8 Best Graphic Design Portfolios with Template Recommendations
A graphic design portfolio is the most effective way to communicate your skills to potential clients.
In this post, we showcase real-world graphic design portfolios along with templates that can help you achieve similar designs.
Let’s get started.
The Best Graphic Design Portfolios (+ Recommended Templates)
01. Lotta Nieminen
Lotta Nieminen is a Finnish graphic designer and renowned author of several children’s books, as well as the founder of her eponymous graphic design studio.
The Lotta Nieminen Studio specializes in branding and art direction, working with global brands from its bases in Paris and New York City.
Highlights of This Portfolio:
- Borders give the portfolio an art-book aesthetic.
- The borders also function as menus with links to key pages.
- Large images make each project stand out.
- A grid layout elegantly pairs each project with descriptive captions.
Recommended Template: BORDER BORDER is a WordPress theme featuring a thick white border framing the viewport. This border persists throughout the entire theme.
It serves as a space for your logo, navigation menu, social media icons, and footer.
As a photography-focused theme, BORDER includes multiple gallery and portfolio templates, along with a fullscreen option to hide the border on gallery pages.
02. Atypikal Creative
Atypikal Creative is a design agency handling branding, web design, social media content, and more for its clients.
Their website has won awards and accolades from platforms like Awwwards.
Highlights of This Portfolio:
- Vertical slider navigation.
- Split-screen design efficiently showcases multiple projects.
- Brief descriptions accompany each project collection.
- A clean white background and black sans-serif font keep the focus on vibrant designs.
Recommended Template: Simpleux Simpleux is an HTML portfolio template with vertical slider demos for portfolio displays.
Built on Bootstrap, it includes HTML, CSS, and Adobe XD files.
With over a dozen demo pages for portfolios, galleries, and more, it offers various background effects.
03. Monograph
Monograph is a design studio founded by Matt Avery, a Chicago-based designer specializing in publishing design, including book covers like the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style.
Highlights of This Portfolio:
- Overlapping book covers create a collage effect.
- Each cover is clickable for project details despite overlaps.
- Minimalist design keeps attention on the book cover display.
Recommended Template: Tahoe Tahoe is a WordPress portfolio theme with a masonry grid layout, tightly packing items without gaps.
A simple left sidebar ensures your portfolio remains the focal point.
04. Design Army
Design Army is a multidisciplinary agency working on branding, advertising, fashion, web design, and social media content for clients like Adobe, Disney, Netflix, and PepsiCo.
Highlights of This Portfolio:
- Interactive horizontal slider.
- Fullscreen slides with hidden minimalist navigation.
- Bold, high-quality visuals reflect the agency’s artistic style.
Recommended Template: Cygni Cygni is an interactive portfolio template with fullscreen sliders that respond to both vertical and horizontal scrolling.
Like Design Army’s site, it features a hidden menu.
05. Amber Xu
Amber Xu is a New York-based art director, motion designer, and illustrator who has worked with Google, Amazon, Shopify, and The Wall Street Journal.
Highlights of This Portfolio:
- Grid layout alternating between two-column and single-column projects.
- No gaps between items, creating a seamless flow.
- A concise header with expertise and location keeps focus on the portfolio.
Recommended Template: Werkstatt Werkstatt is a WordPress theme with a tight grid layout similar to Xu’s portfolio.
06. Anastasiia Gulenko
Anastasiia Gulenko is a Paris-based art director specializing in brand storytelling, web design, and promotional visuals for clients like Lush and Jowae.
Highlights of This Portfolio:
- Hover interactions reveal fullscreen project previews.
- Neutral colors make her work pop.
- Elegant serif fonts complement her refined style.
Recommended Template: Rolly Rolly is a WordPress theme with hover-triggered fullscreen previews, mimicking Gulenko’s interactive approach.
07. Pentagram
Pentagram is a legendary design studio (founded in 1972) behind branding for Shake Shack, Hennessy, and the “Fantastic Beasts” movie logo.
Highlights of This Portfolio:
- Hero slider highlights featured projects.
- Masonry grid with hover descriptions.
Recommended Template: Brynn Brynn is a WordPress theme with masonry grids and category filters, ideal for large portfolios.
08. MetaDesign
MetaDesign is a global branding agency with offices in China, Germany, Switzerland, and the U.S., working with clients like Coca-Cola, Porsche, and Volkswagen.
Final Thoughts
These portfolios demonstrate diverse styles—from minimalist grids to interactive sliders. Using the recommended templates, you can create a similarly impressive portfolio to showcase your work.
Would you like additional details on any specific portfolio or template?