What to include on a portfolio website: a section-by-section checklist

Most portfolio websites need the same handful of sections, and most weak portfolios fail in the same few ways: vague headlines, unexplained projects and no clear next step for the visitor. This checklist goes through each section in the order a visitor usually sees it, with what to include, what to avoid and a quick test for each.

Use it while building a new portfolio or reviewing one you already have.

1. The header: name, headline and photo

The top of the page is where a visitor decides whether to keep reading. It should answer two questions almost instantly: who is this, and what do they do?

Include:

• Your name, as you want to be known professionally.
• A headline of one line that says what you do and, ideally, for whom or in what area. "Product designer for healthcare apps" beats "Creative problem solver."
• Your location or working arrangement, if it matters to the roles you want, such as a city or "remote."
• A photo, optional but helpful for many roles. If you use one, it should be recent, well lit and show your face clearly.

The test: cover everything below the header. Could a stranger tell a friend what you do in one sentence? If not, rewrite the headline. The guides on writing a headline and tagline and choosing a profile photo go deeper.

2. The about section or bio

The bio gives context the headline can't. It explains your background, your focus and what you're looking for next.

Include:

• What you do now, in plain words.
• One or two things that make your experience distinctive, such as an industry, a type of problem or an unusual path.
• What you want next, such as a role, a type of client or a kind of project.
• A small human detail, if it fits naturally.

Avoid long life stories, lists of adjectives ("passionate, driven, detail-oriented") and anything that repeats the headline word for word.

The test: a good bio is usually 60 to 150 words on the main page. If yours is longer, split it into a short version up top and a longer one further down or on its own page. See how to write a professional bio for formulas and examples.

3. Projects or work samples

This is the heart of the portfolio and the section that deserves the most effort. Visitors come to see evidence, and this is where they find it.

How many to include

Three to six projects is a good range for most people. Fewer than three can look thin; more than six often means some weaker work has crept in. Put your strongest and most relevant project first.

What each project needs

For every project, include:

• A clear title that says what it was, not just a code name. "Redesigning the volunteer sign-up form" is better than "Project Phoenix."
• A cover image or visual, where possible. Screenshots, photos, diagrams or a simple slide work.
• A one-line summary that a skimmer can read on its own.
• Your role. Especially for team work, say exactly what you did.
• The problem, the approach and the result. Even two or three sentences for each makes a big difference.
• Links, where available: a live site, a repository, a published article, a video.

If you can't show the work

For confidential projects, describe the problem and approach without naming the client, use mock data in screenshots, or recreate a simplified version. Never publish anything you've agreed to keep private.

The test: read each project description as if you'd never heard of it. Do you understand why it mattered and what this person specifically did? The guide on how to write a case study has a full structure.

If you only improve one section this week, make it your first project. Many visitors won't scroll further, so it needs to be your clearest, strongest example.

4. Experience

This is a condensed version of your work history. It confirms the timeline behind your projects and fills in what the projects don't cover.

Include:

• Job title, organization, and dates for each relevant role.
• One to three short lines per role focused on results, not duties.
• Freelance, contract or volunteer work, if it's relevant, labeled honestly.

You don't need to copy every bullet from your resume. Keep the most important ones and let the projects carry the detail. Make sure titles and dates match your resume exactly.

5. Skills

A skills section helps a reader quickly confirm you have the tools and abilities a role requires.

Include:

• Skills you'd be comfortable being tested on in an interview.
• Tools and methods specific to your field.
• Groupings, if the list is long, such as "Design tools," "Research methods" or "Languages."

Avoid self-rated bars or percentages, which mean little to a reader, and generic soft skills listed without evidence. "Communication" carries more weight when one of your projects shows it. The guide on writing a skills section has more detail.

6. Education, certifications and training

Include the degrees, courses and certifications that are relevant to the work you want. For people early in their career or changing fields, this section can sit higher on the page. For experienced professionals, it usually goes near the bottom.

A short line on a relevant course project can be useful, especially if it led to something you show in your projects section.

7. Contact

A visitor who likes your work needs an easy next step. This is often the most neglected section, and it's the one that turns interest into a conversation.

Include:

• A contact form or a single clear contact method. A form lets people reach you without you publishing your email address.
• A short line inviting contact, such as "I'm open to full-time product design roles. Send me a message and I'll reply within a couple of days."
• Links to one or two professional profiles, if they're up to date.

Think carefully before publishing a phone number or home address. Most people only need a form and maybe a professional profile link. See personal information on your portfolio.

Optional sections

These can add value, but only include them if you'll keep them current:

• Testimonials, if you have real ones from clients or colleagues who agreed to be quoted.
• Writing or talks, if you publish or speak on your subject.
• Awards, if they're relevant and recent.
• A downloadable resume, for readers who want the formal version.
• Languages, if they matter for the roles you're targeting.

What to leave out

Some things make a portfolio weaker rather than stronger:

1. Work you're not proud of, included only to fill space.
2. Outdated roles described as current.
3. Placeholder text or sections marked "coming soon."
4. Unexplained jargon or internal project names.
5. Personal details you wouldn't share with a stranger, such as a full date of birth or home address.
6. Broken links. Click every one before you publish.

The guide on common portfolio mistakes covers more of these.

A quick final checklist

Before you publish, go through this list:

• My headline says what I do in one line.
• My bio is under about 150 words and says what I want next.
• I have at least three projects, each with my role, the problem and the result.
• My strongest project is first.
• Titles and dates match my resume.
• Every link works.
• There's a clear way to contact me.
• I've checked the page on a phone.
• I've removed anything I wouldn't want a stranger to see.

Putting it together

A strong portfolio isn't about having many sections. It's about having the right ones, each doing one job well: the header says who you are, the bio adds context, the projects provide evidence, experience and skills confirm the basics, and the contact section turns interest into a message.

Build the sections in order of importance, starting with the headline and your first project, and add the rest once those are solid. If you'd like a draft to work from, Folitox AI can build one from your resume, and you can then edit every section yourself.