5 Things a Web Designer Should Include in a Portfolio
Web Designer Portfolio Essentials
- Buttons and Navigation Bars
- An Icon Set
- Mobile Layouts
- A Stunning Landing Page
- A Thematic Design
Finding clients can feel overwhelming, but this easy-to-follow article shows you exactly what you need to put in your web design portfolio. By thinking about clients’ needs and creating personalized content, you’ll be ahead of the competition. Everything from responsive layouts on mobile to dazzling landing pages will turn your portfolio into a magnet for clients.
Buttons and Navigation Bars
One of the first things every new designer learns is how to create a button. Although it may be easy to create, it’s not easy to stand out from the competition. Whether you’re interested in the flat design trend or you have other ideas on your mind, it’s necessary to show off multiple button styles and navigation bars in your web design portfolio. Creating these elements may seem mundane at times, but they are vital to a solid brand that looks credible and interesting to customers. If you’re working with a library like Bootstrap to create a responsive website, you’ll want to ensure your design looks different from everyone else using this powerful tool.
An Icon Set
Redesigning a set of icons is a great way to get noticed by potential clients in the web design world. No matter which web design trends pique your interest, you can’t go wrong with a standard set of icons. From emoticons to social media, you’ll have no trouble finding a source of inspiration for your next project. The reason you should include icons in your web design portfolio is simply that they’re ubiquitous. Whether designing a website for a restaurant or a financial adviser, icons are a must.
Mobile Layouts
In 2017, creating a website involves more than simply considering multiple different browsers. With the increasing popularity of tablets and smartphones, mobile websites are essentially unavoidable. These days, you need to show clients that you can effectively design a responsive mobile website that looks just as great as your desktop designs. If you don’t have experience with mobile websites, it pays to practice before creating a portfolio piece. You’ll have to think about touch and user interface, two aspects a traditional web designer may struggle with.
A Stunning Landing Page
These days, web design clients are concerned with more than simply establishing an online presence. They want to make sales and convert visitors into customers. Your design should demonstrate exactly how you’ll do that for your client. Start with an impressive landing page that has some of the most effective features to convert leads. This can include anything from live chat windows to modal popups that prompt customers to trade their emails for a free eBook. Ultimately, this part of your portfolio will show clients that you’re exactly the designer they need. You’ll show that you not only design beautiful websites but also that you think about the client’s business needs.
A Thematic Design
Finally, one more noteworthy option web designers should include in their portfolios is a thematic design. Although this kind of project can be time-intensive, it’s also unique and memorable. What works for one company will likely not work for the next, and that’s exactly why a thematic design will make you stand out as a web designer. Whether you create a cooking blog with old-fashioned recipe cards for blog posts or a tutoring website with interactive notebooks and pencil buttons, you can surely find a creative layout to show off your skills.
Concluding Thoughts
With these tips, it’s possible to create a web design portfolio that will get you clients. From thematic designs to unique navigation bars, every web designer should include these pieces in their portfolios.
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