A portfolio should help someone decide whether to talk to you. Three good pieces are better than ten unfinished ones. The same rules apply whether you are in design, development, writing, marketing or operations.
The minimum that works
- A one-line introduction: what you do and what you want to do next.
- Three projects, each with a short problem statement and your role.
- One or two images, screenshots or links that actually load.
- A way to contact you without exposing your home address.
- A note on what you are learning now, so the work has a direction.
Show the thinking, not just the result
For each project, write a short case study: the brief, the constraints, the choices you made, and what you would change. A screenshot alone tells a viewer what it looks like; the case study tells them how you work.
Keep it fast and accessible
- Use plain pages that load on a slow phone.
- Write real alt text for images and captions for charts.
- Do not autoplay video or sound.
- Make the contact link easy to find.
- Check the site on a narrow screen and with the keyboard.
Privacy and ownership
Only publish work you own or have permission to share. If a project belongs to a client or a college, ask before posting it. Blur names, phone numbers and any personal data that is not yours.