How Do I Start a Graphic Design Portfolio From Scratch?

Creating a graphic design portfolio from scratch is no easy feat, but it can be a fantastic way to showcase your work and skills to potential employers and peers. A successful portfolio will be able to show off your ability to solve complex problems, use a variety of tools, and present engaging visuals.

Identifying Your Strengths – Before you begin putting together your portfolio, it’s important to identify what makes you unique as a designer. This means understanding the type of design work you’re best at, the mediums you prefer to work in, and the topics that you specialize in. Knowing these things can help narrow down the pieces of work that you wish to include in your portfolio and make it easier for potential employers or clients to get an idea of what kind of designer you are.

Creating Your Content – Creating content for a graphic design portfolio is all about showcasing your skills and abilities. While it’s important that the pieces included in your portfolio accurately represent what type of designer you are, it’s also important that they are visually appealing.

Consider adding some illustration or animation pieces if possible, as these can really make an impact on viewers. Additionally, think about including some behind-the-scenes content such as sketches or process images.

Choosing Your Platform – Once you have identified your strengths and created content for your portfolio, it’s time to choose a platform where you can display it. There are many different options available including hosting sites like Behance or Adobe Portfolio as well as personal websites that can be built with WordPress or Squarespace.

Creating Presentations – Having a professional looking presentation is essential when creating a graphic design portfolio from scratch. Consider making use of presentation software such as Adobe InDesign or Keynote to create slideshows featuring different pieces of work that showcase your skillset.

Marketing & Promotion – The final step when creating a graphic design portfolio from scratch is marketing and promotion. It’s important to share the link or website address with interested parties so they can view the portfolio online. Also consider using social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to share images from the portfolio as well as updates about new projects.

Creating a graphic design portfolio from scratch may seem intimidating but with careful planning and attention to detail, it can be an effective way for designers to showcase their talents. Start by identifying what makes you unique as a designer then create content that accurately represents these qualities while also being visually appealing. Choose a platform where the portfolio can be displayed then create presentations with software such as InDesign or Keynote before finally promoting the link on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.

Conclusion: How Do I Start A Graphic Design Portfolio From Scratch?


Creating a successful graphic design portfolio requires careful planning before putting any digital assets together. Identifying strengths and weaknesses while creating content that accurately represents these qualities is very important in order for potential employers or clients get an idea of what kind of designer you are capable of being. Choosing an appropriate platform for displaying this content followed by creating presentations with software such InDesign or Keynote along with promoting on social media will help ensure success when starting a graphic design portfolio from scratch!