Mar 30
what should a graphic design portfolio include

What Should a Graphic Design Portfolio Include?

Your graphic design portfolio is your most valuable creative asset.

Whether you’re applying for a new role, pitching a client, or refreshing your personal brand, your portfolio should do more than display your work. It should connect the dots between your talent and the opportunities you’re targeting.

If you’re asking what should a graphic design portfolio include, you’re asking the right question—and the answer is all about focus, intention, and presentation.

Strong graphic design portfolios do three things:

  • Showcase your best work
  • Tell the story behind each project
  • Guide your viewer through your thinking and creative process

Let’s walk through exactly what yours should include—and how to make it work harder for you.

Define the Purpose of Your Portfolio

Before you create a single page, answer these three questions:

  • Who will be reviewing this portfolio?
  • What kind of projects do I want to be hired for?
  • What impression do I want to leave?

Your portfolio isn’t just a collection. It’s a pitch. Everything you include should support that pitch.

Curate the Right Projects

A portfolio isn’t a dumping ground for everything you’ve ever created. It’s a highlight reel.

Your portfolio should include:

  • 6 to 10 of your best, most relevant projects
  • Work that reflects the type of design you want to continue doing
  • A mix of formats: branding, web, packaging, print, and digital
  • A consistent visual standard—layout, color, and hierarchy
  • Optional extras: process visuals, sketches, or early drafts

Aim for quality, not quantity. One excellent branding system tells more about your ability than five average projects.

Build a Portfolio from Scratch (If You’re Starting Fresh)

If you’re creating a portfolio from scratch, don’t panic. Every designer starts somewhere—and you don’t need paid client work to build credibility.

Here’s how to create real value with self-initiated work:

  • Redesign an existing brand you admire
  • Create a campaign for a fictional startup
  • Help a local Atlanta business with a rebrand
  • Volunteer with nonprofits or small community groups
  • Design passion projects based on industries you care about

The secret is to treat every piece as if it were a paid brief. Define the audience. Solve a problem. Present it professionally.

Include the Story Behind Each Piece

What made the project successful isn’t just how it looks—it’s how it works.

For each project, include:

  • A short project summary
  • Your role and responsibilities
  • The design challenge or objective
  • Key decisions and the creative process
  • The final result and how it solved the problem

Keep it concise. No one wants to read a novel, but skipping the context won’t help either.

Add Case Studies for Depth

Choose your most impactful project and expand it into a case study.

Case studies give your portfolio depth and show that you can think strategically—not just design beautifully.

A simple case study structure:

  • The problem or client need
  • Your approach (research, inspiration, concept development)
  • Design execution
  • Real-world application
  • Outcome or client results

Case studies are especially important for roles where collaboration, UX, or strategy are key.

Show a Range of Skills and Formats

Even if you’re specialized, showing flexibility is valuable.

Aim for a balanced portfolio with work that spans across:

  • Branding and identity systems
  • Web and UI/UX design
  • Packaging and product design
  • Editorial, print, or marketing layouts
  • Motion or interactive pieces (if applicable)

If you’ve focused on one area (like digital), that’s okay—just make sure your work reflects depth within that space.

Design with Structure and Clarity

A good designer knows that presentation matters. Whether it’s digital or print, layout tells your viewer how to engage with your work.

Portfolio layout best practices:

  • Use consistent type, spacing, and color schemes
  • Avoid clutter—use white space to separate ideas
  • Create visual rhythm by alternating full-bleed images and text blocks
  • Don’t overcrowd the page; let each project breathe

If your layout is difficult to navigate, it will reflect poorly on your design instincts.

Prepare a Printed Portfolio for In-Person Opportunities

Even in a digital-first world, a printed portfolio can make a big impact.

Bring it to in-person interviews or meetings to create a more memorable, hands-on experience.

What to include in a printed portfolio:

  • High-quality paper (no thin stock or glossy pages)
  • A well-bound format (perfect-bound, saddle-stitched, or coil)
  • A clean cover, table of contents, and contact page
  • The same projects featured in your online portfolio, adapted for print
  • A leave-behind or business card with a QR code linking to your site

A well-produced printed book tells people you take your work seriously—and you’re invested in how others experience it.

Link It to an Online Portfolio

No matter how strong your printed work is, you still need an online portfolio.

It’s your 24/7 point of contact and the first place clients or employers will look you up.

Key elements of your online portfolio:

  • A homepage that clearly states what you do
  • Projects organized by discipline or industry
  • Mobile-friendly design
  • Case studies for high-impact projects
  • Contact page with email and links to LinkedIn or social

Tie your print and digital experience together by including a scannable QR code or short URL.

Tailor the Portfolio to Each Opportunity

A tailored portfolio feels personal—and strategic.

Instead of using one static version, adapt your project order and tone depending on the opportunity.

If you’re applying for a UX role, lead with web and interface work. If you’re pitching a consumer brand, emphasize packaging and product storytelling. If it’s a design agency, showcase versatility and problem-solving.

Personalization is how you go from “one of many” to “top of the list.”

Add a Personal Page

The best portfolios include a short section that gives viewers a sense of the person behind the work.

What to include:

  • A short, well-written bio
  • Your design background or training
  • The type of work or industries that interest you
  • A headshot (optional but helpful)
  • Clear contact details

This personal element helps build trust and adds a human side to your portfolio.

What Every Graphic Design Portfolio Should Include

  • 6–10 curated projects
  • Project summaries with clear context
  • A portfolio from scratch if you’re early in your career
  • Case studies that show problem-solving
  • Diverse formats and disciplines
  • A clean, well-designed layout
  • A printed portfolio for face-to-face presentations
  • An online portfolio that reflects your brand
  • Personalized content for each viewer
  • A thoughtful About Me or Contact page

At the End of the Day

Your portfolio is the proof of your potential. It’s how you show the quality of your work—and the quality of your thinking.

So when you’re asking what should a graphic design portfolio include, remember: the answer isn’t just what goes in—it’s how it all comes together.

Whether you’re rebuilding your site, designing a leave-behind, or putting together a printed piece for your next big pitch, your portfolio is your brand.

Make it clear.Make it clean.Make it unforgettable.

Need Help Making Your Portfolio Stand Out?

At MOCK, the agency, we help creatives package their work in a way that gets noticed—and gets results.

From portfolio layout and visual storytelling to branding and print production, we’ll help you show up with polish, strategy, and style.

Let’s build something that works.

Contact MOCK, the agency

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