Skip to content
← Journal
Craft·March 22, 2026·5 min read

Five portfolio mistakes we fix most often

The patterns that quietly undermine otherwise excellent work — and what to do instead.

First: burying the lede. The best work should be visible without scrolling. If a visitor has to hunt for it, most won't.

Second: captions that describe instead of convince. 'A mobile app' tells us nothing. 'Cut checkout time in half for 40,000 users' tells us everything.

Third: too many typefaces. One for headlines, one for text. A third is almost always a mistake.

Fourth: motion for its own sake. If an animation doesn't help the reader understand or navigate, it's friction wearing the costume of polish.

Fifth: no point of view. A portfolio that tries to appeal to everyone appeals to no one. Decide what you want to be known for, and let the site argue for it.

Want a portfolio that reads like this?

That's the studio's whole job. Tell us about your work.

Start your project →