Leveling Up Your Portfolio

Creating a personal portfolio can be a real challenge. You start with something, get excited and think it’s amazing — until you realize it’s not quite right, and it never gets published. We’ve all been there, right? Well, I think I’ve finally found a way to overcome this struggle.

Back in November, we hosted two Portfolio Nights at our Prague and Brno offices. It gave us a chance to see how other designers present their work, sparking discussions about what’s essential to include and what to leave out. We saw some great examples from both experienced and new designers. And it made us realize that a portfolio isn’t enough; there’s more to it than that. (More on that later!)

?So, what’s the secret recipe?

There are many types of portfolios. Some are built from scratch using tools like Framer or Webflow, while others use templates from platforms like Wix. Some designers stick to Dribbble and Behance. There’s no single best way to do it, and there’s (almost) no right or wrong answer either. (The only exception? PDF. It’s not the best way to show off your design work, especially if it includes big images.)

Just use the tool you’re most comfortable with. And if you’re new to it… start with something simple to manage, like Dribbble. Focus on your content and let your design speak for itself.

Design-wise, we’ve seen it all. Grids, like this portfolio by Andrei Rybin. Interactive experiences, like this incredible example from Martin Ehrlich or John Choura. And there’s pure typography minimalism, like this one from O?uz or Vla. Basically, there are no fast-and-hard rules here, just some guidelines to keep in mind.

Less is more. Share a few well-crafted case studies instead of a bunch of mediocre ones. And keep the text and information concise — we don’t want to overwhelm visitors.

Be unique. There are a lot of designers out there, so let your personality shine through in your portfolio. Whether it’s through your writing or your design.

Mind the details. A single typo or a confusing layout can ruin your entire portfolio. Make sure everything is polished and error-free.

Add motion. A short video or animation can really make your portfolio pop. It’s a great way to showcase your skills and creativity.

?How we review portfolios

We look for visually stunning designs with some motion and attention to detail. We don’t need a detailed process, 50 wireframes or user flows that take up two pages. It’s great to show how you think about UX and functionality, but don’t overdo it. A design with good color choices, legible typography, a good visual rhythm and a grid can do most of the work. Adding micro-interactions, transition animations and clever use of 3D, illustration and photography can really elevate the final score.

I mentioned in the beginning that a portfolio with great design, projects and assets alone isn’t enough. What’s equally important is the ability to talk about your work and yourself. Don’t just talk about your processes; show passion for what you do and love for your craft. This can really make you stand out.

We’re on the hunt for awesome people — plus, more events are coming!

We’re looking for a product designer to join our team. So, if you’ve been meaning to polish (or finally finish) your portfolio, now’s the time! Send it our way — it might just be the perfect fit and the start of something incredible.

Still not sure? We might host another Design Night this year to review portfolios and offer feedback. If enough people are interested, we’ll make it happen. No promises, though — we’ve got other design events in the works with fresh concepts. But if you’re keen on another Design Night, let us know in the comments!