From the article: How To Design a Website
In our online poll about portfolio websites, over 30% of those that responded said they know they need one but don't know where to start. As with many projects, getting started can be the hardest part. If you have experience creating a portfolio for your own design work, or for others, please share your tips and advice on the first steps to take.
Lot of Sketching
- Do lots of sketching before you go into any design program.
- —Guest john spears
Define Your Needs
- Starting an online portfolio is like choosing a suit for a first job interview. It is important to make it look professional, while representing your personality. My tip would be to put a quick site together for a couple of months, and that will help you define your needs: larger images, more content, categories, image carousels, etc. At this point, you will have had some feedback and then you can follow the a more standard design process: sketching, wireframes, design and coding.
- —art176
Categorize By Priority
- 1. Try to categorize your portfolio by priority. If you are expert in designing logos then don't put your print designs on no 1. 2. Always try to mention award, reviews or testimonials on the front page. 3. You can put your recent work news on the home page to let visitors know the site is frequently updated.
- —Seshadriroy
Some Tips
- Well I've found when starting out a new project to write down everything you want to incorporate into the page or site. Then just start adding to it, and you will find the more you work on it the more you will decide on what to add and what not too.
- —Guest Andrew
Starting an Online Portfolio
- I recently built my website and I was scattered from the beginning! I would suggest looking onto other portfolio sites for inspiration, what works for you, what doesn't, etc. Then go through your own pieces and see what you would like the viewer to see. I did this by making a list of all things and then categorized them into different sections of how I wanted them shown in the site. I wanted it to be as simple as possible and to the point. All I have is home, portfolio, and a contact page. I made a makeshift light box and photographed my collateral in various different layouts. I designed the look of the site and cutout and sized the images. I then worked on the copy. I wrote out what I wanted it to say about me and about each piece. I had a friend who is an editor look it over. Once I had it all sized, designed and edited, I sent it to another friend that could put it together for me and made it function. Tada!
- —gabrielletb