I've been redesigning my website every year since 2015. On the one hand, it can be a bit embarrassing to look back at my old work, it's also nice to look back and see how I've grown as a designer. Even better than that is that each design has taught me a valuable lesson that has helped me improve on each of the following designs, here's what I discovered.
Should designers learn to code for their portfolio?
Learning to code is worth it if it moves you closer to the work you want to do. Before 2015, I was working on print and branding projects more than I cared to. I started to learn how to code as a way to move into a front end design role and better understand what it's like to design for the web.
It may not make sense for you to learn how to code, that's okay. Make sure you are taking the time to start thinking about what you need to know for your next role and start practicing it now.
How much visual style is too much for a design portfolio?
Your portfolio is one of the best places to develop a personal style, but make sure you stand out for the right reasons, not for inaccessible text or a half-finished JavaScript animation. I'm guilty of this and much more on an earlier version of my site. Experimenting with style is a fun thing to try, but it may not put your best foot forward if it hurts usability or first impressions.
Why shouldn't designers stop at a nice homepage?
A great homepage alone isn't a portfolio. I learned this the hard way when I built a homepage with bold CSS angles and felt like I'd reached peak portfolio design. In reality, I'd painted myself into a corner because the visual identity only worked on the homepage, which meant I never created case studies, blog content, or even a real about page. If I had planned the site like a real client project, I would have created a visual system with enough depth to carry across every page.
Should your portfolio follow current design trends?
Chasing trends is one of the fastest ways to end up with a portfolio that doesn't feel like you. I tried fitting my site into a minimal, almost brutalist aesthetic because it was popular at the time, and it missed the mark. Exploring style on your personal website is a good thing, but design the site you actually want, inspired by the things that inspire you, rather than forcing your brand into whatever's trending.
When is a simple portfolio website the right choice?
A simple portfolio is the right choice when a trendy or complex site doesn't feel like you and you'd rather ship something than redesign forever. After scrapping a site that felt more trendy than personal, I created a really simple landing page with just the important details about me. Simplifying your website gives you a placeholder, a place to experiment, and makes you discoverable, without the pressure of maintaining something elaborate.
What happens when you treat your portfolio like a real project?
Treating your portfolio like a real project. with research, sketches, and a content plan. is what finally made me happy with my site after five redesigns. I wrote earlier about thinking of your personal website as a side project. I first had this realization in late 2019, when my simplified site was a decent placeholder but didn't help me achieve my goal of writing more or showcasing my work. Once I started approaching it the way I would any client project, things clicked. The site is never truly done, but I finally turned the corner because I put real effort into building the portfolio I always wished I had.