complete these three things:
- Step 1: Think about what goals you want to achieve with your portfolio website.
- Step 2: Pick your best work.
- Step 3: Tell a story.
In other words, decide what information your portfolio must include to speak to potential clients or employers. Then, wrap it into a story about yourself and your work.
Once you’ve got that lined up, let’s start with the actual design of the portfolio website. The following UX design trends will make your website glow up in no time!
Choose a simple and minimal design
Too many visual elements can be overwhelming. A clear and minimal design, on the other hand, improves your website’s navigation. Uncluttered pages make your work shine as they guide visitors to focus on the elements you want them to focus on. If your portfolio is rather cluttered, consider giving it a simpler design. In some cases, this can improve user experience, which also positively affects search engine optimization and your search engine rankings.
Add interactivity
Today’s websites are more than static pages. Everything is getting faster and more dynamic, and so are websites. Adding interactive elements to your portfolio gives it a unique design and makes it stand out. If you’re inexperienced in web design, start by experimenting with interactive elements such as color shifts or animated fonts.
Create a prominent “About Me” page
The first thing a visitor of your portfolio wants to see is your profile. They want to get to know you and your story. You can draw visitors in by prominently placing your “About Me” section at the start of your website. They might spend more time on your website, which is another factor in improving your website’s search engine visibility.
Add a headshot
To pep up your profile, you can add a large headshot. Upon opening your website, this helps your visitors connect with you and your character. It also signals your visitors that they are looking at a portfolio. Next to your headshot photo, you can place interesting information about yourself and your work.
Whitespace
When designing the portfolio layout, make sure to add a lot of whitespace between the elements. The current trend of minimalistic design goes hand in hand with a clear layout. Adding lots of whitespace to your portfolio can highlight particular works and improve readability.
