How to design a portfolio website that gets noticed in 2024

A portfolio website is your digital business card, and in 2024, standing out in the crowded online space requires more than just displaying your work. Whether you’re a web developer, designer, or a digital agency, crafting a portfolio website that captures attention and converts visitors into clients or collaborators is key. Here’s how you can design a portfolio website that gets noticed this year.

1. Focus on purpose and target audience

Before jumping into the design, identify the goal of your portfolio and who your audience is.

Who are you targeting? Potential clients, employers, or collaborators?
What is your goal? To showcase your skills, sell your services, or simply build your personal brand?

Understanding your audience will guide your design choices, from layout to content and functionality.

2. Keep the design clean and professional

Cluttered designs confuse visitors. Adopt a clean, minimalistic approach that highlights your work rather than the design itself.

Use white space strategically to guide attention.
Limit your color palette to a few complementary tones.
Choose professional fonts for easy readability, such as sans-serif fonts like Inter or Roboto.

Example

A simple grid layout can effectively display your projects without overwhelming the viewer.

3. Showcase your best work

Your portfolio isn’t a dumping ground for every project you’ve ever completed.

Highlight your top 5–10 projects that showcase your skills and fit your target audience's needs.
Include case studies for major projects to explain your thought process, challenges, and results.
Use high-quality images, videos, or live demos to make your work stand out.

4. Prioritize mobile responsiveness

In 2024, mobile-first design is non-negotiable. Most visitors will view your portfolio on their phones or tablets.

Test your site on multiple devices to ensure seamless navigation.
Optimize images and videos for fast loading on smaller screens.
Use a responsive framework like Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap.

5. Optimize for SEO and performance

To get noticed, your portfolio needs to be discoverable and fast.

Write SEO-friendly content, including a compelling About Me page and project descriptions with relevant keywords.
Compress images and use lazy loading to improve site speed.
Implement schema markup to enhance your portfolio's visibility in search engines.

Visitors should find what they’re looking for without hassle.

Use a sticky navbar with clearly labeled sections like "About," "Portfolio," and "Contact."
Include a search feature if your site has a large number of projects.
Provide filters for projects (e.g., by category or technology).

7. Include a strong call to action

Every portfolio website needs to guide visitors towards a specific action.

Add a prominent "Hire Me" or "Contact Me" button.
Use engaging copy to prompt visitors to get in touch.
Integrate contact forms or link to your email and social media profiles.

Trust matters. Build credibility by showcasing:

Testimonials from clients or collaborators.
Logos of companies you’ve worked with.
Awards or certifications you've received.

9. Use modern tools and frameworks

Keep your tech stack updated to deliver a fast, secure, and visually appealing experience.

For web developers: consider Nuxt.js, React, or SvelteKit.
For designers: use tools like Figma or Adobe XD to prototype before coding.

10. Iterate and keep it updated

Your portfolio isn’t static. Regular updates show growth and keep the content relevant.

Add new projects periodically.
Update your design to match current trends.
Analyze user behavior using tools like Google Analytics to identify areas for improvement.

Conclusion

A portfolio website that gets noticed in 2024 combines clean design, mobile responsiveness, and a clear focus on your audience's needs. By highlighting your best work, optimizing for SEO, and continuously iterating, you can create a site that not only attracts attention but also converts visitors into clients or collaborators.

Start designing today and make your portfolio the ultimate showcase of your skills and creativity!