A portfolio website is the best way to share your business with potential customers looking for your services online. You want to show them what you’re made of and how good you are at your job, and you want to do this in the most unique and personalised way for your business. Since we know a thing or two about web design, we thought to create a list of outstanding portfolio websites that we consider a cut above the rest in South Africa.
What is a portfolio website?
Simply put, a portfolio website is your special corner of the internet where you display projects you have worked on like a CV to your potential clients. It is also a very powerful marketing tool for your business. You want your portfolio website to be so impressive and speak so directly to your target audience that it encourages them to use your services.
A portfolio website tells the world who you are or who your business is. It should clearly express your business’ personality, experience and capabilities.
Why do you need a portfolio website?
Well, first, you need clients. A business without clients is not much of a business so you need a website that advertises your products or services. A portfolio website can get you new clients if you get your SEO and user-experience in order. Good portfolio websites that share your work in a brand-specific and unique way help you build trust, differentiate you from your competition and create awareness for your business.
You may also want one central place for clients to see your work. Unlike Instagram, TikTok, Youtube or Facebook, your website is uniquely yours. You can organise your services, products and previous work the way you think is best for new viewers. Portfolio websites allow you to present your business in its best light. It’s hard to do that on social media, and it is becoming harder and harder to share your work on social media, especially on sites like Instagram.
Outstanding portfolio websites in South Africa
So now that you know what a portfolio website is and why you need one, here are some dope portfolio websites by businesses or independent designers in South Africa.
PS: we are in no way ranking them between one another. We just want to show you some cool stuff by South Africans online.
Thebe Magugu
Thebe Magugu is a young fashion designer whose clothing has been worn around the world by some of the world’s biggest stars, from Miley Cyrus; to Rihanna; to Issa Rae. Although his website does not exactly fit into the definition of a portfolio website, it meets the core elements so we think he more than deserves to be on this list.
Thebe’s website clearly defines and explains who and what Thebe Magugu is about. It is unique to his brand and particular in how it communicates the Thebe Magugu brand. Thebe’s meticulous execution of his craft sets him apart from his competition through his earnest dedication to telling unique African stories and displaying those stories through inspiring and thought-provoking visuals and garments. His website brings this to life by mixing different mediums to communicate these stories.
His website is filled with creative visuals and high-quality imagery of his clothing. He also provides detailed documentation of every look to educate his audience on the story behind each design.
The website is excellent at conveying Thebe’s message to the world. The young designer’s conscientious approach to fashion design has helped create an excellence-based approach to his website where all his work is creatively displayed in a manner that invites his audience into his world and inspires them to be a part of it by purchasing his garments.
Moka Brand Studio
Moka Brand Studio is a design studio in South Africa that is owned by Rachel Moka. Moka specialises in brand identity, brand strategy, web design and identity design. She also mentors at the international web design school -Flux Academy.
Rachel recently updated her website to communicate with her potential clients that girrrrlll, she is booked and busy! Hahaha!
All jokes aside though, her updated website is a very polite and convenient way to inform future clients that she is unavailable for bookings currently. Nonetheless, her customers can still look through her portfolio should they wish to book her in future. She does this gracefully with kind language and offers to still lend an ear to those who want to work with her if they are willing to wait.
Her website tells the story of a high-end, successful designer that is so sought after she is forced to turn away new clients.
We love the premium feel of her website and enjoy its simple yet luxe design. We are looking forward to the return of her comprehensive portfolio website.
Mood Agency
If there was one business on this list that knows precisely how to communicate its brand -it’s Mood Agency. Mood is a creative agency that creates bespoke content for their clients to engage their audiences. In other words, they set the mood for their audience.
Their portfolio website shows us just how easy “setting the mood” comes to them. The website is fun, exciting and very visually appealing. We won’t be surprised if the brand message is also fun and exciting. They use movement and bright colours to capture their audience’s attention. They also display stunning images of their previous work and incorporate moving elements throughout their website. Our favourite is the looping itsamood logo that leads visitors back to their website’s homepage. Very fun!
Outside of how the website looks, Mood has done well in building customer trust by showcasing previous clients. Including Mihlali (one of Africa’s biggest influencers) on the first page of their website creates brand authority and increases their credibility. In this case, the photos of Mihlali are in place of testimonials. Instead of reading about how their clients are happy with their work, Mood chose to display the calibre of clients they have worked with. They ask you to trust their brand in the same way Mihlali with Brutal Fruit has. We think this is equally as powerful social proof as displaying testimonials on your portfolio website.
Si Maclennan
This is one clean website!
Si Maclennan is an independent branding and graphic design expert. We know this because that’s the first thing we see on his website -a description of his services. Which we think is brilliant. It is good to inform your visitors how you will solve their problems by letting them know what you do. If you’re a graphic designer -Let them know immediately!
We love the hover detail that appears once you scroll over the underlined words branding and graphic design on his homepage hero section. Si wants you to know what he does and who he’s worked with without you needing to scroll past the homepage hero section of his website.
Next, we are greeted with the most beautiful mockups of Si’s work. This is something that Si gets right throughout his website. Good mockups sell your work to your potential clients. You want them to get excited about your work because they can easily visualise their products in real life.
We love how clean and simple his website is, and love that he included his geometric design language into his website through elements like the fun arrow leading you to his contact page. A simple inclusion, but paired with the clean and simple look of his website, a clear idea of the kind of designer he is gets formed.
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So what do you think about our list? Are there artists that you think belong here too? Let us know, and we might do a second version of this list! In the meantime, please check out a portfolio website we created for South African visual artist Kenyaa here. We had a blast creating Kenyaa’s website! She wanted a website that would set her apart from her peers and portray her and her work elegantly.
If you need a portfolio website, give us a shout! We create unique and unconventional websites that attract clients to your website and not your competitors.
