Designers have a leg up when it comes to creating cutting-edge portfolios–it’s what they do! So for anyone needing inspiration from the professionals making their own bespoke visions come to life, we’ve gathered 14 websites that represent the designer’s vision from pitch to portfolio.
According to executives, a designer’s portfolio is the most important element in consideration during the hiring process. That’s why it’s essential to have a showcase of your work that is easy to navigate, visually stunning, and optimized for maximum image quality.
To inspire you as you build your own website, we’ve curated a list of 14 exceptional design portfolios. From magazine directors to freelancers, these designers have put their best work forward, and highlighted their skills in customizing their portfolio themes.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to refresh your existing portfolio, these examples will give you the push you may need.
Kevin Gunning
With a bold and colourful full-bleed portfolio scroll, Gunning forefronts the end result, driving those curious to navigate with a click to see more, while engaging in an immersive aesthetic those wanting to browse seamlessly through his full range of projects. Looking at this portfolio made us happier!
Pawel Pajaczkowski
Interior and furniture designer Pawel Pajaczkowski lets his work breathe in a minimalist scrolling gallery, images stagger in Format’s Meander theme against an understated backdrop of light pistachio green. His use of the design speaks directly to the elegance of his aesthetic, cohering his work to its delivery.
Katherine Bielss
A graphic designer with a focus on typography and brand identity, Bielss’ website cleanly showcases her project work so that potential clients can appreciate her range. The text framework introducing the projects situate their concepts from beginning to end, underscoring the creative process and reasoning behind her imagery. Bielss is using the Details theme.
Schorsch Feierfeil
Illustrator and designer Schorsch Ferierfeil’s inviting portfolio makes the most of the first impression by using a multi-image landing page with staggered thumbnails showing a broad range of works. His versatility is evident immediately, while the viewer can then narrow in on a project that speaks to them, by navigating through each thumbnail to reveal a gallery with introduction, concept and publication information.
Victor Polo
A bold layout compliments a bold designer, Polo makes exceptional use of the versatility of having full bleed and tiled layouts within the Shapes theme, making the most of colour-blocking, animation and text to tell the story of his approach, and to guide viewers and clients through his work history and brilliantly cohesive outcomes.
Houndz
Christina Caroline Smith designs and fabricates metal objects of function under the name Houndz. The home storage and display units align perfectly with her aesthetic of industrial punk, which also reflected in the use of typography and images in her portfolio, with the perfect use of the punk-friendly Kiln theme, we love the consistency across product and presentation.
Lei Li
An elegant industrial design portfolio displaying object-based project work organized by material. The striking video homepage builds interest in the process of making, while the galleries showcase the design-to-fabrication process within the double-spread pages that change colour to each image, scrolling right creates a booklet-like unfolding in site design. Li’s portfolio stands out for his use of colour and concept.
Silvia Rodrigues
Silvia Rodrigues’ playful illustration style is displayed in a beautifully staggered grid that makes the mos of a white background, allowing objects and small illustrations to appear as if they are floating alongside full-framed thumbnails. It’s an incredibly dynamic use of design elements that forefront her works while also inviting interaction between them. Rodrigues also makes use of Format’s storefront feature to sell her prints and books.
Renaud Lavency
Striking a perfect balance between image and navigation, Renaud Lavency’s illustration portfolio just pops. Using Format’s popular Horizon Left theme, and a customized logo, the navigation allows for lovely interplay between images, and a narrative-like reading of his evolution. In image curation, he pairs with colour theory in mind, creating a really engaging site that invites exploration.
Haley Koehn
By mixing gifs with stills, Haley Koehn uses Format’s Sierra theme to draw the eye through scrolling the thumbnails representing project galleries, especially compelling was her work for Pact Coffee (Format is run by artists fueled by caffeine, we see coffee, we click), as well as the genius of Netflip, a genius piece of programming represented perfectly in design.
Amber Arezes
Toronto native Amber is a multi-talented OCAD University graduate with a degree in Design, specializing in Advertising. Using the Obsidian Theme she employes a simple yet effective graphic design portfolio showcases several projects in a gallery which you can click through to view a full gallery of images with a short writeup on the project.
Shelby Hipol
Shelby Hipol keeps things simple with a funky slant using Format’s Kiln theme. With prominent clients including Ulta, Godiva and Johnson & Johnson, Hipol has crafted a balanced portfolio, showcasing a range of work and styles while focusing on fresh projects, while maintaining an archive of older work.
Adam Bookbinder
Designer Adam Bookbinder uses the Hue theme to create an editorial experience well-suited to his path within the world of printed matter. Layout and typography are especially underlined in this career-spanning portfolio.
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If you’re looking for an easy-to-use portfolio builder that’s designed specifically for creative professionals, try Format. With Format, you can create a stunning portfolio that’s optimized for maximum image quality and works perfectly on all devices. Plus, Format offers a suite of tools to help you manage your workflow, streamline your business, and make more time for the creative work you love.
Share your own online design portfolio on Instagram @useformat, we would love to see your work!
