Squarespace UX Portfolio: Essential Steps for Designers
Creating a Squarespace UX portfolio is key for any designer wanting to showcase their skills and experience. A strong portfolio shows your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Squarespace makes building a professional UX portfolio easy, even without coding skills. To create your portfolio, pick one of the Squarespace templates, customize its design, and then add your content and projects.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps you need to build a professional UX portfolio in Squarespace. You’ll learn how to display your design work in a way that gets attention.
Whether starting from scratch or updating an old portfolio, this guide will help you stand out. So let's get started.
How To Build a Squarespace UX Portfolio
Based on my experience using the platform, building a Squarespace UX portfolio is a great way to showcase your skills and projects. Following a step-by-step process, you can create a professional and beautiful portfolio highlighting your best work.
Here are the steps you need to follow to build a Squarespace UX portfolio:
1. Define The Purpose Of Your Squarespace UX Portfolio
Start by thinking about your goals. Are you looking for a new job, freelance work, or just to show off your skills? This will help you decide what to include.
Make a list of the projects you want to feature. Pick your best work that matches your goals. In addition to that, think about who will see your portfolio and what they want to know about you.
Moreover, consider adding a brief bio and your contact info. This lets visitors learn more about you and get in touch easily.
After you decide the purpose of your portfolio, you can create an account on Squarespace and start your free trial without the need for a credit card.
By the way, Squarespace has a 14-day free trial where you can start to look at all the features that the platform offers. I highly encourage you to start a Squarespace free trial to try all the website-building tools. No credit card is required.
2. Choose a Squarespace UX Portfolio Template
Squarespace offers many good-looking templates that are good for UX portfolios. Look through the options and pick one that fits your style and needs.
Think about how you want to show your work. Some templates are better for big images, while others work well for more text. However, all Squarespace templates are customizable and flexible for every use.
You can edit and customize template styles and elements to match the design you’re looking for. But before you do that, it’s always a good idea to look at some Squarespace portfolio examples for inspiration.
Also, don't worry if a template is not perfect right away. You can always change things later. The key is to find a template that's close to what you want.
3. Organize Your Portfolio Content
To organize your portfolio, group your projects by skills or industry, and highlight 3-5 key works with case studies.
Use the same structure for each project, like the title, tools used, and visuals. Add easy navigation with categories and filters, and include client testimonials to build trust.
You should keep your portfolio up to date to show your latest work. In addition to that, plan how you'll group your projects. You might sort them by type, date, or importance. Create a page for each project. Also, make sure to include:
Project title.
Your role.
Project goals.
The problem you solved.
Your process.
The final result.
Use short paragraphs and bullet points to make your content easy to read. Add captions to your images to explain what they show.
4. Add Visuals and Customizations
Visuals are key in a UX portfolio. Add high-quality images of your work, including sketches, wireframes, and final designs.
Use Squarespace's tools to change colors and fonts. Pick ones that match your style and make your work stand out.
Add your logo if you have one. This helps make your portfolio look more professional. In addition to that, try using Squarespace's gallery features to show off multiple images for each project.
I recommend that you watch the video tutorial below UX Tshili if you want to learn how to build a professional ux portfolio on Squarespace.
How to Build and Design a Squarespace Portfolio?
As you can see in the video, Tshili used the Squarespace AGARO template as a starting point to design her UX portfolio. You can start with that template too if you want. Squarespace allows you to easily customize any template to match your branding.
5. Make It Easy To Navigate
A good UX portfolio should be easy to use. Make sure your menu is clear and simple.
Add a search bar if you have lots of projects. This helps visitors find what they're looking for quickly.
Use buttons or links to guide visitors through your portfolio. Make it easy for them to move from one project to the next.
Test your portfolio on different devices to make sure it looks good on phones and tablets too.
By the way, if you need more information about Squarespace portfolio features, I highly recommend that you read this article: Is Squarespace Good for Portfolios? I gave my honest review of Squarespace tools for building portfolios.
6. Optimize Your Squarespace Portfolio for SEO
Use keywords in your project titles and descriptions. This helps people find your portfolio when they search online.
Also, allows you to add alt text to your images. This helps search engines understand what your images show.
You should create unique titles for each page of your portfolio. This makes it easier for search engines to index your site.
In addition to that, use the Squarespace SEO tools to add meta descriptions to your pages. These short summaries help your site show up better in search results.
If you want to learn more about what Squarespace offers for SEO, I recommend that you read our article about this topic: Is Squarespace Good for SEO?
7. Publish and Share Your Squarespace Portfolio
Before you publish, ask a friend to look at your portfolio. They might spot things you missed.
Once you're happy with your portfolio, you can hit publish. Squarespace makes this easy with just a few clicks.
Share your portfolio on social media and in your email signature. This helps more people see your work.
Keep your portfolio up to date. Add new projects and remove old ones that don't show your best work anymore.
Why Use Squarespace for a UX Portfolio?
Squarespace offers a user-friendly platform for creating stunning UX portfolios. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to showcase your work without needing coding skills.
You can choose from a variety of sleek and modern templates designed specifically for portfolios. These templates are customizable, allowing you to match your brand and style.
Squarespace provides a responsive design. This ensures your portfolio looks great on all devices. This is crucial for UX designers who need to demonstrate their understanding of mobile-friendly design.
The platform offers built-in SEO tools to help your portfolio get noticed by potential clients or employers. You can easily optimize your site for search engines without extra plugins.
Image galleries and video integration features let you display your UX projects in high quality. This helps you effectively showcase your design process and final products.
Squarespace's analytics tools give you insights into your portfolio's performance. You can track visitor behavior and adjust your site accordingly.
The platform's reliable hosting and security features mean you don't have to worry about technical issues. This allows you to focus on what matters most(your UX work).
Is Squarespace Good for a UX Portfolio?
Squarespace can be a solid choice for your UX portfolio. It offers clean and professional templates that showcase your work nicely. You'll find it easy to set up and customize your site without coding knowledge.
This lets you focus on presenting your projects rather than struggling with technical details.
Squarespace provides responsive designs. This makes your portfolio look great on all devices. This is crucial for impressing potential clients or employers.
The platform includes useful features for UX portfolios:
Image galleries.
Video embedding.
Project case study pages.
Custom domains.
You can easily update your portfolio as you complete new projects. This keeps your work current and relevant.
One drawback is that Squarespace may limit advanced customization compared to other platforms. But for most UX designers, the available options are sufficient.
Pricing is reasonable, with plans starting at $16 per month when billed annually. This includes hosting and a free custom domain for the first year.
Consider trying Squarespace's 14-day free trial. It lets you test the platform and see if it meets your needs before committing. You can also use my code MEHDI10 after the trial for 10% off on your first year of using the platform.
Squarespace UX Portfolio Templates
Squarespace offers many great templates for UX portfolios. These templates let you show off your work in a clean and modern way.
Some of the best Squarespace templates for UX portfolios include:
ÇIMEN: A sleek template with large image areas.
Reseda: Popular for design and photography portfolios.
Ortiz: Minimalist design that puts your work front and center.
Quinn: Advanced template with lots of customization options.
When picking a template, look for ones with:
Large image areas to highlight your designs.
Clean layouts that don't distract from your work.
Easy navigation so visitors can browse projects.
Customization options to match your brand.
You can adjust most Squarespace templates to fit your needs. Change colors, fonts, and layouts to make the site your own.
Remember to keep your portfolio simple and focused. Choose 5-10 of your best projects to feature. Include case studies that show your design process.
With the right template and content, you can create a standout UX portfolio on Squarespace. Take time to explore different options and find one that fits your style.
Conclusion
Building a Squarespace UX portfolio is a powerful way to showcase your design skills and attract new opportunities. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a professional and visually appealing portfolio highlighting your best work.
From choosing the right template to optimizing for SEO, each step is crucial in making sure your portfolio stands out.
Remember, your portfolio is a reflection of your abilities and creativity. Take the time to organize your content, add compelling visuals, and ensure easy navigation.
With Squarespace’s user-friendly tools, you can build a portfolio that not only looks great but also effectively communicates your design process and achievements.
You can start building your Squarespace UX portfolio today and take the next step in your design career. That’s why I encourage you to start your Squarespace free trial now to try all the portfolio-building tools. No credit card is required during the trial period.
