What is a Portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of work that showcases your best projects. Whether you work in fashion, architecture, or design, a portfolio serves as a powerful tool to land new opportunities, expand your audience, or attract clients.

Types of Design Portfolios

Depending on the type of design work you do, certain portfolio formats may be better suited to your needs. A design portfolio can be digital—such as a website, slideshow, or PDF—or it can be physical, like a printed book or poster.

Graphic Design Portfolio

For graphic designers, PDF portfolios are becoming increasingly popular as a way to present work while also demonstrating PDF layout and design skills. Using tools like InDesign and Photoshop, designers can craft multi-page PDFs that allow for fine-tuned formatting and customization. Emerging software, such as Framer, makes it even easier to create and share an online PDF portfolio. The final result is often a well-designed brochure or one-pager featuring top projects, descriptions, and relevant details.

UX Design Portfolio

For UX designers, an online portfolio is typically the most effective option. This can range from a simple one-page site with contact details to an interactive gallery showcasing in-depth case studies. If web design is your primary focus, having a portfolio website doubles as an example of your capabilities while also presenting your best work in its intended format.

Digital portfolio websites offer several advantages, especially since much of today’s design work is web-based. First, they allow for interactive elements, animations, and dynamic design features that would be impossible in a print portfolio. Second, they are highly shareable—you can link to your portfolio on social media or send it directly to potential clients or employers. Lastly, online portfolios provide the freedom to infuse more personality into your presentation, as they are less restricted than traditional print formats.

However, digital portfolios come with some challenges. Building a website portfolio often requires coding knowledge, which can be a hurdle for some UX designers. Fortunately, tools like Framer are making it easier to create professional portfolios without coding expertise. Additionally, web constraints such as responsive design, browser compatibility, and rendering issues need to be considered—challenges that do not apply to print portfolios. Finally, designing a website portfolio can be more time-intensive, especially if multiple pages or complex interactions are involved.