Skip to main content
Creative Bloq Creative Bloq ART AND DESIGN INSPIRATION
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Subscribe
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Design Magazine Subscriptions
(opens in new tab)
Design Magazine Subscriptions (opens in new tab)
Why subscribe?
  • Try 3 issues for £/$/€3
  • Delivered to your door or device
  • Every issue is packed with art and design inspiration
From£3
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)
  • 3 for $3/£3/€3 mag offer
  • News
  • How to
  • Features
  • Buying guides
  • Reviews
  • Magazines
    • ImagineFX
    • 3D World
  • Events
    • Vertex
    • Brand Impact Awards
    • About Us

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News
Sponsored

Everything you need to know about starting your Squarespace portfolio

By Jim McCauley

A beautiful portfolio site is a must for any designer; find out how you can build one quickly and easily with Squarespace.

If you're a designer, you absolutely need your own portfolio site so that you can show the world what you do. If you're not comfortable with web design, however, or if you just don't know where to start, it can all feel a little intimidating. It doesn't have to be like that, though. 

With Squarespace (opens in new tab) it'll take you just minutes to be up and running with a beautiful website that'll look stunning on any device; simply upload your content, customise your design and you're ready to go. And with prices starting at just $12/month it won’t break the bank. 

Squarespace (opens in new tab) makes it easy to promote yourself online; read on to find out just how straightforward it is, then give it a go for yourself with a free 14-day trial! 

01. Choose a template  

Squarespace has over 45 stunning templates to choose from

Squarespace has over 45 stunning templates to choose from

The first thing you'll need to do is decide how you want your portfolio site to look. There's no right or wrong answer to this; it’s a matter of picking a template that you think will show off your work to its best advantage, and Squarespace (opens in new tab) has you covered. Head for its Templates page (opens in new tab) and see what's on offer; you'll most likely find something in the Art & Design category, but have a look around! 

02. Sign up

Signing up for your 14-day trial is simple; you don't even need a credit card

Signing up for your 14-day trial is simple; you don't even need a credit card

Once you've decided on a template (don't worry if you're not completely sold on it, as you can always change your mind later), you'll need to sign up for a free 14-day Squarespace (opens in new tab) trial before you can get to work. It'll only take you a minute, and you don't have to hand over any credit card details or anything like that; just your name, email address and password and you're ready for action; be sure to use coupon 'CREATIVEBLOQ' for 10% off your first purchase. 

03. Tweak the design 

You can have lots of fun in the Styles menu, fine-tuning the look of your site

You can have lots of fun in the Styles menu, fine-tuning the look of your site

Squarespace (opens in new tab) won't toss you in at the deep end with a completely blank site to populate; your chosen template comes filled with ready-made demo pages to inspire you. You can get a feel for your layouts by looking through them, and they also provide a great opportunity to fine-tune your design. Click the Design link in the Home panel and you can start modifying: from fonts, point sizes and text colours through to changing to a whole new template, you can do it all here and see the results instantly. 

04. Build your navigation 

It only takes a few clicks to add pages to your navigation

It only takes a few clicks to add pages to your navigation

You probably don't want to build anything too complicated for your portfolio site, but you'll need some navigation so that visitors don't get lost. In the Pages section, click on the + next to the Main Navigation heading to add new pages; there are lots of options, but you'll most likely want standalone pages with maybe an index or two under which you can add all your portfolio pages. Don't forget that you can move the contents of your nav around by just dragging and dropping. 

05. Curate your content 

Don't throw everything in your collection at your portfolio; keep it manageable

Don't throw everything in your collection at your portfolio; keep it manageable

Naturally the most important part of your portfolio site is going to be your work, so take your time about deciding what you want to include on the site. Unless you're super-confident that everything you've ever done is completely stunning, you'll want to limit yourself to a representative selection of your best work so that visitors can quickly get an idea of your strengths.  

06. Play with pages 

The built-in page templates are great, and it's easy to add your own elements

The built-in page templates are great, and it's easy to add your own elements

As you'll have discovered when building your nav, Squarespace (opens in new tab) has lots of basic page options. Assuming you simply want to use a standard page, though, there are even more options for you. You can opt for a blank canvas and build it however you wish –there's easy-to-use drag and drop functionality to help you create your own layouts – or there are plenty of ready-made layouts to use. Don't forget to add a page title, and bear in mind that you can set any page to appear as your homepage by clicking on the Settings icon next to its name, and hitting the Set as Homepage button 

07. Add a contact page 

Don't forget your contact page!

Don't forget your contact page!

As you add your various portfolio pages, and maybe a gallery or two, it's easy to forget a key reason for having a portfolio site: enabling potential clients to get in touch with you. So be sure to add a contact page; there are ready-made templates allowing you to add your contact details, a map showing where you are, a contact form and all manner of other options such as a feed from your Twitter account or just a set of social links. 

08. Put in your personality 

Chris Rushing's site is an excellent example of a Squarespace page that's packed with personality

Chris Rushing's site is an excellent example of a Squarespace page that's packed with personality

By now you've covered all the basics and you should have a perfectly good portfolio site ready to show to the world. But wait; are you completely happy with it? Remember that you can go back into the Design section to adjust the settings and tweak your design until you have something that accurately reflects who you are, and with your own content in place you might find that your chosen template isn't quite what you wanted, so don't be scared to change it! 

09. Set up a domain 

Confused by domains? Squarespace can give you all the help you'll need to get set up

Confused by domains? Squarespace can give you all the help you'll need to get set up

You don't need to worry about setting up an address for your portfolio site; Squarespace (opens in new tab) will automatically create one for you. But if you want to use your own easier-to-remember domain for your portfolio, it's nice and straightforward to set everything up. You can register a domain through Squarespace (opens in new tab) or transfer one you already own; find out more here (opens in new tab). 

10. Good to go! 

The Squarespace Knowledge Base is crammed with information to help you take your site further

The Squarespace Knowledge Base is crammed with information to help you take your site further

And that's pretty much everything you need to know to get started! With your portfolio site up and running you can start on getting word out through your usual social channels, and then you might want to explore all the other possibilities Squarespace (opens in new tab) has to offer. 

Want to set up an online store, perhaps add a blog, or boost your visibility with a bit of SEO? It's all possible, and you can get all the help you need, including in-depth guides and video tutorials, in the Squarespace Knowledge Base (opens in new tab). Good luck!  

Squarespace helps you build a beautiful home online. Ready to set up your portfolio website on Squarespace? Be sure to use coupon 'CREATIVEBLOQ' for 10% off your first purchase. 

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Already have an account ? Sign in here

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Already have an account ? Sign in here

Get Weekly Tips and Inspiration

Sign up below to get the latest from Creative Bloq, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over.
Jim McCauley
Jim McCauley

Jim McCauley is a writer, performer and cat-wrangler who started writing professionally way back in 1995 on PC Format magazine, and has been covering technology-related subjects ever since, whether it's hardware, software or videogames. A chance call in 2005 led to Jim taking charge of Computer Arts' website and developing an interest in the world of graphic design, and eventually led to a move over to the freshly-launched Creative Bloq in 2012. Jim now works as a freelance writer for sites including Creative Bloq, T3 and PetsRadar, specialising in design, technology, wellness and cats, while doing the occasional pantomime and street performance in Bath and designing posters for a local drama group on the side.

Recommended
The best drawing tablets: The best graphics tablets in 2023
How to make and sell an NFT
  1. two women at a house party one holding a camera. She has too many fingers
    1
    AI house party images are freaking people out
  2. 2
    Can you spot what's wrong in this viral street ad?
  3. 3
    iOS 16 lock screen: How to customise your iPhone
  4. 4
    5 logo secrets that never get old
  5. 5
    These drunken McDonald's ads are golden
  1. logo secrets
    1
    Infographic reveals 50 huge logo design secrets
  2. 2
    AI house party images are freaking people out
  3. 3
    We love the negative space in this new logo
  4. 4
    Can you spot what's wrong in this viral street ad?
  5. 5
    iOS 16 lock screen: How to customise your iPhone
Design Magazine Subscriptions
(opens in new tab)
  • ●
Design Magazine Subscriptions (opens in new tab)
  • Try 3 issues for £/$/€3
From£3
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)

Creative Bloq is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.