A strong graphic design portfolio shows 8–12 standout projects with short case notes on a fast site and an easy contact path.
Your work deserves a home that lands meetings and offers. The page you’re about to publish should prove your taste, your process, and your reliability in one quick scroll. The plan below gives you a clear path—from picking the right pieces to writing case notes, laying out pages, and sending it live. Keep it tight, visual, and honest. Let your best work do the talking.
What Hiring Managers Want To See
Reviewers skim. They scan your grid, open one project, and decide if they want to know more. Give them a clean set of projects, clear labels, and fast loading pages. Aim for range without bloat. Digital, print, identity, motion—show breadth if it serves your goals, yet keep the set focused around the work you want next.
Portfolio Planning: Pieces, Proof, And Goals
Start with intent. Pick work that signals where you’re headed. Place your strongest item first, a sharp contrast piece in the middle, and end on a closer. Each project should earn space by adding a new skill, format, or outcome. Use the table below to map what to include and why.
| Piece Type | Proof To Include | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Identity | Logo stages, grid, color specs, usage shots | Show systems thinking and craft |
| Packaging | Die line, shelf mockups, print notes | Signal print savvy and CMYK control |
| Web Or App UI | Wireframes, UI states, component library | Show structure and interaction sense |
| Marketing Campaign | Concept board, cross-channel adapts, metrics | Prove idea strength across formats |
| Editorial/Layout | Grid logic, type scales, spreads | Show typography and rhythm |
| Motion/Promo | Storyboard, short clip, style frames | Prove timing and narrative sense |
| Illustration | Sketches, vector build, final use | Show voice and technique |
| Case For Process | Brief, constraints, next steps | Signal maturity and handoff skills |
Building A Graphic Design Portfolio—Step-By-Step
1) Curate To 8–12 Projects
Quality wins. Pick pieces that align with jobs you want and clients you target. If a project needs an apology, cut it. If it repeats a skill already shown, cut it. Keep a private archive for the rest.
2) Write Short Case Notes
For each project, add a brief that sets the scene. One line on the goal, one on your role, one on the result. Then a tight caption under images to point out decisions: type choice, grid, color logic, or production detail. Keep it human and plain. Plain beats hype.
3) Lead With The Outcome
Top of each project page: the hero image that shows the final thing in context. Then show two or three key moments from the build—sketch, wire, iteration. End with the handoff or deliverable shot so reviewers see you can ship.
4) Keep File Weights Light
Page speed shapes bounce rates. Export images to a sensible size, compress assets, and keep video short. If you post to a gallery platform, follow its image guidance so your work renders clean and fast. See the Behance image formatting guide for size limits and best practices (image formatting guide).
5) Add Clear Contact Paths
Place a contact link in the header and footer. Add one call-to-action at the end of each project: “Book a call,” “Email for rates,” or “Request a PDF.” Use one route per page to keep decisions simple.
Structure Your Home Page
Your landing page should act as a table of contents. Grid of projects, titles under thumbnails, and tags like “identity,” “web,” “campaign.” Keep intro text to two lines. Save your story for the About page where you can add a photo, a short background, and client names.
Thumbnail Rules That Earn Clicks
- Crop tight on the strongest detail.
- Use consistent aspect ratio across the grid.
- Avoid busy collages; one crisp image wins.
Case Page Flow That Works
Give each project a simple path: hero, brief, process, result. Keep headings short and visual spacing generous. Use image captions to carry the story so readers never feel stuck in blocks of text. On gallery platforms, a project is a self-contained story. The Behance intro guide explains how projects, titles, and fields work on that platform (intro to projects).
Proof Of Process (Without Oversharing)
Process shots prove you can think, not just decorate. Pick three points in the build where a decision changed the work: a sketch that shaped the idea, a type test that set the tone, or a grid that fixed flow. Keep client data safe. Blur or mask names if needed. If the project is under NDA, share a redacted mock or a skills-based personal brief instead.
Show Range With Intention
Range shows you can adapt. Structure your set so a viewer gets the idea in seconds: one identity system, one product page or app flow, one long-form layout, and one campaign. If motion is a strength, add a short reel or a quick clip inside a case page.
Metrics, Outcomes, And Testimonials
When you can share numbers, do it. Uplift in signups, print run size, social reach, press link, or award—to the extent you can cite. One line near the end of a case page is enough. Add a short client quote only if it adds new information about working with you.
Legal Basics For Visual Work
Your work carries protection once fixed in tangible form, but formal registration creates a public record and enables specific legal remedies in the U.S. See the U.S. Copyright Office pages for visual arts registration steps (visual arts registration) and the portal to file online (registration portal). Keep contracts, briefs, and emails as context if questions arise.
Common Mistakes That Sink Portfolios
- Too many projects: Reviewers glaze over. Keep the set lean.
- Thin case pages: Single mockups feel hollow. Add a brief and two process bits.
- Inconsistent thumbnails: Mismatched sizes make the grid feel messy.
- Slow pages: Heavy media leads to exits. Compress and trim.
- Mixed roles: State what you did. If a team shipped it, say so.
- Buried contact: Make reaching you easy on every page.
Platform Choices: Site, Gallery, Or Both
Own a domain for control and credibility. Pair it with one gallery profile for reach and social proof. A personal site lets you shape layout and writing. A gallery brings discovery and quick sharing. Cross-link them and keep both current.
Personal Site Tips
- Pick a fast theme and a clean type stack.
- Use alt text on images and sensible file names.
- Keep navigation short: Work, About, Contact.
Gallery Profile Tips
- Post complete projects with a clear cover image.
- Tag fields and tools so the right audience finds you.
- Batch comments and updates to keep focus on making.
Write Like A Designer
Skip buzzwords. Write in plain language that a producer, founder, or art director can read fast. Avoid vague claims and let the pictures carry the weight. If a sentence feels long, split it. If a word adds air but no meaning, cut it.
Case Notes Template You Can Steal
Use this lightweight structure for every project. Copy it, trim it, and keep the voice consistent across your set.
| Section | Purpose | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Brief | Frame the goal and constraints | One to two lines, no fluff |
| Role | State what you owned | List tasks, not titles |
| Process | Show how decisions formed | Three images, short captions |
| Outcome | Display the shipped work | Mockups in real context |
| Results | Share outcomes or quotes | One line of proof is enough |
| Next Steps | Say what you’d extend | One sentence on future work |
Edit Pass: Cut, Tighten, Shine
Do one ruthless pass. Remove any piece that feels dated. Fix type ramps and spacing so pages breathe. Check contrast for legibility. Test on a phone to catch tap targets and image crops. Then ask a peer to click through while you watch where they pause or bounce.
Keep It Current Without Burnout
Schedule a quick review at set times—new year, midyear, or after a big launch. Save deliverables as you go so updates take minutes, not days. Keep a running doc of wins, screenshots, and links so you can refresh a case page fast when a new lead hits.
Student Or Career-Switching? Build Proof Fast
No client list yet? Ship self-started briefs that mirror real jobs. Redesign a local brand with a fresh system. Create a micro-site for a cause you care about. Team up with a developer on a tiny product page. The key is clarity of goal, polished execution, and a tidy case page that shows how you think.
Photography And Mockups That Help (Not Distract)
Shoot work with gentle, even light. Avoid harsh shadows on print pieces. For screens, export true-to-life PNG or high-quality JPEG. Use mockups sparingly—one or two per project—to set context. Don’t let props pull focus from the design itself.
Type, Color, And Spacing On Your Site
- Pick two typefaces max and set a clear scale.
- Give body copy line length around 60–75 characters.
- Keep link styles consistent and obvious.
- Use one highlight color for links and buttons.
Social Proof That Actually Helps
Add a short client list and a couple of logos only if you have usage rights. Link to live work when it’s public. If you have a write-up or a gallery feature, link the article title, not a home page. One or two signals per page is plenty.
Ethics And Attributions
Credit collaborators by name and role. If you used stock, say where it came from. If the brief came from a template or a class, note that briefly. On gallery platforms, you can set licensing per project; see how copyright settings work on Behance to choose the right option (copyright settings).
Launch Checklist
- Custom domain connected and SSL active.
- Home grid shows your best piece first.
- Each project uses the case notes template.
- Images compressed and alt text added.
- Contact page tested on mobile and desktop.
- About page photo and short bio added.
Your Next Three Actions
- Pick 8–12 projects and sequence them: opener, mix, closer.
- Write case notes with the template above and export light assets.
- Publish on your site and one gallery, then share one link with a clear ask.
Want a deeper dive on project curation and presentation flow from a respected design body? AIGA’s portfolio resources outline practical steps and presentation cues you can adapt to your set (AIGA portfolio steps).