Portfolio Foundations: Sharing Your Work
Explore portfolio formats, platforms, and strategies for showcasing your work to employers, clients, and collaborators.
New to portfolios? Start here!
Methods for Displaying Work
At a Glimpse Method
- This method offers a snapshot of your work by highlighting 1–2 projects in depth— perfect when you don’t have a large volume of work. Focus on showcasing your creative process, and be intentional with polished, error-free selections.
- Examples of what to include:
- Mood boards, sketches with annotations, rough drafts, photos of user testing, prototypes, or feedback sessions. Anything that tells the story behind the design!
Industry Insight! You don’t need to showcase every detail of your process, especially if NDAs are involved. Employers understand that some aspects may need to be kept confidential.
Ella Terran’s Shirley Chisholm Project serves as an excellent example of the At a Glimpse strategy.
Design Inspiration: Ella thoughtfully displayed her design inspiration, offering valuable insight into the foundational concepts that shaped the final product.
Original and Final Drafts: The original draft and the final design were showcased, allowing viewers to follow the design’s evolution and appreciate the
refinement process.
Clear Role Overview: She clearly outlined her role in the project, offering a brief yet meaningful explanation of her contributions. This added context and emphasized the value of her work.
“Design Inspiration:
Collage in design has been a powerful medium to unite art and politics. Inspired by art movements such as Dadaism and Constructivism, I wanted to implement collage to convey the impact that Shirley Chisholm had on American politics.” – Ella Terran
Photo on Left: Original Cover Design. Photo in Middle: Draft Cover. Photo on the Right: Draft Cover
Attaching the Process Method
- The “Attaching the Process” method showcases the full journey of your work directly on your site, making it easy for viewers to follow along. It’s especially effective for larger projects, allowing you to highlight each stage from start to finish.
- Examples of what to include:
- Designs and solutions showcased across various mediums, such as colors, typography, logos, and layout patterns
- Notes, mood boards, sketches, and prototypes
- Final products, including websites, social media content, posters, and more
Considerations:
- Is the file size manageable for easy downloading?
- Does it require excessive searching, or is it simple to navigate?
- Is it free of errors and polished for a seamless user experience?
Ella Terran’s Synrgy project is an excellent example of how to effectively present your project process using a widely-used platform. Here’s what makes it stand out:
Accessible and Easy-to-Read Process Book: Ella’s process book is well-organized and presented, making it easy for viewers to follow along with her design journey.
Project Information and Stats: There was valuable context by including key project details and relevant statistics, helping viewers understand the scope and impact of her work.
Comprehensive Visuals: The process book includes a variety of visuals, such as logos, sketches, mind maps, project research, and final designs, showcasing both the creative process and the polished end result.
Case Study Method
The case study approach is best for larger, more complex projects—especially in UX or team-based work—as it highlights your process from problem to solution in a clear, chronological format. It tells the full story behind your work, so make sure you have enough content and context to support it.
- Examples of what to include:
- Photos of users and design team
- Project statistics and data insights
- Affinity maps and research findings
- Prototypes and final designs
Hannah Caudill’s Connect ‘N’ Care project serves as an exemplary model for showcasing a detailed, well-rounded design process. Here’s why it stands out:
Mind Map: She incorporated a mind map to clearly outline her ideation process, providing insight into how she organized and connected project elements.
Research: Thorough research was included to demonstrate a foundational understanding of the project’s scope and user needs.
Final Infographic: The final infographic showcased her ability to convey complex information in a visually compelling and clear way.
App Information: Hannah included detailed app information, providing context about how the design would be applied in a real-world setting.
“The app icon effectively communicates the concept of support and embrace, symbolized by the arms enveloping the depicted foster family in a warm and protective hug.” – Hannah Caudill
“The illustrative icons found in the infographic symbolize the areas of wrap around support, and more straightforward, common icons for navigation purposes.” – Hannah Caudill
Updating and Presenting Your Portfolio
| Continuous Improvement | Seeking Feedback | Communicating your Process and Projects |
| Your portfolio is a living document—keep it updated with new and refined work so you’re always ready when opportunities arise. | Share your portfolio with trusted peers or mentors to get constructive feedback—fresh perspectives can reveal areas for improvement, though some suggestions may be subjective. | A strong portfolio needs a strong presentation! Practice sharing your work in a mock interview setting—whether with a mentor, career coach, or even in front of a mirror. Focusing on your design process and the challenges you faced will help you feel more confident and at ease when it’s time for the real interview. |
Behance: Perfect for sharing creative projects and gaining exposure within the design
community (requires an Adobe account).
Adobe Portfolio: Seamlessly integrates with other Adobe tools for a polished,
professional look (requires an Adobe account).
Wix: User-friendly with customizable templates, ideal for a variety of industries.
Squarespace: Sleek and modern designs for a professional online presence.
WordPress: Highly versatile with options for advanced customization.
Google Sites: Simple and straightforward for a quick start.
LinkedIn: A great platform to showcase your work alongside your professional profile.
It’s perfect for sharing drafts, projects, accomplishments, and everything in between—
especially if you’re not quite ready to build a full portfolio!
Additional Resources
- Katie Collins
- Max Dotson
- Hannah Caudill
- Ella Terran
- Yan Dan Wong
- Sigrun Hreins
- Rachel Bugge (A business portfolio example)
- Chelsea Rae Cantrell (A creative portfolio example)