25 Best Portfolio Websites to Inspire Your Own Design

Portfolio websites are professional online platforms that showcase your work, skills, and experience in one centralized location.

They are widely used by designers, developers, marketers, and other professionals to attract clients, employers, and collaborators.

This guide breaks down the 25 best portfolio websites and the key design elements that make them effective tools for client acquisition.

What Is A Portfolio Website?

A portfolio website is a personal or business website that displays selected projects, case studies, and professional information to attract clients or employers.

Most portfolio websites include the following elements:

• A clear homepage value proposition
• A portfolio or project gallery
• Case studies
• An About page
• Contact information
• Testimonials or other social proof

Portfolio websites are used by freelancers, designers, developers, and creative teams to generate leads and job opportunities online.

Typical Uses Of Portfolio Websites

Creating a visually appealing portfolio design that engages the reader can significantly improve your chances of building a viable business.

Let’s break down some of the typical uses of portfolio sites as an alternative to traditional resumes and physical portfolios:

• Showing projects and case studies, with up-to-date information and supporting visual media, including videos, images, and animations.
• Demonstrating the range of professional skills and tools the individual or company offers clients, from technical expertise to showcasing a unique style of design.
• Building personal brand credibility, sharing a story that resonates with potential clients through a visually appealing professional identity.
• Generating leads or job inquiries by functioning as a digital business card, connecting clients with social media links and other contact details.

By updating the information and adding new client testimonials, a portfolio website can build credibility and trust for businesses.

Who Needs A Portfolio Website?

Portfolio websites can be used by individual freelancers and various types of businesses to attract potential clients.

Here are some of the common examples of creative professionals and technical experts who use online portfolios to develop their careers:

• Web developers, designers, and engineers: Professionals with a variety of technical skills typically use portfolios to outline their coding knowledge, past projects, and problem-solving abilities.
• Writers, photographers, and marketers: Creative talents working in writing, marketing, or visual media, such as photography and illustration, use portfolios to showcase their work.
• Studios and small creative teams: Portfolios are also used by smaller creative teams and studios, such as design studios and marketing consultancies.

Developing a clear, actionable online portfolio can accelerate your freelance career, building credibility and attracting new clients.

Related reading: Website hosting cost guide.

Why Portfolio Websites Matter

With more companies operating online than ever before, creating a portfolio website is vital for any professional seeking potential clients.

Building a visually appealing and informative online portfolio is also vital for:

• Retaining control of the narrative surrounding your professional identity, from the typographical elements to the presentation of projects.
• Demonstrating professional competence in an AI-driven market, using case studies and other resources that outline your work process.
• Increasing your chances of organic discovery by optimizing your portfolio for SEO to rank high on search engines.

In short, a professional portfolio signals to potential employers that you’re serious about your career and can deliver excellent results.

Key Elements Every Portfolio Website Needs

Portfolio website design incorporates elements from various types of websites, including the core information every website requires.

Here’s an overview of the key elements used in website portfolio design:

Eye-Catching Homepage (Hero Section)

The best homepage designs encapsulate a professional’s unique style, defining who they are and what they have to offer.

This section can also include a strong tagline, supported by concise storytelling that keeps the reader engaged.

Curated Online Portfolio & Case Studies

An overarching function of every great portfolio is a selection of curated projects, with an emphasis on quality over quantity.

When using case studies, outline the processes involved in the projects, the problem-solving accomplishments, and your overall role.

About Me Page

Every professional portfolio requires an About page that highlights your skills, professional experience, and interests in one place.

Take the time to learn how to write a bio that outlines the key information about your services and is SEO-optimized.

Contact Page

Clear contact information is another essential feature of any portfolio, including your email address, contact forms, and social media links.

You can also use your contact page to help connect with other professionals on sites like LinkedIn and GitHub.

Call-To-Actions

Adding call-to-action buttons to a portfolio is necessary to guide readers to learn more about your services or to the contact page.

Consider using different types of call-to-actions, experimenting with buttons, banners, and pop-ups, and placing them strategically on your site.

Testimonials & Social Proof

Building credibility through social proof is vital for a professional portfolio website design oriented towards growing a business.

You can expand this section as you complete new projects, including direct quotes from clients and links to relevant work samples.

How We Selected These Portfolio Websites

We selected these portfolio websites based on a range of criteria, including brand identity, site usability and navigation, and visual style.

Examples were chosen from various industries, including creative professionals and technical specialists who offer their skills to clients.

The effective use of testimonials, case studies, and project samples was also factored into our portfolio assessment criteria.

Learn more: How to audit a website.

25 Best Portfolio Websites

Great portfolio designs come in a variety of styles that correspond with the services and skills available for clients.

Here’s our selection of the 25 best portfolio websites to help you design and launch a portfolio for your business:

25. Tamara Sredojevic

Professional services offered: UX designer services

Why it works: A great example of “less is more” design philosophy

Presenting your professional credentials doesn’t have to be extravagant, as the minimalist site for Tamara Sredojevic demonstrates.

As a UX designer and digital accessibility advocate, her site demonstrates the principles she champions throughout its design.

24. Brittany Chiang

Professional services offered: Freelance front-end engineering

Why it works: Self-contained portfolio on a single page

The portfolio by Brittany Chiang is a great example of how to elevate the basic resume format with web design elements.

Her work history and professional experience are paired with completed projects that demonstrate her successful track record in front-end development.

23. Onyedika

Professional services offered: AI, blockchain, and legal services

Why it works: Large, clear page sections that enhance navigation

AI and blockchain expert Onyedika chose to create a portfolio website in bright colors on a jet-black background.

Clear calls to action are used throughout the site’s pages, alongside extensive project history and information about his speaking engagements.

22. Quentin Hocde

Professional services offered: Freelance interactive development

Why it works: Minimalist color scheme with interactive background

An expert in building hand-crafted websites, Quentin Hocde showcases these skills directly on his impressive portfolio website.

There’s an extensive project archive section, clear contact information, and plenty of visually appealing interactive background elements.

21. Matt Farley

Professional services offered: Web design and front-end development

Why it works: Vivid use of colors and optimal social proof

Web developers with a strong project history, like Matt Farley, can use these accomplishments on their portfolio sites.

Farley’s use of company logos and bold colors, along with liberal white space, provides a textbook example of effective design.

20. Niki Sadeki

Professional services offered: DJing and music production services

Why it works: Strong visual alignment with the creator’s style

DJ and producer Niki Sadeki uses her portfolio to showcase her music through a combination of visuals paired with a detailed bio.

It’s a great example of how striking brand elements, notably her typography choice, can elevate the portfolio design of creative talents.

19. Ram Maheshwari

Professional services offered: Website development

Why it works: Straightforward yet effective page layout

A self-described “results-oriented web developer,” Ram Maheshwari keeps his portfolio simple and straightforward for visitors.

There’s a selection of menu links to his projects and the About page, with social media links pinned to the side.

18. Lauren Waller

Professional services offered: Product design services

Why it works: Bold color schemes with interactive, animated elements

The established product designer Lauren Waller strips her homepage down to the essentials, with large fonts that link to her main pages.

Typographical and visual elements use animations to enhance the user experience, with e-commerce integration through the online store.

17. Sean Halpin

Professional services offered: Design services

Why it works: Design familiarity and easy navigation

The designer Sean Halpin adopts a visual style that replicates the design of classic project collaboration workflows.

Page elements use subtle animations when hovered over, and calming pastel color schemes that are easy on the eye.

16. Zach Jordan

Professional services offered: Developer/social entrepreneur services

Why it works: Neat presentation with comprehensive project overviews

The social entrepreneur Zach Jordan has partnered with many organizations, all of which are showcased on his portfolio site.

It uses a segmented website layout that allows for conveying plenty of information without compromising legibility.

15. Cyd Stumpel

Professional services offered: Freelance development services

Why it works: Magazine-style presentation

The experienced freelance developer Cyd Stumpel has extensive experience to showcase, all supported by client testimonials.

It’s bold, informative, and presented in a clear layout, with an impressive range of informative blog posts supporting their portfolio.

14. Sania Saleh

Professional services offered: Design services

Why it works: Story-driven presentation

Freelance designer Sania Saleh’s portfolio site demonstrates a clear grasp of the importance of building coherent narratives.

There’s also an emphasis on research and collaboration, with a detailed breakdown of past clients and how their services work.

13. Sumath Samala

Professional services offered: Full-stack development, software engineering

Why it works: Recognizable brand elements and interactivity

The stylistic nod to Netflix is immediately apparent in Sumath Samala’s portfolio, from the logo style to the page website links.

If you’re considering designing a website that mimics established companies well, add this to your reference list.

12. Edward Hinrichsen

Professional services offered: Digital design services

Why it works: Computer-themed visuals and font selection

The front-end developer and designer Edward Hinrichsen places his passion for classic computing at the center of his portfolio.

Supporting brand pillars are used optimally, with a distinctive identity built around classic computer fonts and design elements.

11. Adham Dhannaway

Professional services offered: Product design/UI design services

Why it works: Personalized animated banner, clear menu structure

The product designer and coder Adham Dhannaway showcases his programming versatility through his site’s Portfolio page.

Additional design elements, such as the animated homepage banner, ensure this information is well presented throughout the site.

10. Jesse Zhou

Professional services offered: Management consultancy and development

Why it works: Lush, 3D animated elements and transitions

The portfolio website for Jesse Zhou showcases the high-level application of animations and transitions for site-wide navigation.

With a video game aesthetic and plenty of resources, everything is accessible from the homepage’s signposts.

9. Keita Yamada

Professional services offered: Web design and development

Why it works: Experimental design style with minimalist aesthetic

The Japanese web designer Keita Yamada uses strong, minimalist design elements that highlight their unique design style.

Font selection is paired effectively with the monochrome animated background to ensure legibility throughout the site’s content.

8. Van Holtz

Professional services offered: Digital web development

Why it works: Exceptional site navigation and interactivity

Open the Van Holtz website, and visitors are instantly presented with bold text links to notable projects from the developers.

It’s an impressively stylish site that effortlessly blends brand elements with interactivity, without compromising accessibility.

7. Ian Dunkerley

Professional services offered: Front-end development

Why it works: Excellent project curation and presentation

UK-based front-end developer Ian Dunkerley puts his projects front and center on this crisp, easily navigable portfolio site.

Supporting screenshots for each project add a welcome visual touch, while the GitHub link directly connects with other professionals.

6. Pierrick Calvez

Professional services offered: Freelance illustration and art

Why it works: Visually rich pages and extensive contact information

The artist Pierrick Calvez has a large portfolio of exhibited works, providing ample social proof of his professional credibility.

Supporting his selected works is a clear and concise resume, with several options for contacting him for more information.

5. Wonder Games

Professional services offered: Software engineering and development studio

Why it works: Game-themed background animations and interactivity

A consistent retro-gaming theme permeates the website design for Wonder Games, a studio that offers a range of software-related services.

If you’re considering a website redesign with animated backgrounds, this website is an essential point of reference.

4. Alina Fomin

Professional services offered: Animation and illustration services

Why it works: Excellent balance of colors, white space, and animated elements

Israeli illustrator and animator Alina Fomin places her skills front and center on her portfolio site, with colorful imagery and subtle animations.

Her projects are all linked through relevant animation loops that emphasize her expertise in visual-first storytelling.

Essential resource: Website maintenance guide.

3. Patrick David

Profession/business type: UI and UX design services

Why it works: Gorgeous use of illustrations

The Italy-based developer and UX/UI designer Patrick David draws on several high-level design elements for his portfolio.

Combining beautiful website fonts with animations and classical Italian art, it’s allowed him to build an impressive roster of global clients.

2. Bruno Simon

Professional services offered: Creative development for websites

Why it works: Out-of-the-box site structure and interactivity

With its unique homepage design and engaging site navigation, Bruno Simon’s portfolio demonstrates his skills as a creative developer.

It uses a range of unique design elements, from interactive maps to video-game-style menus, showcasing his technical skills.

1. Daniel Sun

Professional services offered: SaaS and Web3 development

Why it works: Crisp design and effective use of white space

Web developer Daniel Sun demonstrates a clear grasp of design principles, with a strong, information-rich online portfolio.

Details on his Web3 and SaaS development services are beautifully presented, with equally impressive use of calls to action to guide the reader.

How To Develop A Portfolio Website

Developing a portfolio website requires a robust project plan that outlines the core pages, relevant information, and visual assets.

Here’s a concise overview of how to develop a portfolio website optimized for the best results:

1. Define your niche and audience: A portfolio website launch checklist should begin with a clear definition of your niche and your target audience’s expectations.
2. Select and structure your projects: Next, determine your site’s overall structure and core pages, and how your projects can be optimally presented in this framework.
3. Write case studies: If you’re including case studies, take the time to write them thoroughly and cover all the key skills they showcase.
4. Design for clarity before aesthetics: When designing logos and other visual elements, prioritize clarity and avoid overly complex stylistic choices.
5. Build, test, and optimize: Once your site has been constructed, test it for mobile website optimization and other bugs that need to be fixed.
6. Launch and promote: Once your portfolio is live, you can promote your website on social media and other relevant platforms your potential clients use.

Keep the design simple and clear, focusing on ease of navigation to critical information, and update with new testimonials from current clients.

Recommended reading: How to create an FAQ page.

How Much Does a Portfolio Website Cost?

The cost of building a portfolio website can vary considerably, with different approaches and price ranges including:

• DIY (template + hosting): Using a website builder with professional templates is a cost-effective solution, with monthly subscriptions starting at around $10.
• Hiring freelance developers: If your budget permits, you can hire freelance developers and designers to build your portfolio, with services ranging between $300 and $3,000.
• Professional design and development agencies: For a fully customized, tailored design service, they offer comprehensive development services at prices upwards of $3,000.

If you’re designing an online portfolio on a budget, you can use AI tools for small businesses to streamline the process.

Common Portfolio Design Mistakes To Avoid

If you’re new to website design and want to ensure your portfolio delivers the best results, here are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Overstuffing with uncurated projects: Adding every project you’ve completed can quickly lead to overcrowding, so take the time to curate your best work examples and avoid fluff.
• Ignoring the user experience: If your portfolio site is cluttered or has unclear links to key pages, visitors are less likely to convert to paying clients.
• Failing to address technical errors: Broken links, missing information, and slow loading times are other design mistakes that can be avoided with proper website testing before launch.

Sharing your portfolio and gathering feedback will allow you to identify and fix any issues without emotional attachment clouding your judgment.

Summary

Portfolio websites are effective ways for professionals and businesses to showcase their work, communicate value, and attract new clients.

By combining a positioning statement, curated projects, and user-focused design, a portfolio website can improve visibility and performance in AI-generated answers.

Whether you build your site yourself or hire a professional team, investing in a portfolio website remains essential for growing credibility.