How do you improve your web design portfolio?

Many designers might think, the more projects, the better right? Well, not quite. 🙅♂️ It's crucial to remember that your portfolio is a representation of your skills and style. Therefore, choosing your best projects becomes paramount. 🏆 I only include projects I'm truly proud of and show my growth and skills. 🚀 One pro-tip? Make it easy for your recruiters. Organizing your projects by type, industry, or client really helps potential clients or employers find what they're most interested in. It's all about making that user experience as seamless as possible, right? 🤓

I write custom software, which contains all different types of unique functionality. To showcase each project I allocate a 1-2 minute demo video reel with narrative titles. Videos going beyond this time frame will risk losing the audiences attention. However, I want to convey the uses of my product thoroughly.

In my experience the best work to showcase to a client is something that they can sink their teeth into. Everyone has a hobby that they love, take that love and build out a fan page about it. The website doesn't have to exist other than to showcase your work, so build for building sake. The portfolio itself should be a build piece as well, make sure that you incorporate all the design elements from your portfolio items in your portfolio.

Display designs you truly loved creating and projects with people who were a delight to work with. Showcase recent design work that links directly to the live interactive site, as well as screenshots of website designs you are proud of that are no longer live, describing what you designed and why. Make sure to give credit to your collaborators. This shows the world that you are honest and collaborative.

It's generally a good approach to show your best work. However, sometimes showing quantity is a differentiating factor. If you have been designing websites for a while, showcasing the breadth of your work can be exactly what turns a potential client into a paying client because they are looking for a seasoned designer. So don't shy away from showcasing the volume of your work. For example, when I look at the bibliography of an author and see the body of work they have created, I find just the volume of their work is impressive. We understand that earlier works may be far different in quality than later works as the author gets better over times.The fact that they have been in the field persevering over time is an aspect that wins me over.

Outlining your process for a client at the beginning of the project can require very targeted questions to establish goals and objectives. After establishing these objectives, using flowcharts and interactive wireframes to prototype your design intentions will help to manage your client’s expectations. A timeline serves to establish deliverables regarding schedule and budget. When the project is finished, I recommend that along with the link to the finished site, you include an outline of how you achieved your goals . Offering a link to a pdf and posting a step-by-step video can help illustrate your process and instill confidence in your methods.

As a freelance web designer, telling the story of how you approached the design project can be illuminating to prospective clients. Highlighting how the design you created aligns with the goals of your client with the help of an interesting story or anecdote can be revealing. For example, if the client came to you with the goal of booking more clients and getting more visible to their target clients, you can outline the steps you took such as incorporating search engine keywords, optimizing images to be easily findable and setting up an easy to navigate client flow towards the booking page along with clear call to actions in strategic spots throughout the website. Demonstrate your design + functionality choices and make an impact.

In my experience, speed is essential. Make sure your images are optimized to ensure fast load times. Nothing turns away potential employers faster than a slow-loading page. ⏱️ Usability is equally important. Clear navigation, intuitive design, easy to read content, are all important aspects to consider. You don't want users of your portfolio to struggle to find information. 🧭

Mobile optimization of your portfolio is essential too. If your site visitors can't view your work on mobile, then you've lost them. The images need to be optimized for web so they load fast. And each image should have the relevant titles. No more leaving .img or other generic names in the image titles!

Testimonials / User Feedback / User Reviews are more than just nice words, these things help build trust and credibility. They tell prospective that you've collaborated with users. 🤝 I always request feedback or testimonials from clients and employers. 💌 I display on my portfolio their names, photos, and company logos, which adds a touch of authenticity.

Make asking for your testimonials part of your offboarding process. I've found that asking for a review personally on a video call is far more effective than asking for it via email long after the website is launched.

As you create more websites, you are bound to get better and create different styles of work than your existing websites. So as and when you can, show your latest and greatest works and add them to your portfolio. One way to do this without fail is to add taking screenshots one of the line items in your offboarding todo list. This will help you to not put it off to later, something I have done a lot in the beginning of my web design career!

To stay relevant with search engines incorporating a blog that is updated regularly will help keep interest on your portfolio.

Nobody said you couldn't pay Google/YouTube and FaceBook/Instagram for advertising. If you're looking for clients and "organic searches" are not pulling the weight, set aside an advertising budget like any other company. The marketing software provided helps you select your target market far more effectively then a standard post.

Our portfolio is a story about us; every story has unique bits and pieces that make it interesting. 😊 1. Show your journey, not just the destination. 2. Case Studies: 📚 Narrate your design story from start to finish. 3. Context Matters: 🌍 Provide the "why" behind your "what". 4. Show your Personality: 😎 Let your unique self shine through your portfolio. 5. Keep it Simple: 🎨 Prioritize clarity and ease of navigation in your portfolio design.