Tricks of the Trade: Great Portfolio Design (Part 1)

January 20th 2010

Web Design

by Tom

A look at the techniques and tricks used by designers to build up a truly great portfolio design. Part 1 looks at use of headlines, welcome messages and illustrations.

Before we get started, here are some related posts for you to check out:

20 Super Creative Website Menus

15 Awesome About Page Designs

15 Examples of Well Designed Contact Pages

20 Fresh and New Blue Web Designs

15 Fresh Online Magazine Designs

Tricks of the Trade: Great Portfolio Design

This week we bring you a look at the various techniques used by designers in building a respectable and creative portfolio. In Part 1 (of 2) we take a look at the use of Big, Informative Headlines and Illustrations.

Check back soon for Part 2!

Big, Informative Headlines

Many designers choose to display a large textual heading on their portfolio’s homepage. This headline often introduces the individual (if it’s a freelancer) or company, as well as summing up what they provide. Additionally many designers display a quirky or creative message in order to set themselves apart from the competition.

Typically a headline will contain:

- The designer or company’s name
- Where they are from (optional)
- Services provided (e.g.: ‘I design websites’)
- A creative or unusual message (optional)
- A welcome message

Below are 20 examples of creatively placed headline messages in portfolio designs:

Illustrations

Designers often use bold and colorful illustrations in order to liven up their portfolios. Illustrations can range from deliberately child-like sketches, to incredibly detailed works of art, that take many pain-staking hours of labour to produce.

Here are some examples of great illustrations in portfolio designs:

To Be Continued…

More great techniques used by portfolio designers will be looked at in part 2 of this post.

What Do You Think Makes a Great Portfolio?

I would love to know what you think makes a great portfolio design, feel free to share your own.

Leave a comment to this post with your ideas on color, form, content, or anything else that you feel helps make a portfolio visually stunning.

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12 Awesome Comments: Leave Your Comment

Pro-Designer 20th January 2010

Nice list tom..thx
looking back for part 2..
Tom 21st January 2010

Thanks Pro-Designer! Part 2 is coming in the next few days
Vamshi 21st January 2010

Very nice collection, thank you for sharing.
Federica Cau 21st January 2010

Thank you so much, is such an honor to be listed in a great list like this
Oliver Web Design 21st January 2010

Great list and I could use some of these for inspiration to help me put my portfolio site together when I get some spare time to work on it.
David Jonsson 21st January 2010

Thanks for featuring my site amongst all those amazing designers! Happy days
Joel Delane 22nd January 2010

thanks for the feature mate ! awesome list
Kim Burgess 23rd January 2010

Nice collection. Cheers for the inclusion.
Rob Bowen 23rd January 2010

I am totally with you on the large print & headlines. Though, some of the illustrations may be too busy, in my opinion, and may take away from the work being featured. (even tho technically, it would also be highlighting the person’s skillz.)
simong 24th January 2010

Wow, thanks for featuring my site! I’m honored to be with all these awesome designers.
Ben Sky 25th January 2010

Great collection, very inspirational.. Thanks for the feature too!
amole 5th February 2010

nice collection