1. Develop Your Idea
I want to create a portfolio website to showcase my skills as an illustrator. My vision is to design a site with a distinctive and memorable style, incorporating dynamic visual elements that reflect my artistic approach. The color palette will be bold yet clean, ensuring the layout feels modern and uncluttered. The ultimate goal of this site is to capture the attention of companies, creative studios, and graduate schools, presenting my work in a way that highlights both professionalism and individuality.
2. Discovery and Research
Essentially, I aim to create a website that is both unique and expressive, while maintaining a clear layout and intuitive navigation. I lean toward designs that are distinctive, feature standout colors, or embrace a simple, fresh, and natural aesthetic.
I have browsed and studied numerous online portfolios by illustrator, observing the unique approaches they take in visual layout, navigation design, and content presentation. Each portfolio carries its own style, theme, and mode of expression, which has inspired me in shaping my own website. My aim is to create a portfolio that not only attracts and engages viewers but also stays true to my personal aesthetic and artistic vision.
The following examples are websites featuring background animation effects and color schemes that I particularly like.
Gufram
Yiqiao Lan兰依桥
Grab&Go
The Grab and Go website also uses animation as its background. I particularly enjoy its design for two reasons. First, the colors are strikingly vibrant yet limited in number, with high saturation that creates a strong visual impact. Second, as visitors navigate through the site, the “Grab and Go” box continuously follows their view, appearing on every page almost like a cursor. This clever interaction not only strengthens the brand’s presence but also inspires me to think about how consistent visual elements and bold color choices can make my own portfolio more memorable and immersive.
ToreS.Bentsen
Tore S. Bentsen’s website gives off a professional and tasteful impression, making it an excellent model for showcasing the image of a creative or designer. It carries a “refined yet slightly avant-garde” feel—breaking away from the conservative style of traditional portfolios and leaning more toward artistry and visual impact. The main title and his name, “Tore S. Bentsen” are repeated multiple times using a minimal yet striking font and layout, leaving visitors with a strong and immediate impression: this is both a portfolio and a creative identity. The consistent use of color, typography, and image proportions creates a unified and professional look. Each section of the site is paired with animated visuals, allowing viewers to quickly grasp the content. Notably, the homepage features his name and photograph in animated form, which adds a unique and creative touch. This design approach inspires me to explore ways of combining strong personal branding, consistency, and interactive animation to give my own portfolio both clarity and impact.
3. Target Your Audience
The target audience for this website includes potential employers who wish to gain deeper insight into my creative interests and passions, graduate professors, as well as fellow writers, artists, designers, and photographers who share similar interests and may be drawn to my work.
4. Inspiration and concepts
5. Thumbnails and Sketches
6. Wireframe
7. PhotoShop Comp