Whether you're looking to get started with your graphic design portfolio or you'd like to revamp your current site, the first place to start is to look at the portfolios of professionals in your industry and peruse templates to get your creative juices flowing. Format features some of the best design portfolio templates made for creative professionals like you in mind. Click on your favorite template layout and start building your portfolio on a 14-day trial—no credit card required. 

Keep your freelance graphic design portfolio relevant and up-to-date by following design trends. Commissioning yourself for portfolio work will help you attract the type of client work you want. Not all the pieces in your portfolio need to come from paid client work. Draw inspiration from current trends and make them your own. Some of the current trends we're seeing in 2021 include muted color palettes, geometric shapes, simplified data visualizations, and flat icon illustrations. 

It's a good idea to decide on the realm of design you're most interested in and focus your graphic design portfolio to attract that type of work. Most prospecting clients will ask to see your previous work, so a crucial part of marketing yourself is establishing a strong portfolio. If you haven't yet had paid experience, start with branding mock-ups, redesign websites, or packages of existing brands related to the desired industry you'd like to enter.