Online profile sites have become quite the rage in the design community over the past decade. They give the budding designer the chance to find a job, generate leads, build a reputation and network. Setting up design portfolios takes time and there are lots of different options to choose from.
The portfolio site you select (and the work you place on it) will depend on what you’re trying to achieve. It’s not as simple as saying “DeviantArt is for artists, Behance is for designers.”
Think about it: your portfolio site is the first thing that your potential client, boss, or peer will see. You only have a few seconds to make the right impression. And one chance for your work to stick in their mind or elicit the response you’re looking for.
The Infographic below, Design Portfolios! 11 Best Online Portfolio Sites – created by Harry Bugg – outlines everything you need to know to develop the perfect portfolio site.
Here are 5 key ways this infographic can help you select the best portfolio site:
1. Match Your Portfolio to Your Ideal Media
Whatever your specialism, find the right portfolio option for you. Check out the handy icons to find out what types of work each site is best able to feature.
2. Find out What You Get for Free
Find out which sites offer Free membership options, and discover what this could mean too you at a glance.
3. Discover the Pros and Cons
However good a site is there are always Pro’s and Con’s. Some people are happy to code; others prefer templates or functionality that’s easy to use. Some sites will be too basic for some users; others offer loads of features at a higher cost.
4. Uncover Paid Membership Benefits
What do you get for your money? Find out the costs and benefits that each option gives you.
5. What About a Job Board?
Need a Job? Then you should pick a portfolio with a Job Board. Sounds obvious but its surprising which sites don’t have this functionality.
Featured image by Tran Mau Tri Tan
About The Author
Eleanor Hecks is the Editor-in-Chief of Designerly Magazine, an online publication dedicated to providing in-depth content from the design and marketing industries. When she's not designing or writing code, you can find her exploring the outdoors with her husband and dog in their RV, burning calories at a local Zumba class, or curled up with a good book with her cats Gem and Cali.
You can find more of Eleanor's work at www.eleanorhecks.com.