How to Build a Stellar Portfolio
Building a portfolio is not just slapping together everything you've ever done - it is a curated highlight reel of your best work that demonstrates your skills and process.
Hiring managers have to sift through hundreds of resumes to hire for a single role so they are NOT going to spend a lot of time looking at your portfolio. You need to catch their attention and show them exactly why they should put you in their shortlist, and you need to do it FAST!
This guide will give you everything you need to build an impressive portfolio. If you still have questions, feel free to each out to us on our Discord server. We're happy to help!
Planning & Preparation
It might seem tempting to jump straight into creating your website and uploading your projects, but taking the time to plan strategically will make a big difference in the end.
Define Your Goals:
What do you want your portfolio to achieve for you? Are you targeting a specific type of job, seeking freelance clients, or networking in the ID community?
If you're looking to secure a job in a specific industry, consider the look and feel that would most appeal to people in that sector:
Would they want "fun and quirky" or "sleek and modern"?
What type of projects and content would be most relevant?
What best showcases the skills for that industry?
It's OK if you make a general portfolio, especially if you're just starting out and don't have a lot of content. But if you've already identified the type or work you want to get, use that to help you make decisions as they come up throughout the rest of this process!
Choose Your Focus
Decide if you want a broad portfolio showcasing different skills or a niche portfolio focusing on a specific area like eLearning, VR/AR, or performance improvement.
Again, it's OK if you don't have a lot to choose from at the moment, but think about how you might eventually want to categorize your work.
Example: If you know you need to show proficiency in eLearning Authoring Tools (like Articulate Storyline) and Learning Management Systems (LMS) to get your dream job, you should make sure you have at least one project that showcases each of those skills well.
Conduct a Content Audit
If you have any existing work (even incomplete), get it together in one place. Analyze what aligns with the goals you just set and identify where the gaps are.
Consider creating a folder for all of your portfolio assets on Google Drive. This will make it easy to link to projects and keep things organized, especially as your portfolio grows!
Based on your audit, determine if you need to create entirely new projects or if you can revamp existing materials.
Prioritize your gaps and order the topics so you know which projects would be the most impactful and start with those.
Remember: Creating a great portfolio is a marathon not a foot race so take your time! Having a few high-quality projects is better than having lots of mediocre ones.
Create a Website
Let's build a home for your projects!
Choosing the right platform and deciding how to present your work can feel overwhelming, but don't worry, there are lots of great services and resources out there to help make this a painless (and affordable) process!
Website Builders
Even if you are comfortable with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, visual website builders are a great way to create a professional-looking portfolio. Their drag-and-drop (WYSIWYG) interfaces make building a website quick and easy without you having to know any code at all.
There are MANY different website building platforms to choose from, but we're going to highlight just a few of them for you to choose from:
Question: Can't I just create a PDF of my work?
While you CAN create a PowerPoint, PDF, or set of links to showcase your work, websites are the gold standard. They allow your audience to experience real samples embedded in the site and provide more flexibility in the kinds of media you can showcase.
Besides allowing you to better show off your projects, they also give the hiring team a sense of your technical ability and design tastes. What color palette, font, and images you choose all play a role in your portfolio's impression.
Pick a Platform
Google Sites is Google's free website builder. You can make unlimited websites under your existing Google account and it's seamlessly integrated with other Google tools like Google Docs, Forms, Slides, Sheets, and Drive.
Carrd.co is a free website builder that focuses on "single page" websites. It's kind of like a digital business card, although you can use "Sections" to create the appearance of pages. With the free plan, you can create up to 3 websites with all of Carrd.co's core features (which is everything you need to build a great portfolio).
Framer is a much more advanced website builder that has a steeper learning curve. However, if you want more functionality and the ability to do more advanced features, Framer might be a better choice to fully express the vision for your portfolio.
Note: All of these website builders can be used for free, however you'll run into various limitations unless you upgrade. Google Sites is completely free but is the most limited in terms of features and customization. Carrd.co's free version does not let you embed HTML which may be a dealbreaker if you want to showcase elearning projects directly on your site. Framer allows you the full functionality of the site for free but you won't be able to customize your domain without upgrading.
Factors to Consider in Picking a Platform
At the end of the day, it comes down to few decision points:
Ease of Use
Customization
Price
Ease of Use
If you've never built a website before, ease of use may be the most important consideration. You may need to get your site up and running quickly so it's not worth the extra effort to learn how to use all the bells and whistles of a full featured website like Framer.
Both Carrd.co and Google Sites are extremely easy to use. Google Sites may be the the easiest to learn but Carrd.co may be the easiest to make your site look professional.
Customization
If making your portfolio stand out and show exactly what you want how you want it (and you're not afraid of a learning curve), Framer may be the best option.
While Carrd.co and Google Sites can be customized quite a bit, you'll quickly run into limitations if you want to push your site to the next level.
Framer will give you the most customization and Google Sites will provide you the least.
Price
If you're on a budget, you can't go wrong with any of the three options here. ALL of these sites can be used for free with great results.
Google Sites is completely free AND you can add a custom domain name, so if you can work around its limitations, this may be the best option for you.
Both Framer and Carrd.co require upgraded plans to use a custom domain but Carrd.co is very affordable at $20/year for 3 sites while Framer starts around $60-120 per year, depending on your needs.
Custom Domains: Custom domains are again a gold standard feature, but are not going to be the deciding factor whether a company or organization will hire you. However, if you would like to invest in a domain, you can buy a custom domain on Cloudflare for as little as $10/year.
Website Builder Tutorials
There are plenty of excellent tutorials on YouTube to help you get started if you need some extra help with your build. Here are just a couple recent ones:
Add & Create Projects
Now that you have your website up and running, it's time to take a look back at the projects you have and the gaps that exist.
Let's look at some strategies to help you fill any gaps you still have in your portfolio.
What kind of projects should I make?
If you're really stuck and have no inspiration, you can remake projects that already exist, however, I would encourage you to be strategic in how you spend your valuable time. Here are some ideas to help you come up with projects you can be proud of!
Relevant Topics
Think back to your end goal - where do you want this portfolio to take you? If you want to be in a certain industry (like finance, healthcare, or education), think about what kinds of training those organizations might want to have?
For the finance industry, interactive scenarios on financial decision-making (for clients or employees), explainer videos on complex financial products or regulations, or microlearning modules on budgeting or investing basics would help you stand out when the hiring manager of the bank is looking at your portfolio.
Patient education materials on specific conditions or procedures, simulations for training medical staff on new equipment or techniques, or compliance training (HIPAA, safety protocols, etc.) would all be relevant if applying for a job in the healthcare field.
Lesson plans or activities incorporating emerging technologies, curriculum design samples focused on specific subject areas or grade levels, or resources for supporting diverse learners or social-emotional learning would help you land a job in higher education or K12.
Volunteer Opportunities
Look for organizations whose mission resonates with you and where you can offer the most value.
Offer targeted help like creating a short eLearning module, a job aid, or facilitating a workshop. Don't bite off more than you can chew! Keep it small and focused.
Gain experience, build your portfolio, and connect with potential collaborators or mentors.
For example, partner with a local food bank to design volunteer training materials or a resource guide for clients.
Passion Projects
Is there a skill, hobby, or cause you'd love to teach others about?
Try new design approaches, tools, or styles without the constraints of a client.
Demonstrate that you're a lifelong learner and enjoy instructional design outside of paid work.
For example, build an interactive eLearning course on gardening basics or a series of explainer videos on a niche history topic.
Case Studies
Not all projects need to be eLearning courses! Write up a case study on a training solution you did in the past. This is especially valuable if you're career-changing or don't have or are not allowed to share the actual artifact. Include job aids, infographics, facilitator guides, or assessment designs.
Focus on a common industry challenge or a problem relevant to your target audience and write up a needs analysis or create a job aid to solve it.
Outline the entire process – analysis, design decisions, sample materials, and how you'd evaluate the solution's effectiveness.
If all else fails, fake it till you make it! For example, design a new employee onboarding program for a fictional software company. Even if the experience isn't real, the skills and deliverable can still show off your skills.
Note: Adding projects to your portfolio as you create them can be a great source of motivation and visual progress. Don't feel pressured to put everything up all at once! Take your time and make sure your projects are ready before adding them to your website.
Polish Your Portfolio
You've built your site and added some great projects! It might be tempting to start sending your portfolio off, but before you do, let's put some finishing touches on it to make it really shine!
Don't just show, tell!
In addition to the project itself, it is a good idea to also add a brief description of the project and how it came about. There are several strategies you can use to do this but one easy-to-remember method is STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result):
Situation: Describe what was going on, what was the context around the project that made it important? Describe the challenge, problem, or situation you faced.
Task: Explain what your specific responsibility or task was in that situation. What were you expected to achieve?
Action: Describe the specific actions YOU took to address the challenge or complete the task. Focus on what you did, not what the team did. Use strong action verbs to highlight your initiative and skills.
Result: Describe the outcome of your actions. What was the impact or benefit achieved? Quantify results if possible (e.g., increased sales by 15%).
Here's an example:
Situation: (Describe the context) "As a junior instructional designer at a software company, I was tasked with creating online training for a new product launch. The product was complex, and the target audience had varying levels of technical expertise."
Task: (Explain your responsibility) "My job was to develop a training program that would effectively onboard new users and ensure they could use the software confidently."
Action: (Describe your specific actions) "I conducted user interviews to understand the audience's needs and challenges. Then, I created a multi-module training program that included interactive tutorials, video demonstrations, and knowledge checks."
Result: (Describe the outcome) "The training program was a success. User feedback was very positive, and post-training assessments showed a significant increase in user confidence and proficiency with the new software."
Hint: You may write out each of the words to help the hiring manager see clearly each step of your process, but you may also choose to write it up as a brief paragraph instead.
Proofread!
Don't be too hasty to share your hard work, make sure you thoroughly proof your portfolio before sending it off. Silly typo's and missing words make you seem careless and attention to detail is crucial in this field!
You can use an extension like Grammarly to help you find spelling and grammar mistakes but it's a good idea to read through everything at least once before you submit your portfolio to a potential employer.
Add an About Me Section
You should add a section to introduce yourself, your core skills, educational background, and career aspirations. It should be short and sweet but provide more information to a curious hiring manager that likes what they see.
This section is a bit different than your resume or cover letter. It can include more personal information and things you might not include in more professional settings. It serves to give employers a sense of your personality and overall vibe, but remember that it should still be professional.
It's usually a good practice to add an image of yourself on your portfolio. It can make your portfolio feel more personal and show your professionalism, but it's not required.
Hint: When linking to your portfolio, link directly to the page where you have your most relevant work samples. The hiring manager may only spend 2 minutes looking at your resume before deciding whether or not you make the shortlist so make it count! Don't allow them to waste precious time fumbling around trying to find your work.
Get Feedback
Wow! Your portfolio is looking good!
Now find a friend or family member to destroy it!
Send the link to a friend to test it out, make sure all the buttons work and the links go where they're supposed to. Make sure your projects all load correctly and ask them to test it on their cell phone and computer.
Get Peer Reviews
Use your network and ask fellow instructional designers or mentors to give constructive feedback before sending it off to recruiters or hiring managers. Use the ID Atlas Discord to get feedback from professionals and help fine tune anything that doesn't look or work right.
Publish and Update!
You've done the work, now hit publish and send it off! Share your portfolio with your professional network and add it to your resume. Be proud of the work you've done and make sure it's representing you well!
Remember: This is a living, digital representation of your skills. Keep it up-to-date and add to it regularly.
Summary
You did it! We hope this page was helpful and that you can take the lessons you learned and create a stellar portfolio!
Check the recap and resources below for more info!
How to Build a Great Portfolio:
Plan how you want to use your portfolio - identify your goals and target audience. Decide if you want it to be a broad showcase of your skills or focus on a specific type of skill most relevant to the job you want to get.
Conduct an audit of what content you already have and get it all in one place so it's easy to manage. Identify gaps in the content and identify any additional relevant categories you want to include in your portfolio.
Select a platform that best fits your needs. Consider getting a custom domain for an extra touch of professionalism.
Create additional projects to show off your skills in areas where you still have gaps. Consider projects relevant to the job you want to get, volunteer opportunities, and personal passion projects. Remember you can create case studies if you cannot share the actual project or don't have a deliverable you can share.
Explain what your projects are and the context and results. Consider the STAR method, but feel free to adapt to make it short and to the point. Don't forget to proof your portfolio - typos will give the wrong impression!
Publish your portfolio and get feedback! Update your portfolio as you continue to do work. You don't need to have everything done all at once. You can build your portfolio over time. Remember to focus on quality over quantity!
Resources
Here's a quick list of resources cited throughout the module:
Website Builders:
Google Sites (Easy drag & drop website builder)
Carrd.co (Simple website builder with professional templates)
Framer (More advanced website builder for greater customization)
Tutorials:
Other Tools:
Cloudflare (Cheap and secure web hosting)
Grammarly (Chrome extension to check grammar and spelling)
Remember: If you have any questions, feel free to jump on the ID Atlas Discord!
