A designer ought to have a portfolio. Nowadays, we see designers going to platforms like Behance and Dribble to prepare their portfolios, but the problem here is that they are not able to stand out from the crowd of other designers. In these cases, a personal website really helps.
How do I create a personal portfolio website?
Firstly, a personal portfolio means you are creating a brand image for yourself. Although Behance and Dribbble work well, they don't help you create a personality. They only serve as a designer social media hub. But, as a designer, if they create a personal brand identity, that really helps them to be the pick of the lot.
The first word in the phrase, “personal brand” is “personal.” Now add an “ity” to it, drop the “brand” and that’s what it really means. That’s the secret.ADAM RITCHIE, ADAM RITCHIE BRAND DIRECTION
What is a personal brand identity?
When you make an effort consciously to put your works (knowledge, stories, designs, artistic works, etc.) across the internet, and if you do that consistently over a period of time, a personal brand identity starts to develop around you.
A personal brand is something that will evolve organically. But many young designers do not know how to create a personal brand identity. A personal brand identity would help the designer be more authentic. It also leads to job opportunities.
How do I get started?
The best way to start with a personal branding identity for a designer is to do research. Most importantly, to understand the value of creating a personal brand The Golden Circle theory of branding is a good point to start with, which tells us about why, how, and what to start with a branding exercise.
People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.- Simon Sinek
Why: Ask yourself why you want to create a brand; why should anyone check on or care about the work you do? For example. You want to be unique; stand out from the crowd.
Golden Circle theory of branding — Simon Sinek
“If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life.” — Abraham Maslow
How: Our HOWs should be the difference from the other players in the design industry. For example, how can I communicate that I stand out from the crowd? Keeping things very simple works here.
What: This really talks about your portfolio, what you have done, and what defines who you are. For example, gather your previous work and keep it ready for presentation.
Your basic research must revolve around the above points. Once this is done, you can start with the preparation of the portfolio using the steps below.
Step 1: Shortlist a few UI/UX designers website portfolios.
The most important step is to understand how a solo designer brand puts across their website as a designer. There are so many designer websites available. You can check out a relative blog post here to see how the other big players have created their own websites.
Once you get an understanding, shortlist a few websites that would suit you as a designer brand.
Why do I have to check a portfolio of another designer?
Many times, what we think may not always be the absolute best. Although creativity is important, one must know the standards. Now create your own.
Step 2: Create your portfolio
While creating a portfolio we always think of new complex interactions, maybe animations or even add a lot of information which you want to share. But from my experience in the industry, the secret sauce is to keep it simple. Which is the hardest part of creating a portfolio. So, that is why I am going to pen down the most important things that are needed in a UI UX Designer's portfolio.
1. Keep it to 5 Pages max.
Yes, you saw it right. 5 Pages max. A portfolio must be having a very simple navigation menu which can include:
About
A page which can have a small brief about you. Working methods and processes, why you chose UX ? This is difficult but try to make it look authentic. Recruiters know nowadays how AI writes for you. So be authentic.
Works
Prepare nice thumbnails of your projects and publish it under your works. If you have past graphic design other field of works / designs, use a separate section. Don’t mix it along with the case studies.
Curriculum Vitae
A CV is very important aspect to be show in a website. Make sure you give a PDF downloadable version of your CV. Also, another important aspect to a good CV is not to be so creative. The CVs must be ATS friendly. I will soon write about this in my next blog post.
Contact
Add your social links, blogs and other mediums like Dribbble and Behance.
Write simple content. Take the help of AI tools to write, but rewrite on your own so that the content feels yours. Do a quick research among your circle, ask UX Design hiring managers what they would like to see on a portfolio. Those keywords will help you a lot.
Most importantly, don’t forget to add your contact information in the contact page. .
2. Prepare your best-case studies to show. (3-4 would be good)
You might have done more than 10 projects in your experience. Or as a fresher, you might have worked on 4–5 projects. Filter it, add your best projects, again think of refiltering it. UX Portfolios must get you a job. Remember this always while preparing your case studies. I remember my professor telling me “write, rewrite, research, then again write” follow this method while writing your case studies.
What all can you include in your case study? A simple Design thinking process flow would do the trick.
· Project brief and your role
· UX Research: What did you learn about your user
· Define: Empathy maps, Personas, Assumption maps, Comparative Analysis
· Ideation: Mind maps, 5whys, Storyboards, Affinity maps, IA, Userjourneys
· Prototype: Wireframes till prototypes, design systems
· Test: Usability testing, heuristic evaluation, KPIs
And finally, if it is a published project. Add the link to the live website / application. If you have signed NDA, try to show the processes more than visuals.
If you are a fresher, you can show your projects done during a course or prepare a detailed case study with a fresher group.
Dos and Don'ts
Don’t repeat the same format or design process for all your case studies. Vary your story for the case studies.
Don’t add irrelevant aspects in your case studies
If you are thinking to write about your personal life. Cut it as you think.
Use a good balance of images and text.
If you are thinking of joining a course, I teach in a course with UIUXGlobal, you can subscribe for the course.
Step 3: Create the designs with website builders
This is the most important step. Create your entire portfolio website design with website builders like Wix.com, Webflow, Framer and publish it. I know it costs, but it’s worth the cost.
Wix.com
Choose the plans as you wish. And Wix is perfect in terms of building a website from scratch with the CMS templates which they have. Explore it, make full use of it. Then also you can buy a hosting with your domain name.
Framer & Webflow
Framer and Webflow is more like designing on Figma creating interactions and publishing it. I have pasted their pricing plans. Framer and Webflow also have templates to work with. But some are free, the good ones of course will cost you.
The templates on Webflow are excellent. Now Webflow has come up with SEO features as well. It is supposed to get better with time. It is a bit on the expensive side, but the features are good.
Publish your portfolio
Now your website is ready to be published. Preferable choose a .com domain (for ex. www.vivinrichard.com) it is always best to have a .com domain. Then publish your portfolio and promote your personal brand on LinkedIn and other social media. And yes, the major purpose to apply for jobs with this portfolio website.
If this blog was really of help to you. Please feel free to buy me a coffee.
You want to learn from me? You can join the course which I teach with UIUXGlobal. Register and tell the counselors that you came through my blog. You will get a direct discount.