Shift the mental model of a portfolio from a simple gallery of projects to an immersive experience. Designer Matt Sellers focused on making his homepage itself a demonstration of his craft and attention to detail, encouraging exploration even if visitors never click into a specific case study. The medium becomes the message.
Contrary to the 'mobile-first' mantra, focusing creative energy on a rich desktop experience is more effective for design portfolios. The target audience鈥攈iring managers鈥攊s overwhelmingly likely to review candidates on a desktop. This allows for complex, hover-based interactions that better showcase craft without being constrained by mobile limitations.
Instead of showcasing a large volume of projects, radically cut down your portfolio to only the absolute best. Designer Matt Sellers cut over 87% of his work. This strategy ensures every piece raises the average quality, preventing weaker projects from creating negative signals for hiring managers.
Designer Matt Sellers intentionally omitted process details and impact metrics from his portfolio. He operated on the belief that if he couldn't immediately convey quality and care through the work itself, no amount of explanation could save it. The final visual output was the only thing he wanted to showcase.
Instead of generic copy, use references that resonate with a specific audience. Matt Sellers' line about '12,800% zoom' was crafted to connect with experienced designers who've spent time deep in design tools. This acts as a powerful signal that builds rapport and filters for the right cultural fit.
Frame the creation of your portfolio as an opportunity to learn a new skill or tool, like Framer. Matt Sellers used his project to push Framer to its limits, creating complex components and custom code. This transforms a routine task into a powerful learning experience that provides a 'superpower' for future client work.
If your execution skills are still developing, focus on demonstrating strong design taste. Find portfolios you admire and deconstruct them, asking why specific choices were made around spacing, color, and timing. This process builds your design intuition and signals to hiring managers that you have a high quality bar and are coachable.