“So You Want to Be a Designer?”: How to Set Up Your First Graphic Design Digital Portfolio
- jaycadstudio
- Jun 9
- 4 min read
Best Digital Design Portfolios
A polite yet probing guide by someone who’s just trying to make sense of modern creativity
Keywords: graphic design portfolio, digital portfolio, beginner graphic designer, online design portfolio, portfolio tips, creative portfolio, design portfolio website, how to create a portfolio
It’s a familiar moment for many beginner graphic designers. You’ve studied your colour theory, learned to worship the grid, and downloaded more fonts than you’ll ever use. Then someone says:“Do you have a portfolio?”And everything suddenly feels… fragile.
Whether you’re applying for jobs, looking for freelance clients, or simply trying to prove to your parents that yes, “graphic design is a real job,” this guide will walk you through setting up your first digital portfolio—with clear steps, some useful SEO pointers, and the quiet existential undertones that come with entering the creative industry.
1. Who Are You, and What Do You Want? (Design-Wise)
Let’s start with the basics. A portfolio isn’t just a dumping ground for every poster you’ve ever made. It’s a statement. A neat little collection of images that say: this is what I do, and here’s why I care.
Ask yourself:
What kind of work excites you?
Do you want to do brand identity? UX/UI? Illustration? Motion graphics?
Who’s your audience—agencies, studios, small business clients?
In short, your portfolio should reflect the kind of work you want to get hired for. Like wearing a suit to a wedding, you’re dressing your work for the occasion.
SEO tip: Use clear headings like branding design portfolio, UX case studies, or illustration projects—Google appreciates the clarity, even if your inner designer is begging for cryptic labels.
2. Curate With Ruthless Precision (and a Bit of Self-Restraint)
There’s a temptation to show everything. That poster from sixth form, the logo for your mate’s band, the angry type experiment that briefly went viral on TikTok. But the truth is: quality beats quantity.
Include 6 to 10 strong projects. Enough to show range, but not so many that your audience starts to feel emotionally trapped.
Each project should include:
A short summary (what it is, what your role was)
Key visuals (mockups, outcomes, maybe a gif or two if you’re feeling spicy)
Process work (to show your thinking, not just the shiny outcome)
Think of it less like a scrapbook and more like a quiet, well-lit exhibition. One where you occasionally lean in and say, “Yes, that was done entirely in Figma. Thank you for noticing.”
3. Pick a Platform That Doesn’t Trigger a Breakdown
When it comes to platforms, the choice is yours—just make sure you actually like using it, or at the very least, don’t actively resent it.
Options include:
Behance – Easy, social, and well-known. The IKEA of portfolios.
Adobe Portfolio – Fine, if you’re already paying for Creative Cloud.
Squarespace / Wix / Webflow – Customisable, clean, and more effort than you think (but you’ll feel very clever when it works).
Cargo – A bit cooler. A bit edgier. You’ll want to wear all black and whisper “typography” a lot.
Regardless of your choice, your portfolio site should include:
A homepage (quick intro, maybe a headline)
A Work or Projects page
An About page (we’ll get to that)
A Contact page with an email or form
SEO tip: Use page titles that match how people search: “Graphic Design Portfolio UK,” “Freelance Designer for Hire,” “Logo and Branding Work.” It’s not thrilling, but it’s effective.
4. Write an About Page That Doesn’t Induce Cringe
Now, the About page. Also known as the bit that feels like a creative identity crisis in paragraph form.
You don’t need to oversell it. Just:
Say who you are
Where you’re based
What kind of work you do
A little bit about your design philosophy (optional, but makes you sound thoughtful)
Optional extras:
A professional photo (ideally not one where you’re staring into the distance on a rooftop)
Software you’re confident with (Adobe CC, Figma, Blender, etc.)
A line about your hobbies or interests that doesn’t feel like a dating app profile
SEO tip: This is a great place to say things like “junior graphic designer,” “freelance illustrator,” or “creative based in Birmingham” to help Google (and clients) find you.
5. Make It Functional. Make It Fast. Make It Mobile.
It’s tempting to go wild with animations and scroll effects, but the truth is: people just want to see your work.
So:
Keep navigation simple
Make sure it loads quickly (especially on mobile)
Check your site on multiple devices
Don’t have auto-playing music. Just don’t.
SEO tip: Compress images, use alt tags, and make sure each project has its own page with a clear title. Google loves clean, structured content.
6. Update Often. Share Gently. Repeat Forever.
Your first portfolio won’t be perfect. And that’s fine. What matters is that it exists, and that you keep it updated.
Tips:
Add new work every few months
Archive old or less relevant projects
Share links on LinkedIn, Instagram, or creative communities
Ask for feedback (from other designers, not just your mum)
Final Thoughts: You’re Allowed to Be Figuring It Out
Making your first online graphic design portfolio might feel a bit like showing someone your diary. It’s a mixture of pride and vulnerability, with a sprinkling of “is this good enough?”
But the act of making it—
of curating your work, clarifying your goals, and putting something out into the world—is powerful.
And in the words of someone who’s spent a lot of time quietly observing people trying to prove their worth in unusual circumstances:
“Sometimes, just by asking the right questions and showing up honestly, people reveal far more than they realise.”
Make your portfolio honest. Make it yours. And don’t worry—there’s time to make it better.
Free Resource: Want a no-fuss checklist to help you get started? I’ve put together a simple, downloadable Graphic Design Portfolio Planner—perfect for ticking things off without the stress.
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