We all know that your portfolio won’t get you the job, but it will get you in the room. It’s your proof of concept, your creative credibility, and the spark that makes someone want to learn more. When it’s curated and presented with intention, your portfolio can do what no resume alone can: show them what you’re capable of before you ever say a word.
Unfortunately, there are a million ways to screw up a portfolio: too much work; not enough work; weak work; dated work; and irrelevant work, to name a few. See if your portfolio aligns with these guidelines. If they don’t, you might want to give it a few tweaks.
Curate With Intent, Not Sentiment
Your portfolio isn’t a time capsule. It’s not your “greatest hits” in chronological order or a scrapbook of everything you’ve ever touched. It’s a highlight reel—and highlights are defined by clarity, not volume.
Start by identifying the kind of work you want more of. If you’re aiming for brand storytelling, don’t lead with dry data sheets. If your dream is packaging design, don’t make a banner ad the hero. You’re curating for fit, not for nostalgia.
Look for projects that:
- Reflect your strategic thinking as well as your aesthetic.
- Solved a business or communication challenge.
- Show range in tone, audience, or medium without being all over the map.
- Still feel fresh, meaning no pixelated screenshots or passe trends from five years ago.
How Many Pieces? Fewer Than You Think
There’s no magic number, but eight to 10 strong, diverse pieces is plenty for most disciplines. Ten is the upper limit, and even then, only if each one earns its place.
If you have a long career with a mountain of work, consider organizing by category or format: “Campaign Work,” “Brand Identity,” “Video,” etc. Let your viewer choose their own adventure, but don’t make them click ten times before they see something great.
Choose the Right Platform for You
Your discipline and your technical comfort level should guide your platform choice. You don’t get bonus points for custom coding your own site if you’re not a developer. What matters is clarity, functionality, and polish. Here are a few options:
- Squarespace or Wix: Solid choices for clean, drag-and-drop portfolio sites with templates that are easy to update. Ideal for those who want something visual and professional without hiring a developer.
- Carbonmade: Tailored specifically for creatives. Fast setup, modern UI, and intuitive layouts that let your work breathe.
- Behance: Especially useful if you’re in visual design, motion, or illustration. Easy to share, discoverable, and has a built-in creative audience.
- Adobe Portfolio: If you’re already an Adobe Creative Cloud user, it’s a free add-on with sleek options for designers and photographers.
- Google Docs or PDFs: Surprisingly effective for writers—especially for freelance gigs or recruiters who want quick access. Not sexy, but simple.
Whatever you choose, make sure:
- The site is mobile-friendly.
- Load times are fast.
- Navigation is intuitive.
- Your contact info is easy to find (or better yet, every page ends with a call to action).
Presentation: Context is Queen
A beautiful project alone isn’t enough. Show your process. Add context. Let people in.
Use short, clear descriptions to explain:
- The client or brand (if you can name them).
- The objective or challenge.
- The outcome (metrics if available, or anecdotal success).
- Your specific role.
- Anything clever, strategic, or unusual about the approach.
Think of each project like a case study—brief but meaningful. Even if someone just scans, they should get the “why” as well as the “what.”
And if you’re showing video, make sure the thumbnail image is compelling, the video is cropped cleanly, and the sound works. Don’t make people work to figure out what you did.
Final Touches
- Include a brief “About” section. Make it human. Not a robot bio. One short paragraph that hints at your personality is enough.
- Add a downloadable resume or a link to your LinkedIn.
- Make it clear what you’re looking for. Freelance? Full-time? Open to relocation? A little guidance goes a long way.
- Test everything on both desktop and mobile. Make sure any included URLs work. Ask a friend to review it.
One More Thing
Your portfolio should evolve as your work does. Update it at least twice a year—even if it’s just swapping out one project for another that better reflects where you’re headed. It’s easy to put off updating, but you don’t want to be in a situation where you need to update and you haven’t touched it in years.
In a world full of noise, creatives who stand out are the ones who curate carefully, present thoughtfully, and make it easy for decision-makers to say “yes.”
Make it count.
Already have your portfolio in order and looking for your next freelance or full-time role? Let’s get creative!
