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- 10 best wedding website builders for celebrating your big day
Looking for the best way to build your website? Get started with Wix → Planning your dream wedding involves more than just selecting the perfect dress and venue. In today's digital age, you’ll likely find yourself designing a website, where you can share your love story, collect RSVPs and pass along important wedding details to your guests. But as you’re running through your endless list of tasks, it helps to have a reliable wedding website builder that can help you design your site exactly the way you want. In this blog, we’ll explore the best wedding website builders on the market today. From website builders that specialize in top-tier designs to others that offer matching paper goods, these wedding website builders promise to make your big day even more special. When choosing a website builder, you want one that’s flexible, powerful and easy-to-use. Wix is the go-to platform for millions of users looking to create a stunning website effortlessly. See what makes Wix stand out from the crowd and why it’s the right fit for you. TL;DR: best wedding website builders A wedding website can do more than share your love story—it can help you stay organized, streamline RSVPs and keep guests in the loop from save-the-date to last dance. In this guide, we’ve reviewed the best wedding website builders that combine elegant design with practical tools. Whether you’re planning a large celebration or an intimate gathering, these platforms offer everything you need to create a memorable online experience that reflects your style and simplifies your planning process. How we chose the best wedding website builders Feature Why it matters Ease of use A user-friendly interface makes it easy to build your site—no design or coding skills required. Custom design options Templates and tools that let you personalize your site to match your theme, tone and story. RSVP and guest tools Built-in RSVP forms, guest list management and meal tracking help you stay organized. Mobile-friendly design A responsive layout ensures your site looks great on any device, from phones to tablets. Registry integration Direct links to your gift registry make it easier for guests to find and purchase what you need. Privacy controls Password protection and guest-only access keep personal details secure and invite-only. What is a wedding website? A wedding website is a dedicated website for a couple's wedding. It's a place where the couple can share information about their wedding with their guests, such as the date, time, location, dress code and registry. Wedding websites can also be used to collect RSVPs, share photos and videos and provide other information to guests. Learn more about creating your wedding website for free with Wix. 10 best wedding website builders to check out Wix The Knot Appy Couple Minted Joy Wedsites WeddingWire Riley & Grey Zola Say I Do 01. Wix Best for: Couples who want lots of design flexibility, branding and customization options. Wix’s website builder is well known for its versatility and ease of use. You can build a fully functional, bespoke website with Wix’s AI website maker or create your own website using a Wix template. And while Wix isn’t solely built for wedding sites, the platform includes the essential building blocks for creating a custom wedding site. Choose from a myriad of wedding website templates , RSVP forms, image/video carousels and online invitation templates when designing your site. Access tools for promoting your site once it's up and running—such as custom emails, live streaming capabilities and embeddable social media feeds. And as you’re looking to develop a consistent theme around your wedding, take advantage of Wix’s large library of widgets, drag-and-drop features and customization settings. Wix’s customization capabilities are a key differentiator from your standard wedding website builder. You can enjoy lots of design freedom and the whole Wix ecosystem—entirely for free. Wix also makes event planning simple with powerful guest management tools. Easily track RSVPs, organize your guest list and group attendees by categories like households or specific events. This gives guests all the details they need upfront without back-and-forth emails. Case in point: Andy and Amanda used Wix to create a site that would be as unforgettable as their wedding. They created a groovy, colorful site—complete with animation and parallax scrolling—that would woo their guests. (Check out more Wix wedding website examples for inspiration, or see how how one man popped the question with a Netflix-inspired Wix site .) Learn also how to make a wedding planner portfolio. You can even create a personal logo for your wedding with the platform’s free logo maker . Pair this with print-on-demand tools that let you print party favors, T-shirts and other memorabilia with your logo on them to create a truly personalized event. Notable Wix features : Designer-made templates: Choose from a wide selection of customizable wedding website templates . Tasks and reminders: Create custom tasks, reminders and checklists that can be linked to particular guests. Password-protected guest area: Keep your website private and only viewable to guests who’ve received invitations with your website password. Wix app: Manage your website, track reminders and communicate with guests on the go with the Wix app . Multiple ways to show off your photos: The Wix Pro Gallery gives you multiple options for showcasing your engagement photos, wedding videos and other multimedia with your guests. Livestream capabilities: Give out-of-towners a way to attend your wedding from afar. Countdown clock: Add a countdown clock to your site to show how many days and minutes until your nuptials. Free branding tools: Take advantage of a free logo maker, a free video maker and print-on-demand options to make everything from your wedding site to your decorations extra personal and memorable. Multilingual tools: Got guests coming from all over the world? Auto-translate your site for multiple languages. AI writing tools: Not sure how to write your wedding story or your message to guests on your site? You can use Wix’s built-in AI writing tools for inspiration. Learn more: How much does a website cost , Event website builders , Best content management systems Pricing: US$0-159/a month. Create a website entirely for free, or purchase a Wix Premium plan for more advanced features. Free plan ($0): Limited features and ads. Light ($17/month): Basic plan for simple sites. Core ($29/month): Basic eCommerce features and marketing suite. Business $36/month): Geared towards growing your brand. Business Elite ($159/month): Unlocks unlimited storage & scaling capabilities. Enterprise: Custom plan for large corporations. Ready to say ‘I do’ to a powerful website builder? Sign up for Wix today. 02. The Knot Best for: Couples who want a comprehensive wedding planning experience and access to a vendor directory. The Knot offers a plethora of wedding planning tools, including a vendor directory, wedding registry and budgeting tool. Its wedding website builder is another free resource available to couples, complete with more than 100 site designs. From your website, you can manage your guest list, track RSVPs and link your registry (which can include a wishlist involving top brands, cash funds, experiences and donations). If you’re looking to add a custom domain to your site, you can do so for an annual fee. Beyond tapping into these tools, you can also explore The Knot Shop, which sells wedding decor, party favors and other items you may need for your special day. Notable features: Wedding planning tools: Use The Knot’s free tools for creating your wedding vision, designing your guest list, managing tasks and building your budget. Registry service: Create your wedding registry in a way that works for you (including adding top brands, funding requests and charities). You can also sync an external registry to your Knot registry. Printing services: Create and order invitations, save-the-dates, announcements and other paper products using The Knot’s customizable templates. Vendor directory: Gain access to thousands of local wedding professionals in categories like catering, bridal salons and wedding cakes. Wedding planner app: An app for iOS and Android gives users access to all the same features as the website, so you can obsessively plan your wedding no matter where you are. Pricing: The Knot’s website and planning tools are free to use. 03. Appy Couple Best for: Couples who want boutique designs and easy access to mobile features. Appy Couple flaunts a complete wedding suite—that is, a platform where you can manage your digital invites, website and app all in one place. One of Appy Couple's main selling points is its wedding website templates, some of which are designed in collaboration with brands like Williams-Sonoma that sell print invitations with the same theme. Appy Couple makes it easy to find a theme that’s shared across all of your invitations (including your Save the Dates and Thank You cards) and digital platforms. Appy Couple also offers many interactive elements, like virtual toasts, guestbooks and real-time photo streams. That said, Appy Couple comes at a cost: either $12 a month, or $49 per year. Notable features: Boutique design options: Appy Couple offers more than 500 designs, including special edition designs by designers like Carolina Herrera, to match just about any theme you can come up with. Theme switching: Decisions are hard, which is why it’s great that you can change your website theme any time without losing data. Content management: Add and update your wedding content with features like photo galleries, RSVP tools, travel details, a gift registry and more. Guest list segmentation: Segment your guest list and hide events from certain people (e.g., make sure Crazy Uncle Jeff isn’t crashing your rehearsal dinner). International wedding support: Appy Couple is particularly useful for organizing an event where guests are spread across continents, given its multi-language capabilities and travel concierge. Wedding gamification: Add fun quizzes and puzzles to your site that entertain your guests even before your big day. Pricing: Appy Couple charges $49 a year or $12 a month for unlimited access to its features. 04. Minted Best for: Couples who want to match their wedding theme across all elements of their event (e.g., invitations, website and physical space). Minted is best known for its designs for wedding invitations, stationery, decor, art and gifts. The site’s popularity rests on its collaboration with hundreds of global independent artists. The result is a diverse choice of unique stationery styles that you likely won’t find on the more mainstream wedding planning websites. In the same vein, its free wedding website builder features templates that match its available stationary. The builder includes all the core features that you need, such as RSVP management, private pages and guest management tools. You can add a custom domain to your site for a flat $15. Notable features: Diverse template library: Minted offers hundreds of wedding website templates, each crafted by independent designers. Matching designs: Every Minted website design can be carried through to your invitations, menus and other wedding materials. Multi-event RSVP management: Manage multiple wedding-related events including controlling their visibility to specific guests. RSVP and envelope addressing: Manage RSVPs and take advantage of Minted's complimentary envelope addressing service, available when you order matching save-the-dates and invitations. Videos: Share a special video message or your proposal video on your site. Pricing: Minted’s wedding website builder is available free-of-charge, though a custom URL, invitations and other add-ons will carry their own costs. 05. Joy Best for: Couples who appreciate a free tool and don’t want to mess around with too many features. Joy is a comprehensive wedding planning platform with an intuitive user interface that gets straight to the point. The platform makes it simple to create and customize your wedding website and tools like a guest list manager, invitation creation (printed or online), multi-event RSVPS and even an AI-assisted writing tool. Its RSVP management system allows you to see who has opened your invitations, even if they haven’t replied. And its wedding registry offers zero-fee cash funds, free shipping and post-wedding discounts. Notable features: Customizable websites: Even if you’re not sure how to make a website , Joy’s beginner-friendly builder makes it easy to create a personalized site. Smart RSVP tools: Track attendance for multiple events, ask custom questions on your RSVP forms and easily keep track of plus ones with guest grouping features. All-in-one registry : Create an “all-in-one” registry by shopping thousands of items across top brands like Le Creuset, Cuisinart, Riedel, YETI, Airbnb and many more. You also have the option to collect cash gifts or start a honeymoon fund. Mobile app: Joy’s mobile app means you can manage your wedding from the grocery store or the in-law’s brunch (or wherever you happen to be.) Paperless and printed invitations: Joy offers you paperless communication with features like Save-The-Dates, Invites, Change-The-Dates, and Custom Cards The tracking feature lets you know who has received and read your digital communications. You can alternatively purchase printed versions of invitations via Joy’s collaboration with select vendors. Pricing: Joy is free to use (aside from optional vendor purchases). 06. Wedsites Best for: Couples who want to go entirely paperless or use a mix of online and printed materials. Wedsites was inspired by a maid of honor's desire to simplify wedding organization after witnessing her friend’s struggle with multiple tools. It now serves as an event website builder, focused entirely on weddings, that offers integrated project management tools. These tools include features for guest management, budgeting, event planning, RSVPs and vendor management. Websites’ digital planner streamlines your various checklists and tools to help you stay organized. However, it’s worth noting that as of this writing, Websites does not offer a mobile app for managing your event on the fly. Notable features: Design inspiration: Choose from about 35 pre-made templates with matching Save the Date designs. Alternatively, you can create your own template. Guest list management: Import guest lists, organize lists, build detailed guest profiles and manage all aspects of your guest list including grouping guests based on how you know them (Bob’s family, work group, etc.). Budgeting tools: Estimate expenses based on your max budget and keep track of who needs to be paid and when. Mobile-optimized dashboard : While Wedsites doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app, they do have a mobile optimized dashboard, which you can access from your phone or other mobile device. Multi-language support: Translate your site or create separate sites for your guests from all over the world. Pricing: Basic website functionality is available for free. One-time purchases for more advanced features (like a guest list database, unlimited guests and custom RSVP questionnaire forms) start at $99. A 14-day money-back guarantee is available if you want to try the premium features. 07. WeddingWire Best for: Couples wanting an expansive vendor directory and wedding resources in addition to a website builder. WeddingWire has long been a go-to resource for couples searching for wedding vendors in their area. Now owned by The Knot, WeddingWire is primarily focused on building out its suite of wedding planning tools. However, a wedding website builder is offered as part of those tools—with many free templates to choose from. Note that WeddingWire shares some of the same templates as The Knot. If you’re trying to decide between the two, your decision will mainly boil down to the details. You may find that one builder is easier to use than the other, or that one platform offers more of your favorite planning tools than the other. WeddingWire is essentially a marketplace, so tools like the wedding website builder are add-on features meant to attract couples like you to its vendors. Notable features: Vendor search: WeddingWire’s directory includes more than 250,000 vetted vendors and makes it easy for you to search them by location and other preferences. Review forum: The site places an emphasis on vendor reviews so couples can learn from others who have been in their shoes. Budget planning: Budget calculator, vendor manager, and checklist apps help you focus on staying within your budget. Mobile app: WeddingWire’s mobile app for guests lets your wedding guests access your site from anywhere and upload their own memories (e.g., photos from your event) directly to your site. Pricing: All wedding management tools, including the website builder, are free. 08. Riley & Grey Best for: Couples seeking limited-edition designs and/or are planning a cross-cultural or international wedding. Riley & Grey is a premium wedding website platform that caters to global couples. Riley & Grey websites can be translated for various languages and edited for various cultures. For instance, if you’re planning a traditional Indian wedding, Riley & Grey supports RSVPs for a large assortment of events. This wedding website builder is also a great option if you crave a higher-end experience. It offers customizable templates and personalized assistance from customer service representatives throughout the website creation process. It focuses on creating bespoke sites that reflect your personal style and event requirements. Notable features: Modern, high-end designs: Riley & Grey templates are designed to be flexible and inclusive, catering to a variety of preferences. Cross-cultural features: The platform can accommodate culture-specific requirements and non-English websites. Stationery: Includes luxury digital and paper invitations, RSVP cards, ceremony programs and reception menus. Wedding management features: Opt for special features, like a custom domain name, address collection, a personalized RSVP system and white-glove customer service. Mobile app: Every Grey & Riley site has its own mobile version, which guests can access without downloading an app. Pricing: Riley & Grey offers two pricing options—you can pay $35 per month and only pay for as long as you need your site to remain up. Or, you can save by paying for a full year up front at $240. 09. Zola Best for: Couples who want a robust wedding planning solution and registry options. Zola’s wedding website builder is just one of its many user-friendly wedding tools. Its website templates are designed to match paper goods, like your invitations, Save the Dates and place cards. Zola sites can additionally be accessed via QR codes , in addition to a standard URL. With Zola’s complete suite of wedding planning tools, you can manage your guest list, create a registry featuring global brands and find venues and vendors. One big perk is that you can integrate your registry directly into your site, allowing guests to shop your wishlist from multiple stores without having to click away to multiple sites. Notable features: Seasonal and style-based designs: Zola offers more than 200 site templates for creating different types of websites , complete with matching invitations. One-stop-shop registry: Create your gift registry (including zero-fee cash funds) and include items from multiple stores that can be viewed from one link. Wedding planner: Zola offers comprehensive wedding planning services encompassing vendor recommendations, stationery and budgeting. Free guest addressing: Have Zola address your envelopes for free. Group messaging: Send instant messages to your guests to update them on any changes to your wedding schedule. Pricing: Zola’s website builder and associated features are free, but you’ll need to pay for a custom domain. You’ll also need to pay for items like invitations and save the date cards. 10. Say I Do Best for: Couples seeking a basic site and more advanced guest management tools. Say I Do places a special emphasis on guest management—a job that few couples expect to be as difficult as it winds up being. It offers advanced digital RSVP forms, through which you can ask guests a variety of questions that are essential for your planning. Guests can input their contact details directly into your site, and you can manage your guest list from one, intuitive dashboard. Say I Do doesn’t offer nearly as many website templates as the other builders mentioned above. However, their templates are simple, elegant and to-the-point. Notable features: Guest list manager: This feature simplifies guest list management, from sending invitations to tracking RSVPs. One-link contact detail collection: Ask guests to fill out their content information form one beautifully themed form. Personalized planning checklist: Enter your wedding date and automatically receive a wedding checklist based on your timeline and preferences. Conditional and custom RSVP questions: Set up custom questions for your guests to respond to, and only show certain questions to certain guests. Pricing: Say I Do offers a basic plan for free that lets you add up to 85 guests and comes with a few basic features, like a free custom wedding website. Tiered pricing plans start at $50 (one-time purchase) and give you access to a password protected site and other advanced tools. Best wedding website builders review Wedding website builders Notable features Pricing Wix Designer made templates, Tasks and Reminders, Password-protected guest area, Owner App $0-$159/month The Knot Wedding planning tools, Registry service, Printing services, Vendor director Free The Appy Couple Boutique design options, Theme switching, Content management, Guest list segmentation $49 a year or $12 a month for unlimited access to its features Minted Diverse template library, Matching designs, Videos, RSVP and envelope addressing Free with extras Joy Customizable websites, Smart RSVP tools, Mobile app, Paperless and printed invitations Free Wedsites Design inspiration, Guest list management, Budgeting tools, Multi-language suport $0-99/month WeddingWire Vendor search, Review forum, Budget planning, Mobile app Free Riley & Grey Modern designs, Cross-cultural features, Stationery, Mobile app $35-240 one off or permanent Zola Wedding planner, Group messaging, Free guest addressing, One-stop-shop registry Free with extra costs Say I Do Guest list manager, Personalized planning checklist, Custom RSVP questions, One-link contact detail collection $0-50+ How to make a wedding website There are a number of different ways to make a wedding website. You can create your own website from scratch, or you can use a wedding website builder. Wedding website builders are typically easy to use and offer a variety of templates and features to choose from. Here are a few tips for creating a wedding website: Choose a template. If you are using a wedding website builder, you'll need to choose a template for your website. There are a variety of different templates to choose from, so you can find one that matches your style and preferences. Add your information. Once you've chosen a template, you'll need to add your information to the website. This will include the date, time, location, dress code and registry. You can also add other information, such as travel and accommodations details, and a list of nearby hotels. Customize your website. You can customize your wedding website to match your style and preferences. This may include changing the colors, fonts and layout of the website. You can also add photos and videos to your website to make it more personal. Publish your website. Once you are happy with your wedding website, you can publish it so that your guests can start visiting it. You can share the link to your website with your guests in your wedding invitations or on social media. Learn more: Best AI website builder Best website builder for small business Best one-page website builders Personal website builders Free website builders Cheap website builder Best membership websites Wedding website builders FAQ Is it worth it to have a wedding website? Whether or not it's worth it to have a wedding website depends on your individual needs and preferences. However, there are many potential benefits to having a wedding website, such as providing your guests with centralized information about your wedding, easy RSVPs, communication with guests and a lasting memento of your special day. How far in advance should you make a wedding website? There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but it's generally recommended to create your wedding website at least six months before your wedding. This will give you plenty of time to gather information, add content and make any necessary updates. Should you post your wedding website on social media? Yes, you can post your wedding website on social media to let your guests know about it. You can also share the link in your save-the-dates and invitations. Are wedding websites still a thing? Yes, wedding websites are still a popular way for couples to share information about their wedding with their guests. How many photos should I have on my wedding website? There is no right or wrong number of photos to include on your wedding website. However, too many photos can make your website feel cluttered, so it's generally recommended to keep it to a few dozen photos. Do wedding websites expire? Most wedding websites don't expire, so you can keep them up indefinitely. However, some website hosting providers may charge a fee to renew your domain name or hosting plan after a certain period of time. How do you direct guests to your wedding website? Direct guests to your wedding website by including the URL on save-the-dates, invitations and email reminders. Spread the word through word-of-mouth, share the link on social media platforms and include QR codes on printed materials for easy access. What are the benefits of having a wedding website? A wedding website serves as a centralized information hub, providing guests with all essential details about your wedding. It offers convenience for guests, streamlines RSVP management, allows for personalization serves as a communication tool and provides easy access to registry information. What should be included in a wedding website? There are a few essential things that every wedding website should include: About us: Share your love story and introduce you and your partner. Schedule: Include the date, time and location of your wedding ceremony and reception. Venue: Provide directions and parking information for your wedding venue. Accommodation: If you have hotel room blocks, include information on how to book them. Registry: Link to your wedding registry so guests can easily find your gift options. RSVP: Include a link to your online RSVP form. Contact: Provide a way for guests to contact you with any questions. Why do you need a wedding website? A wedding website offers many benefits, making it an excellent tool for your big day. It helps keep guests informed about essential details like the date, time, location, dress code and registry while also sharing travel and accommodation information. You can use it to collect RSVPs, making headcounts and planning easier. Additionally, a wedding website allows you to share photos and videos from your engagement and special events even for guests who can’t attend in person. It can also provide helpful extras like directions, parking info and nearby hotel options, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone. Is Wix good for wedding websites? Yes, Wix is perfect for wedding websites. It offers beautiful, specific wedding templates that make setting up a wedding website easy. Key features included with a Wix wedding building include built-in RSVP management tools to seamlessly track guests and meal choices. You can also easily share venue details, registries and photo galleries in one central hub with your Wix site.
- How to start a wedding business in 6 steps
Your business ideas deserve a website, secure your domain to begin → If you're passionate about creating unforgettable moments and have a flair for organizing special events, starting a wedding business could be an exciting venture for you. This guide will take you through the steps of initiating and operating a successful wedding business, including the advantages and challenges involved in starting a business , how to go about creating a business website and strategies for generating revenue in the wedding industry. What is a wedding business? A wedding business is a service-oriented business that offers a range of services related to wedding planning and execution. Wedding businesses typically provide services such as: x Wedding planning and coordination Venue selection and decoration Catering and menu planning Floral arrangements and event design Photography and videography services Entertainment and music coordination Bridal and groom attire consultation Beauty and grooming services Why start a wedding business? The wedding industry outlook points to healthy growth on the horizon, with projections forecasting a compound annual growth rate of 4.8% through 2030 . As engaged couples increasingly seek to personalize their special day and create memorable wedding experiences, they are willing to invest substantially in bringing their perfect wedding to life. This presents ample opportunities for wedding-focused businesses to provide customized products and services tailored to discerning couples. By staying on top of wedding industry trends and gaining insights into what engaged couples are looking for, you can strategically position a new wedding business. Got a business idea? Lock down your brand’s domain before someone else does. Wix makes it easy to get your domain, email, hosting and SSL all in one place. Plus you'll get 24/7 support every step of the way. How to start a wedding business in 6 steps Create a business plan Select a business structure Obtain business financing or capital Set up accounting and bookkeeping services Source specific wedding equipment Register your wedding business 01. Create a business plan Develop a comprehensive business plan that addresses key aspects of your wedding business idea 's strategy, such as your target market, executive summary, marketing strategy and financial projections. This plan acts as a guide for your business, helping to communicate your vision to potential investors during fundraising efforts. It should also include other important business information such as the type of business you plan to start and your choice of a business name . Here’s a wedding business plan template to get you started: Wedding business plan template Executive Summary Business Name: [Your Wedding Business Name] Business Structure: [Sole Proprietorship/Partnership/LLC/Corporation] Location: [City, State] Founding Date: [Month, Year] Founders/Owners: [Names] Mission Statement: [Concise statement of the business’s purpose] Business Description Overview: Briefly describe your wedding business, highlighting key features, services, and specialties. Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Clearly define what sets your business apart from competitors. Target Market: Identify your primary client demographic and market segment. Services and Specialties List and describe the wedding services and specialties your business will offer. Include areas such as wedding planning, venue selection, catering, photography, and entertainment. Market Analysis Industry Overview: Provide an overview of the wedding industry, including trends and growth projections. Competitor Analysis: Identify key competitors, analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Target Audience: Define your target client profile and their preferences. Marketing and Sales Strategy Marketing Plan: Outline your strategies for promoting the business, both online and offline. Pricing Strategy: Detail your pricing structure and any promotional pricing. Sales Tactics: Describe how you will attract clients and secure wedding projects. Operational Plan Location and Facilities: Describe your office location and facilities. Suppliers: List and describe key suppliers for goods and services. Staffing: Outline your staffing plan, including roles and responsibilities. Financial Plan Startup Costs: Detail initial investment requirements and startup expenses. Revenue Projections: Provide realistic revenue projections for the first 3-5 years. Operating Costs: Outline ongoing operating expenses, including utilities, software, and staff salaries. Funding Requirements: Specify any funding needed and potential sources (loans, investors). Funding Proposal Purpose of Funding: Clearly state how the funds will be utilized. Amount Needed: Specify the amount of funding required. Repayment Plan: Outline the proposed repayment plan for loans or investments. Risk Analysis Identify potential risks and challenges that may impact the success of your wedding business. Develop strategies to mitigate and manage these risks. Appendices Include any additional documents or information relevant to your business plan. Examples: Portfolio samples, resumes of key team members and mock-ups of design proposals. Learn more about how to create a wedding planner portfolio. Conclusion Summarize the key points of your business plan and highlight the potential success of your wedding business. Conclude with a call to action or next steps. Note: This template serves as a general guide. Adjust and expand sections based on your specific business model and goals. 02. Select a business structure Choose an appropriate business entity or structure for your wedding business, whether it’s a sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC ) or corporation . Each structure comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, so select the one that aligns with your business objectives. Learn more: How to start an LLC 03. Obtain business financing or capital Starting a wedding business involves initial costs. Secure financing through methods like bank loans, grants, or investments from stakeholders to launch and sustain your business. Costs that you’ll need to factor in when securing financing for your business include: Office space and utilities Marketing and advertising campaigns Making a website and its maintenance (you can use one of these best event website builders) . Check out these wedding website examples for inspiration. Event planning software and technology infrastructure Initial salaries and benefits for employees Professional memberships and certifications Insurance coverage (liability, professional indemnity) Legal fees for contracts and compliance 04. Set up accounting and bookkeeping systems Establish robust accounting and bookkeeping systems from the beginning to track income, expenses, and ensure financial viability. This includes managing tax obligations if applicable. 05. Source specific wedding equipment Acquire the necessary equipment for your wedding business, including event planning software, computers, and design tools. Ensure that your technology infrastructure supports efficient event coordination and communication. Some more specific examples of this include: Event planning software for collaboration Computers and design tools Printers and scanners for document preparation Furniture for the office workspace Photography and videography equipment Decorative items and props for event styling Catering and serving equipment 06. Register your wedding business Register your wedding business in compliance with local regulations, obtain the required licenses and secure appropriate insurance coverage including liability and professional indemnity insurance. Learn more: How to register a business , How to get a business license Tips for managing your wedding business for profitability Once you’ve got your wedding business off the ground, you’ll need to understand how to properly run and manage it in order to make sure it’s profitable. Here are some general tips on how to achieve that. Research your industry and gain a deep understanding of the wedding industry, including market competition, target demographics and client preferences. Gain practical experience by working with established wedding planners or participating in relevant events. Develop a robust marketing strategy from the beginning to proactively promote your wedding business. Create a professional website showcasing your portfolio, services, and client testimonials. Utilize social media platforms for targeted marketing. Exceptional customer service is crucial for success in the wedding industry. Ensure open communication, meet client expectations, and go the extra mile to create a memorable experience. Ready to get started? Learn how to make a website with this easy guide. Wedding businesses to inspire (all built on Wix) Shreeji Weddings Design team planning wedding ceremony decorations to provide a unique design and experience. Emily Rose Weddings Personal wedding coordinator With experience in wedding day planning, preparation, supplier liaison and client support. Applewood Farms Wedding venue offering a wide variety of customizable menus and design options. Benefits of starting a wedding business Operating a wedding business allows you to turn your passion for events into a thriving career. You have the flexibility to be your own boss, set your schedule and contribute to the creation of memorable moments for couples. Challenges of running a wedding business Wedding planning requires diverse skills, including organization, creativity, and effective communication. Coordinating multiple elements of a wedding, managing client expectations, and handling unforeseen challenges are common challenges in the industry. Other common challenges include: Working unconventional hours and days, including weekends which is when most weddings are held. Highly competitive industry with lots of wedding businesses, suppliers and vendors. Seasonal fluctuations, with demand peaking in certain parts of the year, and falling off in others. The summer and Autumn months tend to be peak season for weddings. High stress environments - weddings can be stressful to organize, both for the organizer and wedding party. Economic uncertainty and inflation can lead to stricter wedding budgets and lower cost events, How profitable is a wedding business? The profitability of a wedding business depends on factors such as location, market demand, competition, pricing strategies, and service quality. Building a reputation for delivering exceptional events and streamlining business processes can contribute to higher profitability.: Consider the following when calculating potential profitability: Your industry: Full-service wedding planning has the highest profit margins, followed by catering and photography. Your location: Businesses in major cities with high demand can charge more for their services. Your pricing strategy: Premium pricing with high-quality services can be more profitable than budget options. Your overhead costs: Businesses with lower overhead costs have higher profit margins. Starting your wedding business from home, instead of renting an office, is one example of how to keep overheads low. Your marketing and sales plans: Effective marketing and sales strategies can attract more clients and increase revenue for your wedding business. Potential profit margins with a wedding business: Full-service wedding planning: 15-25% Catering: 10-20% Photography: 15-30% Floral design: 10-20% Venue rentals: 20-30% *These are intended as a guide only and are not necessarily indicative of actual profits possible with this type of business. Be sure to do your research carefully. Other business ideas you might be interested in How to start an architecture business How to start an industrial design business How to start a freelance business How to start an eCommerce business How to start a construction business How to start a car detailing business How to start a DJ business How to start a dog walking business How to start a catering business How to start a real estate business How to start a lawn care business How to start a food truck business How to start a landscaping business How to start a pressure washing business How to start a cleaning business How to start a tutoring business How to start a coaching business How to start a pool cleaning business How to start a food business How to start a painting business How to start a baking business How to start a handyman business How to start a nail business How to start a plumbing business How to start a trucking business How to start a rental property business How to start a farming business How to start a homecare business How to start a flower business How to start a car wash business How to start a medical supply business How to start a gaming business How to start a sports card business How to start a frozen food business How to start a courier business How to start a laundromat business
- 10 creative and inspiring event websites
Bring your inspiration to life with a Wix website → A well-designed, informative website is an essential part of planning any event. People rely on a website to set the tone of the occasion and provide necessary details and contact information. If you have an event coming up, the first step is to create an event website . Then, customize it to your liking with whatever colors, images and effects you see fit. You can even choose the perfect event invitation template to send out online invitations to all your guests. And don’t forget to set up an RSVP form directly on your site to ease the process. To inspire your creativity when it comes to understand how to make a website and in particular this type of a website , we’ve gathered 10 of our favorite event websites to showcase just how imaginative you can get when designing your own and starting your business . Also read: How to start a party planning business and best websites for inspiration Or get started by understanding more about creating a website with AI with the Wix AI website maker. Create the perfect site for you with Wix's website builder . Need inspiration for your website? With Wix, building a standout site is easier than ever. Choose from hundreds of customizable templates and use Wix’s easy drag-and-drop website builder tools to make your vision come to life. Turn your ideas into reality and see just how simple it is to create a unique, professional website. Best event websites Fun City Manchester Creative Retail Awards Paisley and Caitlin’s Wedding Website Richmond Sunflower Festival Clarine and Jovine’s Wedding Website Mammoth March Operation Pumpkin Oktoberfest Atlanta IMPACTER Taylor and Nico's Wedding Website 01. Fun City Manchester The event website of the traveling theme park contains a large spiral image consisting of contrasting oranges, yellows, reds and purples that grab visitors’ attention right away. Next to this design is an outline of a picture of a red ticket stub with the event details and a Book Now button, acting as the site’s call to action (CTA). On the bottom fold of the website, photos of fair rides display all the event has to offer. The designer incorporated a mouseover effect so each image enlarges slightly as the mouse icon hovers over it. Next to each photo, the ride's title is listed with a brief description so visitors have an idea of what they’ll experience. 02. Creative Retail Awards The Creative Retail Awards event is all about celebrating excellence in retail design. To bring the celebration to life, the event is filled with live performances, delicious food and interactive activities. An event app is installed onto this sleek-looking website to manage all aspects of the event, including ticket sales and RSVPs. Site organizers have made communication a breeze with the use of a contact form on a dedicated page, as well as an installed chat app . The chat box requests basic contact information followed by a screen with an opportunity for live chat upon availability. The use of this feature lets visitors know that there is someone to answer questions or provide information at the click of a button. Learn more: How to make conference website and conference website examples 03. Paisley & Caitlin’s Wedding Website If you’re looking for tips on how to create a wedding website , check out Paisley and Caitlin’s for inspiration. This site perfectly encapsulates the desert theme of the couple’s big day and has been created with an inviting wedding website template customized to fit their unique style. This uplifting and colorful one-page website contains multiple sections that are broken up with alternating pink and orange backgrounds, providing harmonious contrast. Pictures of the couple are cut into atypical shapes and strewn about along with bright floral illustrations. This is an excellent example of how various elements can work together to create flow in web design. From an RSVP page to details of the location, it’s clear that every moment of wedding planning has been carefully thought out. This momentous occasion will surely be something to celebrate. Read also: How one man popped the question with a Netflix-inspired Wix site 04. Richmond Sunflower Festival The Richmond Sunflower Festival’s event website houses all the happenings at Richmond Country Farms, from Yoga in the Flowers to their annual pumpkin patch. Bright colors and videos of sunflowers help maintain a sunny, positive vibe, and ensure consistent formatting across each page. Before heading to the festival, attendees can check out the FAQ page to answer event-related questions. Then after the event is over, Richmond Sunflower Festival shares photos from the event with a photo album app. By doing so, they can strategically drive traffic to their website even after the festival ends. 05. Clarine and Jovine’s Wedding Website Simple and elegant, this wedding website example allows professional photos of the happy couple to shine through as the star. The image of the bride and groom on the top fold contains a parallax scrolling effect, adding an appealing visual element to the site. And to showcase their engagement ceremony and livestream their upcoming wedding, Clarine and Jovine have utilized a video app, making it possible for friends and family around the world to virtually attend. 06. Mammoth March The Mammoth March logo says it all: black and green letters with green footprints will have site visitors geared up and ready to test their endurance. The organization hosts a variety of hikes all around the US that are open to anyone looking to unwind and disconnect. The site features a blog with articles dedicated to all things hiking, from what to pack to how to plan your next outdoor excursion. Creating a free blog is a great way to boost Mammoth March’s SEO efforts and increase traffic to their site, and not to mention provide helpful, relevant content to attendees. 07. Operation Pumpkin If you’re wondering how to create a website, take a look at Hamilton, Ohio’s annual fall festival event website. The site features a coordinating fall color palette, including navy blue, orange and yellow to create a festive autumn vibe. The bottom footer is strategically leveraged for location and contact information, making it easy to get in touch with event coordinators. Google Maps is embedded along with a pin showing exactly where the festival is located. Additionally, a contact form and Operation Pumpkin’s Facebook page are included in the same area. Providing multiple methods to easily contact event organizers allows attendees to feel supported in their decision to attend. All of their questions can be answered quickly and easily. 08. Oktoberfest Atlanta The month of October sees Oktoberfest festivals popping up all around the world, and Oktoberfest Atlanta’s website displays the radiating energy of this annual event. The site emulates a fun, vibrant atmosphere that beer lovers are sure to connect with. This one page website makes navigation a breeze with a menu at the top of the page that jumps to the corresponding segments that include Buy Tickets, Getting There, Gallery, Rules and FAQ . Each section includes a different color and patterned background with images from previous years mixed in throughout. This contrasting division helps guide visitors and segments important information so it’s more easily accessible. 09. IMPACTER This business entrepreneur conference event website is all about keeping attendees on their toes. A black background with large, capitalized white font against a desert background conveys a sense of exclusivity and mystery. At the top of the homepage, a menu bar is presented with page titles in matching white font, providing unity. However, a bold Click Here to Register button stands out in red which morphs into the words Click here when the mouse hovers over it. This bold CTA draws in the eye, helping promote the event and increase sign-ups. 10. Taylor & Nico wedding website The DeLorenzo wedding website is a modern, elegant way to share all the important details with guests. Its clean design, soft visuals and intuitive layout make it easy to find everything in one place. The homepage sets a warm, welcoming tone, while the “Us” page brings the couple’s story to life through photos. From travel information and nearby accommodations to a thoughtfully curated registry and simple RSVP form, the site provides everything guests need without feeling cluttered. An FAQ section rounds it out, answering common questions upfront and ensuring a stress-free experience. What is an event website? An event website is an online platform designed to provide information and provide services related to a specific event. These events can range from conferences, seminars, workshops, trade shows, concerts, festivals, weddings, and more. The primary purpose of an event website is to serve as a central hub where attendees, organizers, sponsors, and other stakeholders can access all the relevant details and resources related to the event. What should a good event website include? A good event website should be more than just visually appealing, it also needs to be both functional and informative. It should effectively communicate your event's details and provide a seamless experience for visitors. Here's what you should include to create a successful event website: Clear event details Event name, date, time, and location (physical or virtual). Concise event description that highlights its purpose and benefits. Relevant images or graphics that reflect the event's theme or content. Use an event name generator to come up with the best name for your function. Agenda and schedule Detailed schedule with session names, times, and locations (if applicable). Speaker or presenter names and affiliations for each session. Option to add sessions to a personal schedule if possible. Speaker and performer profiles Brief bios and photos of speakers, performers and presenters. Links to their social media profiles or personal websites. Venue information Address, map and directions to the event venue. Virtual event platform details and access instructions (if applicable). Sponsor and exhibit details Logos and descriptions of event sponsors and exhibitors. Links to their websites or dedicated pages. Networking opportunities Social media integration and buttons with links to event profiles. Discussion forums or chat features for attendees to interact. FAQ and support Comprehensive list of frequently asked questions and answers. Contact information for event organizers or customer support. Media and resources Videos, images, or promotional materials related to the event. Downloadable resources such as presentation slides or handouts. Learn more about building your Wix site with our guide. You can also explore all types of websites, from the best law websites to the best church websites . Event websites FAQ Can I create a website for a temporary event? Yes, you can create a website for a temporary event. Design a simple site with event details, schedule and location included. Use a website builder like Wix for easy setup. Include RSVP or ticketing options. Promote your site through social media and ensure it aligns with the event's theme and purpose. Can I create a free event website? Yes, you can create a free event website using event website builders like Wix. These platforms offer free plans with customizable website templates , event registration features and basic functionalities. Ensure the chosen platform meets your event's needs and consider upgrading for additional features if required. What are some great event website templates to use? Event website templates Event production templates Conference and meetup templates Event planning company templates Venue website templates Holidays and celebrations templates What are the best practices to making an event website? Your event website should be clear, engaging and easy to navigate. Highlight the event’s purpose, date and location right away. Make registration simple with an intuitive system, and include a detailed schedule and contact information for any questions. Use eye-catching visuals like photos or videos to build excitement, and ensure your site works seamlessly on mobile devices. Add features like social sharing buttons and an FAQ section to make the site more user-friendly and help spread the word about your event. How much does it cost to build an event website? An event website can be built for free, if you choose a website builder as your platform. This is also true if you use Wix, or you can opt for a paid plan (prices start from $17 a month) which include domain name registration, secure hosting, ecommerce integrations and event features. If you choose to work with a developer or designer, building a site can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars for the creation process alone and not including management and maintenance costs. Learn more: Is Wix free?
- How to promote an event: 9 actionable tips
Event promotion has undergone a digital transformation: The days of street corner advertising have given way to online bookings, live streaming and QR codes. These convenient upgrades also greatly benefit the global event industry. According to Statista , it’s expected to hit $2 trillion by 2028. Strengthen your next event using strategic digital event promotion. This article will show you how to promote an event using the most advanced marketing and management tools, breaking down each step into action items. Tip: Before you begin, create an event website to act as an information hub, sell tickets, collect payment and secure RSVPs. For example, if you're planning to tie the knot, peruse our wedding website examples or wedding website templates for inspiration. Define goals and KPIs for your event promotion Start by setting goals that will let you measure the success of your event promotion efforts. The main objective of event promotion is to drive registrations or ticket sales, but other important goals may include gathering sponsorships, obtaining charitable donations and raising brand awareness. Identify your KPI, or Key Performance Indicators, to track your progress, such as: Ticket sales or registrations before the event Day-of attendance Sale leads generated Website traffic Social media followers Return on investment (ROI) From the moment you begin promoting your event, track these KPI examples to gauge your marketing strategy ’s effectiveness. If your goal is to build brand awareness, check whether you're generating sales leads, increasing website traffic or growing your social media following. How to promote an event Once you’ve defined goals and their subsequent KPIs, follow these steps to identify the right promotion strategies for your event: Make an event website Plan your email marketing Create early bird discounts Create your own QR code Brand your event Collaborate with influencers, sponsors Run a social media contest Post in Facebook groups Create an event hashtag 01. Make an event website If you haven’t already, plan how to make a website to serve as a central hub for sharing essential details about your event like contact information, location, and your vision or purpose. On Wix, add an event management platform to an existing website or build it from scratch using any of these event website templates . With this type of website - an event website, site owners can list multiple events at a time, customize email invites and accept secure online payments. You’ll also be able to collect RSVPs, edit your guest list and track the number of attendees all online - which is also a great sustainable marketing practice. For more help, learn how to make invitations . Tip: Download the Wix app to run and manage your event. Guests can also use the Wix app to check in, pay at the door and connect with other attendees. Use an event name generator to come up with the best name for your function. 02. Plan your email marketing Email marketing is one of the most important types of marketing for any venture. Use email marketing tools to send strategic communication directly to your subscribers. Offer exclusive discounts or throw in a freebie to incentivize your invitees to RSVP. Do some market segmentation on your subscribers (categorize audiences based on commonalities like age, gender, values and behavior) to give you insight into their wants and needs. Then, create messaging that resonates with each of these segments and test different email subject lines, images and text. Jenna Romano, web design and email marketing expert on the Wix Blog, suggests that subject lines should instantly grab readers’ attention. “You want this limited copy to speak their language,” Romano says. “Hone in on topics, language styles, phrases and even buzzwords that will excite your crowd.” If you’re sending out a reminder for a gallery opening, for example, avoid generic subject lines like “Don’t miss this opening!” She recommends instead teasing the event like, “Jenna Romano’s latest digital works displayed for the first time.” 03. Create early bird discounts Early bird registration creates a sense of urgency for your audience. Promote the option to your built-in audience via email marketing. If it’s in your budget, you could offer a pre-registration discount to motivate customers to commit. If you don’t get any bites using these tactics, you may need to reassess whether your event appeals to the right crowd. You could reframe the event with different languared tailored to appease and satisfy your audience or test other distribution channels, like posting on social media platforms. Tip: A customizable Social Media Bar lets you easily link your event website visitors with your social media accounts. You can also use a link in bio tool in order to easily direct users to your event website from your social media channels. 04. Create your own QR Code Advertise your event using a QR code through social media, event website, emails or even product packaging. Customize your QR code by selecting the right size and color to fit your event’s style. Guests scan the code on their phone to receive detailed information about your event, such as venue location, event itinerary and registration information. You can also set up a QR code to directly link to the event ticket purchase page. During the event, use QR codes to let attendees opt-in to your email list to receive information about future events. 05. Brand your event Event-specific branding gives your event its own identity and character and makes your messaging pop. Incorporate your branding into all aspects of your event, including: Colors, images and fonts: Create a distinct visual identity that’s in line with yet distinct from the rest of your branding. This includes using different colors, fonts and imagery, from your website for event marketing emails and social media posts. Tagline: Having a unique tagline or slogan for your event website and other marketing assets makes it memorable and highlights its value. 06. Collaborate with influencers, sponsors From Nike’s iconic partnership with Michael Jordan to Coca-Cola’s collaboration with Taylor Swift, celebrity endorsements can effectively tap into audiences’ interests and get immediate attention for your product or brand. Consider promoting keynote speakers or celebrities at your event to reach their fans and followers and convert potential leads along the way. If you don’t have an A-list budget, you may want to explore influencer marketing , an increasingly popular form of digital marketing . To start, reach out to influencers within your niche and offer them a perk, such as a complimentary event ticket, free product or financial compensation in exchange for a sponsored content post about your event. You can also have influencers take over your social media account, like TikTok , to boost awareness of your event. This tactic could lead to high engagement among current followers as well as gaining new audiences. You may also seek corporate sponsors to help spread the word to new and potential audiences. 07. Run a social media contest Organize a contest on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok to ratchet up comments, likes, and shares of your event. Then, reward the winner with free event tickets. Boost your inbound marketing efforts with these contest ideas: Idea 1: Encourage people to share your post about the event and tag their friends. Then choose the winner based on a random draw. Idea 2: Ask people to tell a story about their first experience with your brand or talk about why they love it. The most compelling story wins a prize. Idea 3: Hold a photo contest around your brand. Idea 4: Host a caption contest and choose a winner. 08. Post in Facebook groups Facebook is a useful platform for promoting an event, whether you’re running paid ads, posting on your own company page, or creating a separate event page. You can also post in relevant Facebook groups. For instance, if your event is about financial planning, post about it in financial literacy groups. Rather than creating promotional posts, present your event as a possible solution to their unmet needs. 09. Create an event hashtag Come up with a hashtag unique to your event and encourage followers, attendees, and potential guests to use it in their posts. Hashtags also help you track mentions of your event so you can follow its popularity rise. If people use your event hashtag, nurture those leads and personally invite them to attend. How to promote an event FAQ How do you hype an upcoming event? Here are some ways to hype up your upcoming event: Create a countdown clock: A countdown clock on your website or social media can build anticipation and excitement. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses: Offer exclusive sneak peeks of the event setup, speakers or activities to generate interest. Partner with influencers: Have influential individuals promote your event to their followers. Run interactive contests: Encourage user engagement with fun contests related to your event theme. Host virtual events: Organize pre-event webinars or online sessions to connect with potential attendees. What is an example of how to promote an event? There are many ways to promote an event, and the best approach will depend on your target audience, budget and the type of event you're hosting. Here are some examples of effective event promotion strategies: Social media: Create engaging social media posts and graphics to generate excitement and interest in your event. Utilize relevant hashtags and run targeted advertising campaigns to reach your ideal audience. Email marketing: Send out email blasts to your existing subscribers to inform them about your event. Offer early bird discounts or exclusive content to incentivize attendance. Public relations: Reach out to local media outlets and influencers to generate press coverage and create buzz around your event. Partnerships: Collaborate with other businesses or organizations to cross-promote your event and reach a wider audience. Contests and giveaways: Run engaging contests and giveaways to generate excitement and encourage people to share your event with their friends. Website and online listings: Create a dedicated landing page for your event with all the necessary information, including registration links, schedule and speaker bios. Submit your event to online event directories to increase visibility. Offline marketing: Use traditional marketing methods such as flyers, posters and print ads to reach people in your local area. How do you attract people to an event? Here are some tips to attract people to your event: Target the right audience: Clearly define your ideal attendee and tailor your marketing messages to their interests and needs. Offer a compelling value proposition: Highlight the unique benefits of attending your event and explain why people should be interested. Create a sense of urgency: Use scarcity tactics like limited tickets or early bird discounts to motivate people to register early. Make it easy to register: Ensure the registration process is simple and straightforward to minimize friction. Promote user-generated content: Encourage attendees to share their experiences on social media using a designated hashtag. This creates social proof and attracts new attendees. Offer incentives for referrals: Encourage attendees to spread the word by offering rewards for referring their friends. What are the 5 Ps of event marketing? The 5 Ps of event marketing are: Product: This refers to the event itself, including its goals, target audience and unique selling points. Price: Determine the ticket price and consider offering discounts or special packages. Place: Choose the right venue for your event, considering its accessibility, capacity and ambiance. Promotion: Utilize various marketing channels to reach your target audience and generate interest. People: Identify the key stakeholders involved in the event, including organizers, speakers and volunteers. What makes an event successful? A successful event is one that achieves its goals and leaves attendees with a positive experience. Here are some factors that contribute to event success: Clear goals and objectives: Define your desired outcomes and tailor your event strategy accordingly. Thorough planning and execution: Plan every aspect of your event in detail and ensure smooth execution on the day. Engaging content and activities: Provide valuable and entertaining content that keeps your audience engaged. Attentive and responsive staff: Create a welcoming and supportive environment for your attendees. Open communication: Communicate effectively with your attendees before, during and after the event. Data collection and analysis: Track key metrics and analyze feedback to learn from your event and improve future iterations.
- 6 best website builders for artists
Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio → Our list of the best website builders for artists is designed to help you find the one that's tailor-made for making your artist website . Being an artist in the 21st century isn't easy (has it ever been?). Not only do you need to be creative and master your craft, but you also need to create a strong online presence for yourself. Your website serves as a digital gallery of your work. Making it inviting, easy to explore and aesthetically pleasing will encourage people to stay and learn more. How do you make a website if you're not proficient in web design? The answer lies in choosing the right website builder —one that both simplifies the design process and supports your marketing efforts. Showcasing your talent should be easy. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio that shows your best work in just a few clicks. Wix’s customizable templates and easy-to-use tools let you present your skills with confidence–leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits your site. TL;DR: best website builders for artists Your art deserves a site that works as beautifully as it looks. We break down website builders that help artists get online with ease and impact. Whether you want to showcase your portfolio, sell your work or just create a digital home for your art, the right builder can bring your vision to life, without requiring you to learn how to code. We chose builders that support creative freedom, streamline the setup process and offer the right mix of tools to help you grow. From flexible templates and media galleries to built-in eCommerce and print-on-demand integrations, each option is evaluated with artists’ real needs in mind. Selection criteria What we looked for Ease of use Drag-and-drop editors and customizable templates to simplify the build process Design flexibility Full control over layout, colors and fonts—plus mobile responsiveness Artist-specific features Media galleries, SEO tools, analytics, eCommerce and print-on-demand integrations Cost Free plans or transparent pricing to fit a range of budgets Customer support Access to tutorials, live chat or phone support when you need help 6 best website builders for artists Wix SmugMug Format Weebly Pixpa FASO 01. Wix Have you heard of palimpsest art? It's a relatively new art form in which you transform a painting into something new. Think of using website templates as a form of palimpsest art—the challenge is to transform a template to make it your own. With near-limitless customization opportunities, AI features and templates for all types of websites , Wix is your playground. Want to add some flair with parallax scrolling or tweak the color scheme? Go for it. How about setting up a shop that offers both original pieces and print-on-demand merch? You got it. You can even add custom code with Wix Velo to really make it yours. Learn more about the print on demand companies you could work with. If you're too busy to get your hands dirty, the art and illustration templates have enough personality and functionality to get you started. Or, you can use Wix’s AI website builder to create a bespoke website, complete with personalized site copy and all the visual components you need to showcase your best work. Learn more about all of Wix AI tools . But a visually stunning website is just half the story. The other half is robust performance, and that's another area where Wix shines. With two decades of continuous refinement, Wix boasts an infrastructure that is not only secure for you and your visitors but also lightning-fast and reliable. If all that weren’t enough, Wix also has the marketing tools you need to get your art the visibility it deserves. With robust tools for SEO, email marketing, multichannel selling, advertising and even print on demand, Wix makes it easier for your target audience to find you. Plus, you can harness the power of Wix Payments and point-of-sale (POS) solutions to track both online and offline sales in one place and accept payments online . Be inspired by these artist website examples , all built on Wix. Price: Free plan available, as well as monthly premium plans starting at $17 per month. Annual plans available. Free plan ($0): Limited features and ads. Light ($17/month): Basic plan for simple sites. Core ($29/month): Basic eCommerce features and marketing suite. Business ($39/month): Geared towards growing your brand. Business Elite ($159/month): Unlocks unlimited storage & scaling capabilities. Enterprise: Custom plan for large corporations. Learn more: How much does a website cost and how to make a Wix website Ready to have all these Wix features at your fingertips? Learn how to create a photography website with Wix and sign up for a free account today. 02. SmugMug SmugMug is a specialized playground for photographers to display their work as vividly as they capture it. SmugMug understands that your photos aren't just pixels on a screen—they're your business, and often, your livelihood. That's why it comes equipped with robust eCommerce features. Whether you're selling digital downloads or custom-printed canvases, SmugMug handles the complexities of online transactions, freeing you to focus on creating stunning visual stories. SmugMug additionally aims to preserve the integrity of your work, offering all subscribers unlimited storage with zero image compression. That means your photos remain as crisp and true-to-life as the moment you captured them, allowing you to display your art without compromise. To simplify your workflow, SmugMug seamlessly integrates with Adobe Lightroom and photo platforms like Flickr, because as any photographer knows, the process doesn't end once you've snapped that perfect shot. Price: Monthly plans starting at $25 per month. Annual plans available. 03. Format Specializing as an art portfolio builder, Format flaunts features that are particularly important to illustrators and filmmakers, such as copyright protection and integrated video hosting. Illustrators, with Format you can effortlessly sell art online without having to pay commission fees. Format also takes care of printing and shipping your digital illustrations , so you can sell physical offerings like canvas wraps, metal prints and more. Another option: you can choose to participate in Format's Artist Marketplace, a curated platform of artwork with global reach. The best part is, Format handles all the marketing and sales for you. As for filmmakers, Format doesn't skimp on the essentials. You can upload a generous 10GB of video clips, as well as tap into its integrated video hosting. Avoid the hassle of embedding videos from other platforms; Format ensures a streamlined and professional look for your portfolio. What's more, every plan comes standard with robust copyright protection, so you can display your masterpieces without a second thought about unauthorized use. And if you're eyeing business expansion, Format's Pro and Pro Plus plans let you set up a full-fledged online store on your site. It's a comprehensive package, making Format a popular for illustrators and filmmakers looking to showcase their work and grow their business. Price: Monthly plans starting at $12 per month. Annual plans available. 04. Weebly If you’ve ever participated in a craft fair or art show, you know that “cash only” is the best way to scare away customers. Today, people expect a variety of payment options, and that's where Square comes in. Known as a popular POS system for businesses on the move, Square's acquisition of Weebly in 2018 elevated Weebly from an ordinary website builder to a comprehensive sales platform for artists who sell their work in various settings. By using Weebly for your online presence and Square for your in-person transactions, you can make sure that your inventory and sales data are synced, no matter where you sell your art. So, whether you make a sale on your website or at a local art show, your inventory and financials will be automatically updated. This level of integration eliminates the need for manual updates, reducing the risk of errors and freeing up more of your time to focus on your art. Price: Free plan available, as well as paid monthly plans starting at $13 per month. Annual plans available. 05. Pixpa As an artist, your work often speaks for you, and Pixpa gets that. Pixpa helps you create a strong portfolio website by offering a range of customizable, visually striking templates that allow you to showcase your art in the best light possible. As with other website builders in this list, Pixpa understands that artists are entrepreneurs. That's why they offer an integrated eCommerce platform designed to help you sell your art directly from your website. Have clients who need private galleries? Pixpa enables password-protected galleries where you can share works-in-progress or client-specific collections securely. This makes the platform ideal for photographers, designers or anyone who needs to provide restricted access to a selected audience. What about growing your audience? Pixpa offera built-in SEO and marketing tools that help make sure people find you and not just another artist when they search online. Price: Monthly plans starting at $8 per month. One-year and two-year plans also available. 06. FASO FASO is tailored to painters and sculptors who want to break into the online art market. Picture your website as an elegant, virtual gallery where collectors and enthusiasts can stroll through the digital corridors, eyes widening at every masterpiece you've created. FASO helps you turn that vision into reality. Beyond this, FASO offers tools engineered to close sales. Ever browsed art online and wondered, "How would this painting look in my living room?" FASO erases that uncertainty with its innovative "View in Room" feature. This lets prospective buyers virtually "hang" your artwork in their own space, giving them a real sense of how it will fit into their world. FASO's Automated Marketing Platform additionally pushes your art to an expansive network of more than 70,000 collectors, galleries and art aficionados. Furthermore, FASO helps you establish a brand newsletter to keep your fan base updated on your latest works, upcoming exhibitions and latest insights. So, if you're a painter or sculptor looking to not only showcase but also sell your art online, FASO offers a well-rounded platform tailored to your needs. From visualizing art in a room to marketing your pieces to a wide audience, FASO equips you with the tools to turn your passion into profit. Price: Monthly plans starting at $15 per month. Annual plans available. Learn more about why you should use a website builder. Learn more: Best AI website builder Best website builder for small business Best one-page website builders Personal website builders Free website builders Cheap website builder Best membership websites How to choose the right website builder as an artist According to Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix: "Even if infrastructure is not the first thought that comes to mind when creating a website, if it’s not robust enough, it can cause major headaches for website owners when trying to scale a website later on." Choosing the right website builder as an artist is a crucial step in showcasing your work effectively. Here are some key factors to consider: Ease of use Drag and drop functionality is a must if you want to make a site without coding. Wix uses a drag and drop editor for just this. Also look for access to customizable website templates that you can make your own but which also mean you don't have to spend a lot of time building website pages from nothing. The more specific the templates, such as these creative art templates , the better. Learn more: How does an AI website builder work Design flexibility Customization is important, to make a unique website that represents your art. Being able to choose your own colors and typography is crucial. You want to put your own stamp on your site as an artist. Also check that you can make your site mobile-friendly, so that no matter where anyone is accessing it from, it works and looks great. Features and tools There are many useful features and tools to look for in a website builder for artists. Some important ones to look for include: Media galleries, to show off your artwork. eCommerce capabilitie s, in case you should ever want to sell your work online. SEO tools , that make it easy to implement basic optimizations to help your site appear on search engines. Analytics tools , these help you gauge the performance of your site in terms of visitors. Print-on-demand (POD) integration, allowing you to sell prints, canvases or apparel with your designs without the hassle of managing inventory. Cost If your budget is small, or if price is important to you for whatever reason, research the cost of making a website with each builder first. With Wix you can create a website for free, or opt for a paid plan. Customer support Good, reliable customer support is a must — both live chat and phone support if necessary. It's also a plus if the website builder for artists you choose provides tutorials and guides on using their platform too. Get started with your website design with Wix today. Editor’s note: all prices are current as of July 23rd, 2025. How to make an artist website Creating an artist website is a great way to share your work with the world and connect with a wider audience. Follow these nine steps to get started: Establish goals for your artist website : Define what you want to achieve whether it’s selling your artwork, attracting commissions, showcasing your portfolio or building a fan base. Clear goals will guide your decisions throughout the process. Choose a website builder : Look for a platform that’s user-friendly and offers creative tools to help you bring your vision to life. The right builder will give you flexibility while keeping things simple. Wix is a great option, offering intuitive features and customizable templates to suit any project. Pick a template : Select a design template that matches your artistic vibe. Templates with clean modern layouts are ideal for spotlighting your art. Register a domain name : Secure a custom domain that reflects your identity or brand. A name like yournameart.com makes it memorable and professional. Set up your website pages : Include key pages such as a homepage to introduce yourself, an About page to share your story, a gallery page to feature your work and a contact page for inquiries. Showcase your artwork : Upload high-quality photos of your art arranged into clear categories or collections. Add descriptions to give visitors context and connect them with your pieces. Make your site mobile-friendly : Optimize your site so it looks and functions beautifully on mobile devices. A seamless mobile experience ensures no visitor is turned away. Review and publish : Double-check each page for typos, broken links or design tweaks. Once you’re satisfied, hit publish and bring your website to life. Maintain your artist website : Keep your content fresh by adding new projects, updating news or sharing blogs about your creative process. Regular updates show you’re active and engaged. Website builders for artists FAQ How do I create my own website as an artist? To create your own artist website, choose a website builder that suits your needs. Select a template that complements your artistic style, organize your portfolio with high-quality images of your work and include an 'About Me' section. Ensure easy navigation, provide contact information and consider adding a blog to share your artistic journey, techniques or upcoming exhibitions. How much does it cost to have an artist's website? The cost of an artist's website can vary. DIY platforms offer affordable plans starting at a few dollars per month. If you hire a professional web developer, costs may range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the complexity of the site. Additionally, there may be expenses for a custom domain, hosting and any premium features you choose to include on your website. Is Wix a good website builder for artists? Yes, Wix is a good website builder for artists due to its user-friendly interface and a variety of customizable templates. Artists can easily showcase their work through Wix's drag-and-drop functionality, making it accessible for those without extensive web development skills. Wix also offers features like an online store for selling artwork and a blog for sharing artistic insights. Wix is also great for all types of sites, including actor websites too. Check out these best website builders for designers. How can I optimize my artist website for SEO? To optimize your artist website, focus on search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. Use descriptive titles and alt text for images, incorporate relevant keywords in your content and regularly update your portfolio. Utilize social media platforms to share your artwork and drive traffic to your site. Additionally, engage with your audience through a blog, encourage visitors to sign up for newsletters and consider participating in online art communities to enhance your website's visibility and reach. What should I include in my artist website's portfolio section? Your artist website's portfolio section should showcase your artwork effectively while providing visitors with relevant information about your work. Make sure to include high-quality images, artwork titles and descriptions, categories or collections, an artist statement, exhibition history, a contact form and social media links. How can I protect my artwork from unauthorized use on my website? To protect your artwork from unauthorized use, start by adding watermarks to your images, making it clear they’re protected while still showcasing your work. Use low-resolution versions of your artwork on your website to make them less appealing for unauthorized use or reproduction. Finally, include copyright notices on your site and, if necessary, register your work to have legal recourse for any infringements. Is a website worth it for an artist? Yes, a website is absolutely worth it for an artist. A website allows you to share your story, sell your art and update fans and clients on your latest projects. It’s a platform that reflects your unique creative identity while giving visitors an easy way to connect with you, making it an invaluable tool for growing your artistic career.
- 14 illustration portfolios that are brimming with talent
Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio → As an illustrator, your portfolio website is a crucial tool that helps both fans and potential clients explore your work. As a type of website a online portfolio is also the place for you to craft the story behind your personal practice, shaping its narrative in your own words, colors and style. One of the very first steps in making an illustrator website is to look for web design inspiration . We recommend eyeing some beautiful portfolio templates that you can use as a starting point for your own. In addition, you can browse through some of the best illustration portfolios, looking closely to see what makes them work so well. To get you started with how to make a website we’ve collected a curated list of fifteen portfolios by accomplished illustrators worldwide, being sure to highlight some of the main takeaways for each. Showcasing your talent should be easy. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio that shows your best work in just a few clicks. Wix’s customizable templates and easy-to-use tools let you present your skills with confidence–leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits your site. 14 illustration portfolio examples to inspire your own Isabelle Feliu Miranda Sofroniou Naomi Wilkinson Rose Blake Levi Jacobs Ana Leovy Alex Gamsu Jenkins Nathalie Lété Hedof Rafael Varona Travis Braun Natalia Vazquez Garcia Johanna Puhl Bespoke Pets 01. Isabelle Feliu Based in Oslo, Norway, Isabelle Feliu creates watercolor and gouache paintings that are reminiscent of an enchanted desert oasis on a hot day, filled with palm trees and hyper-stylish ladies. The alluring beauty of the places she envisions makes her illustrations into a visual wishlist of her dream travel destinations. Isabelle’s illustrator website includes an art portfolio that showcases her works in a long scroll format. Some of her commissioned client work—such as that for Marie Claire or graphic design magazine Wrap—is highlighted using individual project pages. She completes these pages with short descriptions, contextualizing the works by providing a bit of background information. Isabelle’s website also includes a Wix Store , where site visitors and fans can shop her original paintings, tattoo permits and more. 02. Miranda Sofroniou Miranda Sofroniou’s illustrations offer a whimsical exploration of sights and views from her travels around the world – from mountainside road trips to camel rides in desert dunes. Her illustration portfolio’s homepage combines these very different locations into a thumbnail display, using the Wix Pro Gallery . The internal project pages of her illustrator website provide a more in-depth showcase of her works, ranging from editorial illustration, to book covers and even illustrated products like jigsaw puzzles. 03. Naomi Wilkinson Based in Bristol, UK, Naomi Wilkinson has worked with clients such as Facebook, Etsy, Airbnb and Wix—and has also illustrated and created books. Her distinct style merges a nostalgic color palette with shapes resembling paper cut-outs. Neatly organized on Naomi’s homepage are her many projects, consisting of gifs, illustrated patterns and greeting cards. She’s included ample amounts of whitespace, allowing users to move from one image to the next without distraction. Each illustration opens up into a project page, putting it in the spotlight with more images and a brief textual description to explain it. If you want a similar look for your illustrator website, you can get an understanding of the best ways to design it by scanning through this collection of portfolio templates for creatives and portfolio website examples . 04. Rose Blake Starting with the illustrated pretzel favicon, Rose Blake ’s portfolio website is fun and lighthearted. She places a custom logo —a large word mark style logo making up her name – on the homepage, surrounded by a selection of small, clickable illustrations. This unique navigation method is accompanied by a more traditional website menu at the top of the page, so that site visitors can choose their preferred way of browsing through Rose’s works. Rose’s About page features a short bio and list of selected clients, accompanied by a photo of herself sitting next to one of her own illustrations. Presenting these details in a compelling and stylish way helps inform visitors and distinguishes Rose's work from that of other illustrators. 05. Levi Jacobs Levi Jacobs’s works have been known to add a refreshing flare to everything from the pages of The New York Times to food packaging and more. Based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, his unique use of color, texture and shape is carried across the different mediums in which he works, such as digital illustration, murals and printmaking. Notice how Levi makes sure to take quality photographs of his art in different contexts. By photographing his prints or murals and showcasing them as finished products, he brings his work to life on his illustrator website. Levi’s also kept his site up to date, a reminder that as an illustrator, you should make a portfolio that will grow as you produce new work and develop your ideas. Get inspired by these sample portfolio websites . 06. Ana Leovy Having worked with The Guardian, Man Repeller, Teen Vogue and many more, Mexican illustrator and artist Ana Leovy creates colorful compositions using acrylics, gouache and watercolors. In contrast to her lush paintings, her illustration portfolio’s homepage is clean and typographical. What makes this one of the best portfolio websites? With no imagery at all, the design nonetheless commands our attention while highlighting Ana’s visual sensibilities. The use of text throughout her website boosts Ana’s personal brand, helping visitors connect to the person behind the works. The text on her About page, for example, does a great job of explaining her love for depicting strong, confident characters and celebrating diversity through her work. 07. Alex Gamsu Jenkins Alex Gamsu Jenkins is an illustrator, cartoonist and animator from London. His work offers a humoristic exploration of the absurd, surreal and grotesque. This unique tone is extended onto his website design, starting with an animated, gradient logo of his name at the top of the page. He has also made sure to link this same logo back to the homepage—an important design portfolio tip that greatly improves navigation and user experience. His illustrations and comic strips are displayed using the Wix Pro Gallery, stretching over the full width of the screen. When clicked, the images open to full screen mode. This enables site visitors to view each of them individually, set against a clean, white background. 08. Nathalie Lété Throughout her prolific art and illustration career thus far, Paris-based Nathalie Lété has collaborated with endless brands, from Gucci to Anthropologie, illustrated many books and has participated in various exhibitions. Her portfolio website opens into a splash page that depicts an illustrated cat, inviting site visitors in. The site’s background is a scanned page of a sketchbook, giving us a symbolic peek into this artist’s studio and inspirational stages. The homepage design offers an interesting take on the website menu, using hand-painted elements—flowers, a hedgehog, a squirrel—serving as buttons and leading to the site’s different pages. The result is a highly personalized illustrator website design, that’s perfectly in line with Nathalie’s body of work. 09. Hedof Hedof , also known as Rick Berkelmans, has worked with clients such as Nike, Nickelodeon and Samsung. His illustration portfolio places an emphasis on what his works look like in real life, whether they end up taking the form of three-dimensional sculptures, printed objects or mural paintings. To indicate the diversity of his final products, Hedof shares photos of people interacting with his pieces. You can see individuals holding his printed illustrations, wearing stylish tote bags, or exploring his sculptures. The portfolio is intuitive in its navigation, with elements such as a "back to top" button and a logo that links back to the homepage, greatly contributing to the site’s user experience. 10. Travis Braun If you're a music lover, prepare to be blown away by Travis Braun . This illustrator and educator specializes in creating stunning music posters that are packed with hidden meanings and Easter eggs, making them a delight for fans to explore. His illustrator website showcases a vibrant collection of posters designed for some of the world’s biggest bands, offering visitors a closer look at his creative process and the stories behind his work. For anyone curious about his inspirations, Travis shares insights into his artistic journey and his passion for music. When it comes to web design trends , Travis’s site strikes a perfect balance between creativity and functionality. The poster gallery is sleek and organized, allowing the artwork to take center stage. His choice of a dark, moody color palette serves as the ideal backdrop for his bold and energetic illustrations, drawing visitors' attention without overwhelming the experience. Travis’s illustrator portfolio highlights detailed images of his posters to behind-the-scenes snapshots, visitors are immersed in his world of music-inspired art. His site also features a shop where fans can purchase prints of their favorite posters, with close-up views that allow for full appreciation of the intricate designs. 11. Rafael Varona Rafael Varona is an illustrator specializing in motion design and complex animated loops for TV and social media. One such loop is revealed to us at the entrance to his illustrator website – a quirky cityscape including animated characters happily “getting their groove on” in the midst of the city’s bustle. This use of homepage real estate is both intriguing and exciting and instantly exhibits the illustrator’s talent. Scrolling down to view Rafael’s portfolio, we can see that he’s highlighted a wide range of projects: illustrated Snapchats, infographics for tech companies and animated loops. It’s a reminder to every creative creating a portfolio website to display works that demonstrate your diverse capabilities. Before we bid Rafael ado – let’s take a moment to appreciate his modern logo design , expertly turned into a favicon to seal the professional look of the website. 12. Natalia Vazquez Garcia Natalia is an illustrator based in Barcelona whose site is bright, colorful and easy-to-navigate. She proves that creatives can be business savvy by organizing and promoting her own illustration course: “Developing Your Own Illustration Style.” Should you as an illustrator venture into a side hustle like Natalia, you can learn a thing or two from her about marketing online using your portfolio website. Natalia anticipates that her visitors are a good target audience for the course and entices us to sign up with two clever methods. First, upon entering her site, visitors are presented with a well-designed lightbox which displays a short blurb about the course. Second, she places an additional advertisement by adding a strip to the top of her homepage, including an effective call-to-action button encouraging users to register and “Get 2 Weeks Free!” 13. Johanna Puhl Apart from Johanna's alluring and mystical illustrations, the actual star of her online illustration portfolio is the bold—yet charming—entrance to her online store. Encouraging website visitors to purchase her work, Johanna places a small icon of a shop sign, paired with a colloquial call-to-action “Buy Some Art." Engaged customers will be delighted to find that Johanna’s shop offers plenty of items to collect: dainty cotton bags, playful calendars, wrapping paper and more. Johanna’s contact page stands out with an authentic bio and friendly headshot. She gives us just enough information to appreciate the industrious hands behind her products and illustrations. Furthermore, including a mailing list sign up form on her site is a great way to potentially build her following, keep in touch with her current clients and update fans when she comes out with new work. 14. Bespoke Pets What would your pet look like if they got up for work like the rest of us? Would they put on a pair of work boots, or would they be more likely to wear a fine Chanel suit? That’s the whimsical idea behind Bespoke Pets , a custom pet portrait company founded by Sarah Zimmer. Her illustrator website beautifully captures the charm of imagining pets in human roles, showcasing Sparky and friends as they shed some animal instincts in favor of a more business-savvy style. The website starts with an engaging animation portfolio that brings Sarah’s illustrations to life, offering a playful and heartwarming introduction to her services. This animation sets the tone for the rest of the site, creating an inviting and fun atmosphere for visitors. Sarah’s online store is seamlessly integrated, allowing customers to easily browse and purchase custom pet portraits. Each product page showcases high-quality images with zoom-in functionality, letting users appreciate the intricate details of her artwork. This attention to detail enhances the shopping experience, making the illustrations feel more personal and accessible. Beyond the portfolio and store, the site features a collection of customer testimonials and press coverage, adding an extra layer of trust and credibility. Bespoke Pets is an excellent example of how to blend creativity, functionality and a personal touch into a professional online presence. Why you should create an illustration portfolio Now that you are inspired by these incredible illustration portfolios, it is time to learn why you should create one in the first place. There are a number of benefits for any illustrator, when it comes to having a portfolio, whether aspiring or established: Showcase your work: Your portfolio is a chance to show potential clients what you are capable of and should include a variety of illustrations that highlight your different styles and techniques. Build your career : As you build your portfolio, you'll start to develop a reputation as an illustrator. This will make it easier to get work and to move up in the industry. When you have a portfolio, you are more likely to be noticed by art directors and clients. They will be able to see your work and decide if you are a good fit for their projects. Learn and grow : As you build up your portfolio, you'll also learn a lot about illustration. You will learn how to draw, how to use different illustration software and how to market yourself. These are all very valuable skills for illustrators to have and constant learning and growing is how you stay at the top of your game. Learn more: Best art portfolio examples Tips to create illustration portfolios Ready to get started? Here are some tips for creating your own illustration portfolio: Brainstorm your goals: What kind of illustration do you want to specialize in? What are your strengths as an illustrator? Hone in on your niche and what your "thing" is. Once you know your goals, you can start to create a portfolio that will help you achieve them. Choose the right illustrations and keep updating them : Your online portfolio should only include your best work, so choose illustrations that showcase your unique style and techniques. As you build out your body of work, you'll need to keep your portfolio updated. Add new illustrations as you get them and remove any illustrations that are no longer relevant. Use a portfolio website builder: Using a website builder allows you to easily and quickly create an online portfolio that showcases your work and style. Opt for a portfolio builder like Wix and you can create an illustration portfolio for free . Illustration portfolios FAQ How can I make sure my portfolio is always relevant and reflects my best work? It's important to remember that once your illustration portfolio is created, you'll need to constantly keep it updated with your new and evolving work. As you grow and evolve as an illustrator, you'll need to update your portfolio to reflect this. It's never finished. What are the best website or portfolio builders for an illustration portfolio? A lot will depend on your own technical and web design skills. You can create a stunning portfolio with AI in minutes, or use a website builder to create something a little more complex. Generally portfolios don't need a great deal of functionality (like say an ecommerce site) but they do need to look great. So you want to use a platform that allows you to customize templates, add different media formats and customize fonts, layouts and colors to reflect your design style. How much of a role should client feedback play in how I design and update my portfolio? If the goal of your illustration portfolio is to gain more clients, it can be a good idea to take their feedback on your portfolio layout and style into account. Just remember that different clients want different things and one's feedback might not correspond with your style or goals.
- Digital illustration: how to create digital artwork
Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio → Drawing digitally allows for so much freedom to experiment and explore. This comprehensive guide will help you fully master the art of digital illustration. Whether you’re enriching your personal art portfolios , refining a client project or for embellishing your website design , digital illustration allows for many creative opportunities. Key tools, techniques, and keyboard shortcuts can help in the process of creating digital artwork and speed up your workflow, an especially valuable tool when freelancing as an artist. To help you find your way around the digital artboards and canvases, this complete guide focuses on Adobe Illustrator for vector illustration and Adobe Photoshop for pixel-based work. It will also discuss how to bring the two together regardless of your website type . Whether you’re a freelance digital artist looking to start understanding how to make a website or a drawing tablet pro, you’re bound to learn a thing or two from this all-encompassing guide for digital illustration, brought to you by two professional illustrators at Wix. And if you're looking for new clients, don't forget to head over the Wix Marketplace to offer your services and skillset. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio in just a few clicks. Customizable templates and intuitive tools make it easy to showcase your work with confidence, leaving a lasting impression on every visitor. What is a digital illustration? A digital illustration refers to visual artwork created using digital tools such as graphic tablets, stylus pens and illustration software, such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. It encompasses various styles and techniques, from digital painting and vector art to concept art and character design. Digital illustration allows artists to create and manipulate images on a digital platform, providing flexibility and opportunities for experimentation. Vector illustration: Using Adobe Illustrator 01. Pen Tool illustration The Pen Tool allows for precise results with only so much as a mouse. It’s useful for accurately tracing photographs or other resources. Drawing with the Pen Tool (P in your keyboard) is achieved by connecting several points, called anchors, that make up lines or paths. This results in an endless variety of lines and shapes, either geometric or curvy and arched. The anchors can be manipulated and moved around by dragging the handles attached to each one. Some pro tips: Practice makes perfect: The Pen Tool requires some getting used to until you can fully master it. If this tool is new for you, take time to practice by tracing a photograph as accurately as you can. Space out your anchors: Create your shapes and paths with as few anchors as possible. While using many anchors does make drawing easier, keep in mind that the more anchors you use, the bumpier the edges will be. Some useful technicalities: For straight lines, press Shift before positioning a new anchor. In order to control the handles only (and not anchors), select the white mouse cursor (Direct Selection Tool, or A in your keyboard) and drag the handles while pressing down the Alt key. Opposite handles are usually equal in length. If you want to control each handle individually and achieve different handle lengths, press Command or Ctrl while dragging the handle. To delete handles, switch to the Anchor Point tool by pressing Shift + C. 02. Illustrating with geometric shapes This style does wonders with basic geometric shapes such as circles and rectangles. These can be cut and moved around in different ways, while always retaining their straight angles and perfect radiuses. It’s used for various purposes, from UX illustration to greeting cards. This method works best with a combination of different tools that are used to cut and connect the shapes together. The main ones that come in handy are the Pathfinder Tool (Window > Pathfinder, or Command or Ctrl + Shift + F9), the Scissors Tool (C) and the Pen Tool (P). Uncle Max’s Journey, detail from a children’s book, 2014, illustration by Ariel Wollek. This project was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Rutu Modan in the Visual Communication Department at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem. Some pro tips: Shapes are all around you: Everything can be broken down into basic geometry. This quick exercise can help you get acquainted with the concept:: Find a picture of your favorite animal and break it apart into its basic shapes, by placing shape outlines on top of the picture. This is also a useful method for flexing your artistic muscle and overcoming creative block. Decide how you want to approach this: are the eyes just tiny circles, or are they ellipses with round pupils and a white flare of light? Harmonize your art: When your image is simplified down to its bare geometrical necessities, visual harmony becomes even more crucial. For this reason, ensure that your shapes are perfectly aligned before merging them. Another tip for maintaining a sense of consistency is to pick a few shapes and have them repeat throughout your illustration. Create surprising shape combos: Make your visuals interesting by rearranging the basic shapes we all know into new and surprising ones. Take the edge off your corners: Give your illustration a pleasant, curvy feel with the Round Corners Tool. 03. Freehand illustration While creating straight lines and perfect shapes is its main advantage, Adobe Illustrator can also be used for freehand illustration. Some pro tips: By determining your line’s Fidelity (double-click on the brush or pencil icon for the Options panel), you can decide whether to keep your lines as you draw them, or allow Illustrator to smoothen them out. For cleaning excess lines from a freely drawn shape, use the Shape Builder tool (Shift + M). Pixel-based illustration: Using Adobe Photoshop 01. Brushes and strokes Photoshop brushes provide never-ending options for digital illustrations, sometimes very close in their appearance to real life strokes of pencil, gouache, ink, and more. These brushes allow for a highly realistic look – and pretty much any look you can dream up. There are so many great brushes out there, but this abundance can also get overwhelming. It’s often wise to find the ones you like best and fit your style, and stick to those. Using a limited amount of brushes can also help in creating a unified look throughout your works and illustration portfolio . Adobe Photoshop comes with a basic set of brushes, which is sufficient for most uses. If you’re looking to expand your options, explore some of the professional brush sets that you can purchase online or download for free. To get you started, check out the set of brushes by illustrator Kyle T. Webster , offering over 1,000 high-quality brushes. Grandfather Stories from Addis Ababa, a spread from Or Yogev’s graduation project, 2016. This project was carried out under the supervision of Alon Briar, in the Visual Communication Department at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem. Some pro tips: Own your stroke: For most techniques, it’s best to use the same style of stroke for both drawing and erasing, to achieve unified shapes and lines. One way of doing this is by setting both the Brush Tool (B in your keyboard) and the Eraser Tool (E) as the same brush. A different method is to create your image on a layer mask, drawing with a white brush and erasing with a black brush (interchange between the two by hitting X). Put a spin on it: Use the Rotate Tool (R) to see your image from different angles. You can always reset the view back to its upright position with a quick hit on the Escape key. Smooth it out: Control how smooth your stroke is in the options bar. Increasing the value of smoothing reduces jittering and helps produce slick, curvy shapes. This is especially useful for digital hand lettering . Beware of heavy brushes: Some brushes you download online might be too heavy and slow down the program. It’s better to avoid these to keep your workflow going. Swap your colors with ease: One of the benefits of digital illustration is just how easy it is to change your colors and test as many color palette options as you need. There are two methods for changing the colors of anything on your layer: Color by locking the pixels: Click the ‘lock transparent pixels’ button in the Layers panel (the one that looks like a checkered box). This should lock down all active pixels in the layer. This way, when you paint over them, all existing pixels will change color – but no new pixels will be added. Just don’t forget to unlock the layer when you’re done. Color with a clipping mask: Create a new layer. In the Layers panel, click on the thin line between the two layers while holding down the Alt key. This will result in a small arrow linking the new layer to the one below it, so whatever color you paint with on the clipping mask will automatically apply to the content of your previous layer. 02. Textures Textures add depth to your 2D pieces, and create a more convincing and authentic feel. When overused, however, they can become too dominant and obscure the illustration with a grainy blur. Use your textures wisely and pick your favorite ones to work with, maintaining a unified look. In order to import textures into Photoshop, go to Layer > New fill layer > Pattern, or click on the ‘Create new fill or adjustment layer’ icon (the black and white circle) at the bottom of the Layers panel. This way, each new texture will come with its own mask, which helps in applying your texture to the relevant areas only. Some pro tips: DIY your textures: Create interesting textures manually with watercolors, acrylics, ink, or even plain paper, and easily scan and import them into Photoshop. There are also a lot of great textures available for download online. Color your textures: To color your texture, use a clipping mask. (Reminder: Create a new layer. In the Layers panel, click on the thin line between the two layers while holding down the Alt key. This will result in a small arrow linking the new layer link to the one below it, so whichever color you apply to it will fill the visuals in your previous layer.) 03. Create a screen print look Screen printing is based on printing in layers, one layer for each color – which makes it a perfect fit for the layer-based Photoshop. The unique screen printing look is achieved when the different colors show through their corresponding layers, creating new colors as a result. For that reason, we recommend limiting your color scheme to two to three colors – confining each color to a separate layer – which will result in three to six different colors when mixed. The best way to create this effect is by using the Photoshop blending modes – ‘Multiply’ is a great option, and ‘Linear Burn’ is also good if you’re looking for extra contrast. Pro tip: It’s sometimes easier to apply blending modes on a group of layers instead of a single one. This makes playing around with the layers slightly more convenient. 04. Digitize your sketchbook Digital illustration does not necessarily mean you abandon the pen and paper all together. With these techniques, you can have the best of both worlds – enjoying the special handmade appeal as well as the tech benefits of creating digital artwork. In order to bring your sketchbook work into Photoshop, it’s best to create your linework and shading separately. Draw the lines first, making sure to work in high contrast black-and-white so that it will be easily read by your computer. It’s preferable to use a black pen or marker, but a pencil can also work. Scan the image or take a high-resolution photo of it, making sure to retain the high contrast. Once you open your image in Photoshop, it’s time to separate your linework from the white paper background. Here’s how: Select the whole image (Command or Ctrl + A) and copy it. In the ‘Channels’ window, create a new channel which will show up as black. Paste the image into the new channel and invert it (Command or Ctrl + I) so that the image becomes white. Press ‘Load channel as selection’ (the dotted-circle icon at the bottom of the Channels window), so that only your image is selected. Back in the Layers panel, open a new layer. Press Command or Ctrl + backspace, which will color in your selected area. Your line work is now digitized. Create the shading layer as an additional handmade layer for the same illustration. Do this on a separate piece of paper, using tracing paper or a light table. Repeat the previous steps for scanning and separating the image from its background. Now your Photoshop file should have one layer of linework and one layer of shading, both created by hand. You can then add color, textures and other elements, enriching your illustration to your heart’s content. Go from vector to pixel: Using Illustrator and Photoshop Vector and pixel-based illustration each have their pros and cons, and you can benefit from bringing the two together. Many illustrators create their images on Illustrator first, and then move on to Photoshop as the next step for their textures and finishing touches. Here’s how to take your Illustrator files to Photoshop the right way: Once you’re happy with your Illustrator file, select everything on your artboard and copy it. Go to Photoshop and make sure none of the layers are selected. Once you paste your visuals you will see a pop-up window. Select ‘Paste as: Path’. Open the Photoshop Paths window. Your visuals should all be there as a new Work Path, not yet separated into layers. Using the black arrow cursor (A), select each shape individually. For each shape selected, open a new layer in the Layers panel. Then back in the Path panel, click ‘Fill path with foreground color’ and ‘Stroke path with brush’ (the black circle and outlined circle icons at the bottom left of the panel). You can then delete the cyan outline of the shape, or decide to keep it in case you’d like to modify it later on. This should result in each of your shapes on a separate layer, colored in and ready to use. Types of digital illustration jobs Digital illustration has become a versatile and in-demand field, offering various job opportunities for skilled artists. Here are the top 6 options for digital illustration jobs : Digital illustrator: Creating visual concepts and illustrations using digital tools for various purposes, including character design, book covers, editorial illustrations and digital art. Concept artist: Visualizing and designing characters, environments and objects for industries like gaming, film and animation during the early stages of creative development. UI/UX designer: Designing visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces for websites, applications and software to enhance the overall user experience. Game artist: Creating digital assets, including characters, environments, textures and animations, for video games to contribute to the visual elements of the gaming experience. Medical illustrator: Using digital tools to create visuals that explain complex medical concepts, procedures and anatomy for healthcare professionals, educators and researchers. Children's book illustrator: Creating engaging and age-appropriate visuals to accompany stories in children's books, contributing to the overall appeal and educational value of the publications. Digital illustration FAQ Can I be an illustrator without a degree? Yes, you can become an illustrator without a formal degree. While a degree can provide valuable skills and knowledge, many successful illustrators are self-taught or have pursued alternative paths such as online courses, workshops and practical experience. Building a strong portfolio and developing your skills through consistent practice is often more critical than having a specific degree. What skills are required to become a digital illustrator? To become a digital illustrator, you need proficiency in digital illustration software such as Adobe Illustrator. Essential skills include a strong understanding of composition, color theory and anatomy. Additionally, illustration skills, creativity, attention to detail and the ability to bring ideas to life visually are crucial. Continuous learning and staying updated on industry trends also contribute to success. How much do digital illustrators make? Digital illustrators' income can vary based on factors such as experience, skill level, geographic location and the industry they work in. Freelancers may charge per project or per hour, while full-time positions may offer a salary. On average, digital illustrators can earn anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per project, depending on the complexity and scope. What is the difference between digital illustration and graphic design? Digital illustration focuses on creating visual concepts and artwork, often telling a story or conveying a specific message through images. Graphic design, on the other hand, involves using visual elements and layout techniques to solve problems and communicate information. While both fields may use digital tools, digital illustration leans more toward artistic expression, whereas graphic design encompasses a broader range of visual communication. What does a digital illustrator do? A digital illustrator creates visual concepts, characters and artwork using digital tools. They may work on projects like book covers, editorial illustrations, concept art for games or films and more. Digital illustrators collaborate with clients or art directors to bring ideas to life, using their skills to convey messages, evoke emotions or enhance visual storytelling. How do I make my own digital illustrations? To create your own digital illustrations, start by acquiring the necessary tools, such as a graphic tablet and illustration software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator or Procreate). Learn the basics of the software and practice fundamental illustration skills. Experiment with different styles and subjects, seek feedback and build a portfolio showcasing your work. Online tutorials, courses and communities can provide valuable resources and support as you develop your digital illustration skills.
- Common mistakes when creating a portfolio (and how to avoid them)
Ready to showcase your best work? Start building your portfolio → Creating an online portfolio is a crucial step for anyone looking to showcase their skills, experience and creativity. Whether you're an artist, designer, writer or professional in any field, your portfolio serves as your online brand ambassador. Its not uncommon though for portfolios to fail to impress because of avoidable mistakes. Understanding these pitfalls can help you understand how to build a portfolio that truly stands out and opens doors to new opportunities. TLDR: Common portfolio mistakes Portfolio mistake 1 Choosing the wrong work to showcase 2 Neglecting the presentation and layout 3 Forgetting to tailor to your audience 4 Overloading with text/technical jargon 5 Ignoring the importance of contact information 6 Not updating the portfolio regularly 7 Overusing visual effects 7 of the most common portfolio making mistakes Choosing the wrong work to showcase Neglecting the presentation and layout Forgetting to tailor the portfolio to the audience Overloading with text or technical jargon Ignoring the importance of contact information Not updating the portfolio regularly Overusing visual effects 01. Choosing the wrong work to showcase One of the biggest errors in portfolio creation is including every piece of work you've ever created. A portfolio should be a carefully curated selection of your best that highlights your best and most relevant projects. Including too many items or irrelevant work can overwhelm viewers and dilute your strengths. How to fix this portfolio mistake: Select 8 to 12 pieces that demonstrate your skills and versatility. Prioritize recent work that aligns with the type of job or client you want. Remove projects that don't reflect your current abilities or style. For example, if you're a graphic designer applying for branding work, your graphic design portfolio should focus on logo design, packaging and brand identity projects rather than unrelated illustrations or personal experiments. Hear from Wix user Longodesigns : With the Wix platform I was able to make a stunning website with minimal cost and time. With no web design experience, I was able to figure it out all on my own. 02. Neglecting the presentation and layout Even the best work can lose impact if the portfolio is poorly organized or visually cluttered. A confusing layout or inconsistent formatting can frustrate viewers and make it hard to find key information. Tips for better portfolio presentation: Use a clean, simple design that lets your work shine. Maintain consistent fonts, colors, and spacing throughout. Group similar projects together and provide clear headings. Include brief descriptions explaining your role and the project’s goals. For instance, a photographer’s portfolio , like this example from Lorenzo Fanfani , might group images by theme or style, with captions that describe the shoot location, concept, or technical details. 03. Forgetting to tailor the portfolio to the audience A common mistake is creating a generic portfolio that tries to appeal to everyone. This often results in a lack of focus and fails to address the specific needs of potential employers or clients. How to tailor your portfolio better: Research the company or client before submitting your portfolio. Highlight projects that match their industry, style or values. Adjust your portfolio’s tone and content to fit the audience’s expectations. If you're applying for a role in a tech startup, emphasize innovative and fast-paced projects. For a traditional marketing agency, showcase more polished, professional work.. Learn more: Common website creation mistakes 04. Overloading with text or technical jargon While it’s important to explain your work, too much text or complex language can distract or confuse readers. Many viewers skim portfolios quickly, which means clarity and brevity are key. Best practices for portfolio descriptions: Use simple, direct language. Focus on your contribution and the project outcome. Avoid jargon unless it is widely understood in your field. Use bullet points to break up information. For example, instead of writing “Implemented a multi-faceted digital strategy leveraging cross-platform synergies,” say “Created a social media campaign that increased engagement by 30%.” 05. Ignoring the importance of contact information and accessibility A portfolio that lacks clear contact details or is difficult to navigate misses its purpose. Potential clients or employers need an easy way to reach you and explore your work. Make sure to remember for your portfolio: Include your email, phone number, and professional social media links. Use a mobile-friendly/ responsive design that works on mobile devices. Test your portfolio on different browsers and devices. Provide downloadable versions if relevant. A portfolio website that loads slowly or breaks on smartphones can lose you valuable opportunities. Explore these mobile-friendly portfolio templates from Wix to get building your site today. 06. Not updating the portfolio regularly An outdated portfolio can give the impression that you're inactive professionally or not improving your skills. Regular updates keep your portfolio fresh and relevant. How often to update your portfolio: Add new projects as you complete them. Remove older work that no longer represents your best abilities. Refresh the design every year or two to stay modern. For example, a web developer might add recent websites they built and remove older projects that use outdated technologies. Be inspired: Web development portfolio examples 07. Overusing visual effects and complex navigation While creativity is important, excessive animations, sound effects or complicated menus can distract from your work and frustrate users. Keep a portfolio user-friendly by: Using simple navigation with clear labels. Avoiding auto-play audio or flashing graphics. Ensuring fast load times. A portfolio should make it easy for viewers to focus on your work, not on figuring out how to use the site. Learn more: What is a portfolio? Why do I need a portfolio?
- 10 non-cliché design quotes for the creative mind
Want a portfolio that builds itself? Try Wix’s AI Website Builder → These leading creatives have shared many of their iconic works with the world, as well as a few words of wisdom. We've collected their thoughts on the creative process, beauty and all things design. When it comes to design inspiration, there’s hardly ever a right or wrong answer. Creativity can have completely different meanings for different people. At times it can get so elusive that what got you sparking with ideas one day, loses its charm the next. In this life of endless wandering, there is no eternal spring of inspiration to rely on. Yet like a lighthouse beaming in the dark, we are sometimes able to find direction in the aura of powerful thinkers in the arts. We’ve collected 10 intriguing and thought-provoking quotes to add to your mood board and design blogs from notable individuals we look up to, from David Lynch to Issey Miyake. Not entirely straightforward, not exactly motivational – we hope these words strike a cord in your designer heart. Creating a portfolio has never been this easy. With Wix’s AI Website Builder, you can have a fully personalized website up and running in minutes. Just share a few details about your vision, and let Wix’s AI take care of the design, customization and launch. It’s quick, smart and tailored to showcase your work beautifully. Don’t wait–let AI do the heavy lifting while you focus on creating and sharing your best work. Whether you're starting out on your journey to becoming a freelance graphic designer , or looking for inspiration for your graphic design portfolio or website, we've got you covered. Make sure your online presence is polished and branded, from your designer's Instagram account to your portfolio website . Spike Jonze Saul Bass Francis Bacon Charles Bukowski Stefan Sagmeister David Lynch Hayao Miyazaki Tove Jansson Issey Miyake Paul Rand 01. Spike Jonze I think the way kids create is so inspiring. They're drawing a picture? They love the picture they drew; they're not tortured about it. Spike Jonze About the author: Spike Jonze (born 1969) is an Oscar-winning filmmaker and director. Many of his works discuss the self-loathing and inner turbulence that follow the creative process. Being John Malkovich and Adaptation are two iconic examples of such metafilms. 02. Saul Bass I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares, as opposed to ugly things,. That's my intent. Saul Bass About the author: Influential freelance graphic designer Saul Bass (1920-1996) created many memorable title sequences for Hollywood films, revolutionizing movie credits from a plain and informative introduction to an inherent part of the film’s storytelling. He is also the designer of many logos, among them the AT&T, United Airlines and Kleenex logos. 03. Francis Bacon I believe in deeply ordered chaos. Francis Bacon About the author: British artist Francis Bacon (1909-1992) is known for his grotesque and bleak style. His powerful and emotional works capture the post-war anxiety of his time in portraits of distorted characters that seem tortured and hurt, many times with their mouths wide open, mid-scream. The abstract depiction of his subjects is contrasted against flat, geometric backgrounds. Most of his works are organized into series, repeating similar subject matter in diptych or triptych formats. 04. Charles Bukowski To do a dull thing with style now that's what I call art. Charles Bukowski About the author: The poems and short stories of German-American writer Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) mainly depict his hometown, Los Angeles. Bukowski describes alcohol-filled, crude and anti-social human interactions of his city’s poor lowlife, and centers his plots around the mundane events of the everyday. 05. Stefan Sagmeister I had discovered that I'm much less special than I thought I am. So whatever I find true for myself, other people might also relate to. Stefan Sagmeister About the author: Born in Austria (in 1962) and based in New York, acclaimed graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister is well-known for his innovative use of typography – creating type with materials ranging from bananas to his own skin. Sagmeister has also designed album covers for prominent musicians including the Rolling Stones and Jay-Z, and initiated an exhibition and a film about happiness – The Happy Show and The Happy Film . 06. David Lynch I discovered that if one looks a little closer at this beautiful world, there are always red ants underneath. David Lynch About the author: Filmmaker David Lynch (born 1946) is known for the surreal and enigmatic atmosphere he achieves on film, with its distinct aesthetics. From films Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive to television series Twin Peaks , Lynch’s creations tap into the collective subconscious with an eerie, dreamlike beauty. 07. Hayao Miyazaki Do everything by hand, even when using the computer. Hayao Miyazaki About the author: Japanese animator and film director Hayao Miyazaki (born 1941) is co-founder of Studio Ghibli and director of many beloved anime films such as My Neighbor Totoro , Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away . His imaginative, often epic films stress the importance of our relationship with nature and warn against the possible harms of technology. 08. Tove Jansson Lose your invaluable curiosity and you let yourself die. It's as simple as that. Tove Jansson About the author: Finnish artist Tove Jansson (1914-2001) is the author and illustrator behind the Moomin book series and comic strips. The Moomin series, spanning over nine novels and three picture books, offers an idyllic and peaceful portrayal of family ties, friendships and life with nature, that is only interrupted by the Moomins’ adventurous journeys in the Nordic wilderness. 09. Issey Miyake Work for money, design for love. Issey Miyake About the author: Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake (born 1938), founder of the Tokyo-based Miyake Design Studio, is known for his cutting-edge mix of new techniques with traditional materials and fabrics, creating garment construction that is almost seamless. He is also responsible for a collection of perfumes under his name and has proclaimed in the past that proceeds from his perfumes go to charity. 10. Paul Rand Ideas do not need to be esoteric to be original or exciting. Paul Rand About the author: American art director and graphic designer Paul Rand (1914-1996) is the creative mind behind timeless logos such as those for IBM, ABC, and Westinghouse. Rand helped pave the way for a well-rounded approach to corporate identities, regarding design as an essential part of businesses. Rand’s Modernist style was based on simple geometric shapes and bold color palettes. Learn more about how to make a website with our complete guide.
- What is a storyboard and how to make one
Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio → Made early on in the pre-production phase of filmmaking, a storyboard determines so much of what audiences end up watching on-screen. Storyboards are an important part of any film’s development, and can also be used to enhance your portfolio website design or your graphic design portfolio by including your work process alongside the final piece, regardless of the type of website. This article will answer all of your questions on the topic, from what is a storyboard to what it should include and how to make your own whether making a website or for another purpose: Showcasing your talent should be easy. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio that shows your best work in just a few clicks. Wix’s customizable templates and easy-to-use tools let you present your skills with confidence–leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits your site. What is a storyboard? A storyboard is a visual representation of a film, composed of a sequence of illustrations or images. It serves as a graphic organizer or an aid in the planning of a motion picture, establishing what exactly will be shown on screen, from which angle, in what order, and so on. This common technique is used in different types of filmmaking, ranging from video , to animation, motion graphics, and more. The process of storyboarding can help you make many of the critical decisions regarding the film prior to the actual shooting or animating. This will enable the production to run more seamlessly and intentionally, resulting in less trial and error during the work process. Storyboards can be created either by hand or digitally, using illustrations, sketches or photographs. They usually contain accompanying written notes to further explain the visuals. The practice of storyboarding as we know it was developed by Walt Disney Studios during the 1930s. There are many beautiful storyboard examples from that time that you can find online, as well as ones by other famous directors, like Hayao Miyazaki and Alfred Hitchcock. These can serve as excellent inspiration for your own storyboards. The main advantages of using a storyboard in filmmaking are: Planning and refining a film’s narrative or storytelling. Improving communication across team members through visualization. Defining key technical parameters such as camera angles and lighting. Storyboard made at the Wix Studio for a promotional video. Storyboard frame (left) and final frame (right). Learn more: How to make a Wix website What is included in a storyboard? As a pre-production resource, a good storyboard should refrain from being overly detailed. Instead, it should include just enough information to move the narrative forward, explain all of the major occurrences in the film, and help envision how the final piece will come to life. Here are the most important elements to include in a storyboard: Action: Each main activity in the film should be depicted in at least one thumbnail or frame. To indicate motion within the shot, use arrows and action lines (usually marked in red). Shot numbers: Number the shots in accordance with their appearance on the video’s shot list. Type of shot: Establish the type of shot (close-up or bird’s-eye view, for example), plus the camera angle and camera movement for each shot. Camera movements are usually expressed using arrows placed at the edge of each individual panel. For example, use a sidewards-pointing arrow to signify a panning shot, or an upwards-pointing arrow for a tilt. Dialogue or narration: Write down any text spoken or heard in the shot. Special effects: Mention any relevant special effects that will be added to the shot, such as sound effects or design elements like typography. The main types of camera movements as depicted in storyboarding. How to make a storyboard Break down your script Create blank panels Add textual descriptions Sketch your narrative Ask for feedback Make an animatic 01. Break down your script Before getting to work on your actual storyboard, go over your script (or concept) and break it down into actions. This can be done in the form of a list, or a chart with each action listed in a separate cell. Number each of your actions. These same numbers should later align with the numbering of the panels on your storyboard. Your list of actions can be done more generally, mentioning the overall action that viewers see in each frame. For the example below, created by animator and Wix user Yukai Du and published on her animation portfolio website , the action list would probably look something like this: 1. It opens with some flowing liquid. 2. Zoom out, we see the liquid is in a hand. 3. Zoom out, the hand turns and… 4. Morphs into the top part of the pot product. And so forth. If your video or animation includes narration or spoken lines of text, mention them in your action list, so that you’re clear on which part of the script goes in which storyboard panel. If your film is more elaborate, you might prefer to create a detailed shot list, mentioning each action’s location, type of shot, camera angle and camera movement. Storyboard by animator and Wix user Yukai Du. 02. Create blank panels Create a grid to act as the wireframe of your storyboard. There are plenty of storyboard templates online, which you can use as a reference when making your own. Alternatively, find a downloadable template that suits your project’s needs. Whether you’re working with ready-made panels or are creating them yourself, make sure that the frames you use are in the right aspect ratio. This is important as it ensures that your drawings will end up in the correct proportions, matching those of your film. An aspect ratio is a design and photography term referring to the relationship between an image’s width and length, represented as width: height. For example, the standard widescreen video aspect ratio is 16:9, whereas for Instagram Stories it’s best to work in a 9:16 ratio. Your storyboard page or template should include a dedicated space for notes and numbers alongside each of the different scenes and shots. 03. Add textual descriptions By each panel, write text to describe the action that will be shown in each frame. Do this in accordance with the script break-down from the first step. Be sure to include any spoken dialogue or narration. In addition, number your panels and scenes. If your storyboard is longer than a single page, you should number the pages themselves as well. Storyboard vs. the final animated-loop by animator and Wix user, Inbal Ochyon . 04. Sketch your narrative Drawing out the panels is the most important part of storyboarding, as it’s where you envision and visualize the film. But you don’t have to be an expert illustrator in order to get it right. While good drawing skills can definitely come in handy, as any professional storyboard artist would tell you, what matters most in a storyboard is not the art itself, but rather the information it conveys. The drawings you create can therefore be as simple as line art or rough sketches. They should explain what action is taking place in the scene, showing where the characters are and what they're doing. In addition, the drawings should indicate details like framing, camera angles and camera movements. When drawing your storyboard, keep in mind key cinematographic elements such as composition, focus, lighting, transitions, and continuity. You can also take motion graphics and video trends into account, keeping your work up to date. If the color palette plays a big role in your film, you could incorporate color in your storyboard. However, it’s not a must and many storyboards stick to just black and white. If you’re interested in a more in-depth test for the use of color in your film, consider working on a color script. A color script demonstrates how the palette evolves in parallel with the unfolding of the film’s storyline. It is similar to a storyboard, only that it places an emphasis on color psychology and symbolism, alongside lighting. Storyboard by Wix user Line Art Studios. 05. Ask for feedback Much like a mood board , a storyboard is created during the early stages of a project and can have a huge impact on the end result. Your storyboard should therefore be communicative and easily understood by everyone involved in the project - be it the client, camera operator, animators or concept artists. But even when working independently, it’s imperative that the storyboard reflects your movie clearly. Perfecting your storyline and cinematography at this stage in your production will pay off down the line, resulting in a much more effective and informed filmmaking process. To ensure that the film is clearly understood, show your complete storyboard to a team member or a trusted friend and ask for their input. See what stands out to them as confusing, and invest the time to revise the storyboard accordingly. Address the problems that arise during this early stage, and the final film will be all the better because of it. 06. Make an animatic Once your storyboard is finalized, you can take it to the next level by creating an animatic, or in other words, an animated version of your storyboard. By taking the frames or panels from your storyboard and placing them on a timeline, combined with an initial soundtrack and rough camera movements, you can start to get a real feel for your end result. You can also add in subtitles to signify any speech. To create an early version of your soundtrack, check out these sites for free music for your videos. Creating an animatic allows you to not only visualize every scene in your film, as does a storyboard, but also to decide on the timing and pacing of each part of your movie. It makes it easier to know how long you should linger on some sections, versus how abrupt certain transitions should be. This helps to plan the animation process better, as well as to time the soundtrack and dubbing more accurately. Animatic (top) versus the final version (bottom) of a promotional video by Wix.
- Best website builders for graphic designers: what pros are using in 2026
Design high-end sites with efficiency on Wix Studio. Start creating today → For graphic designers , a website builder isn't just about ease of use, it’s about creativity without restrictions. Finding the right platform can feel like a balancing act between speed, control and visual precision. You want full website design freedom without spending hours on manual tweaks or compromising your aesthetic. And let’s be real, first impressions matter. Forbes reports that half of internet users consider a website’s design. That means the sites you build don’t just showcase your work, they shape how potential clients perceive your brand. That’s exactly why choosing the best website builder for graphic designers is so important. You need a platform that goes beyond basic website templates , something that supports your process, keeps your visuals consistent and helps bring bold ideas to life. Here, we’ll break down the best website builders for graphic designers. Whether you’re a freelance graphic designer or work for an agency, one is built to help you publish work that feels distinctly you. So, whether you’re starting from scratch, comparing top platforms or testing out an AI website builder to speed things up with AI design , you’re in the right place. Ready to learn how to build a website that reflects your unique style? These top picks for graphic design websites will inspire you to do just t hat TL;DR: best website builders for graphic designers You wouldn’t start a project without sketching out the vision first—same goes for choosing a web site builder. Before we dive into the full list, here’s a high-level look at what separates the website design ideas from the rest when it comes to graphic design. The right platform gives you more than just a canvas, it gives you the tools to scale your creativity, refine your voice and even explore how to make money as a graphic designer . Whether you're: Showcasing a client-ready design portfolio Figuring out how to start a graphic design blog to grow your audience Building a freelance graphic design brand or launching a full creative business Testing out graphic design business names and services to see what resonates The best website builders support the full picture—from layout to launch. That’s why Wix Studio , with its powerful Wix Studio features , is included in this list as a top choice for designers who want total creative control combined with robust business and collaboration tools. How we chose the best website builders for graphic designers Criteria Why it’s important for graphic designers Design flexibility Full control over layout, typography and color to match your brand style or client projects. Templates for graphic design websites High-quality, niche-relevant templates that serve as strong starting points for freelance graphic design and studio sites. Customization without code Intuitive editors or AI website builders that allow detailed customization—no coding required. Portfolio & blog features Built-in tools to showcase work and start a graphic design blog that supports SEO and personal branding. Ecommerce & monetization Support for selling products, prints, or services—ideal for those exploring how to make money as a graphic designer. Speed & SEO tools Fast load times, mobile optimization and built-in SEO features to boost discoverability and professionalism. Scalability for business growth Tools and plans that support growth—from personal sites to full graphic design business operations. "As a designer, staying efficient and adaptable is a must. That’s why finding the best website builders for designers can be a total game-changer. Go for platforms that make collaboration easy, provide design tools that feel like an extension of your creativity and make client handoffs smooth and hassle-free." - Tal Ashtar, graphic designer at Wix Why graphic designers need website builders with specialized tools For graphic designers, building a website isn’t just about putting content online. It’s about shaping a cohesive, immersive experience that blends form and function. Every layout choice, typeface and interaction is intentional, especially for those working in brand design , exploring different graphic design styles or building a platform to share graphic design tips . That level of control and detail requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach to website development . To deliver standout designs at scale, the best website builders for designers need to offer tools that meet their standards and match the way they think. Different types of designers —from illustrators to branding specialists—bring a unique blend of creativity and design thinking to web creation. The best builders should keep up with that mindset, not hold it back. “Graphic designers don’t want to fight with their tools, they want tools that fight for their vision. The best website builders give you room to experiment, stay on-brand and actually enjoy the build process.” - Roy Wax, PMM at Wix Studio The creativity designers bring to web creation A web designer approaches a project with a visual mindset. Instead of relying on rigid templates, you think in grids, white space, typography and hierarchy. Whether you’re showcasing graphic design ideas, building a portfolio or even planning on starting a blog , your website isn’t just a container—it’s your canvas for storytelling. That’s why the best website builders for graphic design portfolios give you precise control over layout, color systems, responsive templates and micro‑interactions that bring your vision to life. Regardless if you’re focusing on building dynamic website designs, sharing a personal project or experimenting with how to make a storyboard , you need a platform that supports high-end visuals, custom interactions and refined responsiveness across breakpoints—without sacrificing website performance , accessibility or SEO features . Limitations of generic website builders Many of the best website builders promise simplicity, but when it comes to creative flexibility, they often fall short. Generic templates, inflexible layout tools and limited styling options can quickly box in your creativity, especially when working with evolving graphic design trends or trying to maintain a unique brand identity across projects. Without features like reusable components, responsive control or full design system support, even simple tasks can become time-consuming. And when a platform doesn’t support great design, it limits your ability to deliver your best work across projects and client types. Features that graphic designers want in a website builder A strong platform should help bring your ideas to life—not get in the way. Graphic designers typically look for: Feature Why it's important Grid & layout control Ensures alignment and balance throughout the site Advanced typography Lets you fine-tune type styles, line heights and responsive behavior Design system support Makes it easy to apply consistent styles and scale designs Color management Helps maintain accessible, brand-aligned palettes Custom breakpoints Offers full control over how designs adapt across devices Built-in animations & effects Adds polish and depth without custom code High performance output Ensures that beautiful designs also load fast and rank well With the right tools, designers can stop adapting to generic platforms—and start building websites that not only reflect their unique style, but also deliver high-impact website design for small business clients and serve as a source of website design inspiration for others in the creative space. 12 Best website builders for graphic designers Choosing the right website builder means finding a platform that aligns with how you work and what you want to create. Below, we’ve reviewed the top options for graphic designers in 2026. From flexible all-rounders to specialized platforms, find the website builder that suits your creative workflow. Wix Studio Wix GoDaddy Duda Webflow Framer Jimdo SITE123 Shopify Dorik Web.com WordPress 01. Wix Studio Wix Studio is a website building platform for professional designers, developers and marketers. With powerful Wix Studio design capabilities, an intuitive CMS for designers and robust business tools, it empowers freelancers, agencies and Wix Studio developers to build, manage and scale exceptional websites with maximum efficiency. At its core, Wix Studio is one of the best responsive website builders that combines a powerful editor with advanced layout tools, a collaborative workspace and scalable Wix Studio business solutions . You get complete control over grids, typography, animations and interactions, plus the ability to build reusable components and design systems that stay consistent across every project. Thanks to Wix headless architecture and support for custom Wix apps , developers have flexibility to extend functionality as needed. Best for: Professional designers, developers and marketers who want total design freedom—without the constraints of traditional platforms. Best features: A visual editor built for design logic: Wix Studio’s advanced editor was built specifically with graphic designers in mind. You can drag, drop, align and layer with full creative control or use an intuitive grid-based layout to keep your compositions structured and consistent across breakpoints. Layout tools like stack, dock and padding controls make it easy to finesse spacing and alignment without hacks. Responsive design: Set custom breakpoints, scale elements proportionally and tweak layouts across devices—all without touching a single line of code. The Studio Editor was built to handle design-first thinking, so your sites look polished at every screen size. The Studio Editor works with a cascade system, meaning changes you make on larger breakpoints trickle down to smaller breakpoints, but changes on smaller breakpoints don't affect larger breakpoints. Reusable templates & widgets: Save and reuse custom sections, website design templates and widgets across multiple sites. This is a great tool to speed up the design process as it lets you save color palettes, typography styles and designed sections and elements. The Site Styles panel is a one-stop shop to manage the site typography, colors, page transitions and max width. Creating a theme for your client's site is a great, holistic way to save time and ensure the design is consistent Figma-to-Studio: Wix Stu dio’s official Figma plugin makes it easy to turn your static designs into fully editable websites without redrawing or rebuilding. With just a few clicks, you can import entire layouts directly from Figma into Studio, where your sections, containers, stacks and grids are preserved as real web structures. Typography, colors and spacing styles come through intact, giving you a consistent design system from canvas to live site. Code-free animations & effects: Add movement, interactivity and flair with a wide range of built-in effects—from parallax to scroll-based animation. Studio also includes tools like WebGL and Text Marquee to help you bring brand stories to life without any use of code. Integrations with tools like Lottie and Rive make it easy to build motion-rich, standout experiences without leaving the platform or installing anything extra. Creative control with custom CSS: You can fine-tune elements with custom CSS directly in the editor. Designers who like to blur the line between visual and technical design can push layouts even further, while keeping everything inside one workflow. Native business solutions: Wix Studio eCommerce supports online store creation , service booking sites and digital sales. You can customize product galleries, checkout flows and customer emails visually, while still tapping into more advanced tools like automations and app integrations when needed. Wix Studio business solutions include bookings, events, memberships and selling subscriptions—all seamlessly integrated with the core eCommerce system and available through a single, unified backend, with no plug-ins and no need to add custom code. Pre-designed assets: Wix Studio comes with pre-built sections, a wireframe generator and components to help you move fast without starting from scratch. Build your own templates, reuse your own elements across pages and customize everything so it stays on brand. You can even turn any vector file into a custom cursor for added detail. AI tools that support (not replace) your creativity: Wix Studio AI features smart content suggestions, AI-generated sections and tools that act as a design assistant that helps you get started or fill in the blanks—without ever taking over your vision. Accessibility: Graphic designers must keep in mind accessibility when designing and building websites. That means font size, color contrast, content hierarchy and more. Wix Studio’s Accessibility Wizard scans your client’s site and detects and fixes issues. No-code CMS: Whether you're managing case studies, portfolios or blog content, the no-code CMS lets you design around structured data—keeping layouts dynamic, content-driven and easy to update for you or your client. Team collaboration suite: The Studio Editor is a collaborative real-time platform that lets teams work simultaneously on the same site. You can edit the layout, design and content of pages or elements without overriding people's actions. Changes made by other stakeholders appear in the Studio Editor within seconds. You can also see who's working on each element or page. This minimizes conflicts and allows you to collaborate efficiently with team members and site collaborators. Client collaboration & handover: Enable 'content mode' so clients can safely update content without breaking layouts. Leave live comments directly on the canvas for fast feedback. Generate automated performance reports. When it's time to hand off, use a personalized client kit to make the transition clear and smooth. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $19/month (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Free: without a custom domain or try any plan subject to a 14-day money-back guarantee. Basic ($19/month) : Build online brands. Standard ($27/month): Accept online payments. Plus ($34/month): Capture leads and boost sales. Elite ($159/month): Scale business growth. Enterprise (price available upon request): Custom pricing for large-scale businesses with advanced Wix Studio enterprise features. “Wix Studio was built for designers who think beyond templates. You’re not just dragging elements onto a page, you’re building real systems, applying brand consistency at scale and working the way creative professionals actually work. Whether you're managing client projects or scaling a creative business, Wix Studio gives you the freedom to design without limits and the infrastructure to back it up. It’s more than a builder, it’s a platform built around how designers think.” - Roy Wax, PMM at Wix Studio Curious how Wix Studio stacks up against other platforms? Explore these comparisons: Wix Studio vs. Wix | Wix Studio vs. Shopify | Wix Studio vs. Framer | Wix Studio vs. Elementor | Wix Studio vs. Webflow | Wix Studio vs. Duda | Wix Studio vs. WordPress 02. Wix Wix is a beginner-frie ndly, drag-and-drop website builder known for its ease of use, versatility and visual flexibility. With over 2,000 professionally designed templates spanning nearly every industry, there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you’re designing a personal brand or building sites for clients, Wix makes it easy to get started and look professional from day one. Often ranked among the best website builders for small businesses , Wix offers a fast, intuitive setup process that lets you launch with confidence, no coding or complicated onboarding required. It’s ideal for self-creators, freelancers and business owners who want to make a bold first impression and build a standout web presence without needing a background in design or development. Best for: Self-creators, freelancers and small businesses who want to launch fast, look professional and grow their brand with minimal setup or tech expertise. Best features: Visual editor: Wix’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor features rulers, layers, snap-to-objects and overlapping controls, allowing pixel-level placement. It offers precise manual layout control and robust element alignment. Optimized for mobile: Automatic mobile optimization and a separate mobile editor ensure good cross-device performance. With the mobile mode you can tweak layouts for small screens. Pre-designed assets & templates: With over 900 templates—including eCommerce website templates , portfolio website templates and business website templates —and extensive UI blocks, you can quickly assemble and customize sites. Animations & visual effects: Apply entrance website animations , hover interactions, Lightbox effects, video overlays and more, all without using code. AI tools: Wix AI includes a robust set of AI tools for business aimed at simplifying web design , content creation and SEO. The AI site builder can generate a full website layout based on a brief description, including suggested sections, copy and images. Designers can also use AI tools to create and edit written content, generate blog posts or product descriptions and get real-time suggestions for layouts and page structure. Built-in business & growth tools: From online scheduling and free eCommerce website to email marketing and CRM , Wix includes business support features natively. There’s also a vast app marketplace for added functionality. Accessibility features: Built-in website accessibility features like skip navigation, reduced-motion modes and the Accessibility Wizard make compliance easier. Client & team collaboration: Wix includes site roles, permissions, basic content editing and 24/7 support. Pricing: Free plan available. Wix Premium Plans start at $17/month (billed annually) with month-to-month billing also available. Free: Create and publish a website with Wix branding and a Wix subdomain. Light ($17/month): Connect to a custom domain, remove Wix ads and get 2 GB of storage, great for personal sites. Core ($29/month): Includes everything in Light plus increased storage (up to 50 GB), a free logo and basic analytics, ideal for small businesses. Business ($39/month): All Core features plus more storage (100 GB), advanced analytics and eCommerce tools , perfect for growing online stores. Business Elite ($159/month): Wix’s most powerful plan: includes priority support, maximum storage (up to 1 TB) and scalable performance for high-traffic sit es. 03. GoDaddy GoDaddy’s builder is fast, simple and designed for non-technical users. It suits designers working with small service-based businesses who prioritize speed over deep customization. Best for: Designers creating straightforward websites with built-in marketing tools and fast launch timelines. Best features: A visual editor designed for ease : GoDaddy’s editor is block-based and intuitive, with drag-and-drop modules that make it easy to build pages quickly. Responsive design : GoDaddy websites are mobile-friendly and layouts adjust automatically across devices. Business solutions : GoDaddy includes a suite of built-in business tools, from online appointments to eCommerce and email marketing. These features are integrated and easy to manage. AI tools : With GoDaddy you can generate full site layouts based on a few prompts. The platform's AI tools offer content suggestions for headlines, business descriptions and product listings. Pricing: Free trial available. Plans start from around $9.99/month (billed annually). Basic ($9.99/month): Get your business moving with a website, marketing and payments. Premium ($14.99): Take online appointments and boost your marketing strategies . Commerce ($20.99): Sell anywhere, your online store, popular marketplaces and in-store point of sale. 04. Duda Duda is designed for freelancers and agencies managing client sites at scale. It offers flexible layouts, responsive editing and strong collaboration features. Best for: Designers and agencies who want responsive control, efficient client collaboration and structured workflows. Best features: A visual editor : Duda’s editor is clean and easy to navigate, with support for Flex-based layouts that allow for more precise design control than many standard builders. Designers who are comfortable with Flexbox concepts will find it intuitive, even if not fully customizable down to the pixel. Responsive design : Duda supports responsive editing with device-specific views (desktop, tablet, mobile) and you can fine-tune each breakpoint manually. Reusable templates & widgets : You can save and reuse sections, widgets and entire site structures. Duda also offers shared libraries and team assets. Design systems can be created with the Site Theme panel, keeping your design consistent across the website. Creative control with custom CSS : Duda gives designers access to a Developer Mode, where custom CSS can be added at the element or global level. Client collaboration & handover : Duda’s team-focused tools include customizable user permissions, site comments for contextual feedback and asset sharing to save time and maintain brand consistency across projects. Clients can also be given controlled editing access to specific website sections through customizable permissions, as well as leave comments on the site for simplified communication. For client management, Duda provides white label solutions, automatic client reports and native client billing tools. Clients can also be given controlled editing access to specific website sections through customizable permissions, as well as leave comments on the site for simplified communication. Flex mode: Duda supports efficient team workflows with asset and template sharing, granular user permissions and contextual site comments for streamlined feedback. AI tools : Duda’s AI Assistant can generate a full multi-page site or individual pages and sections based on client details. You can also use it to generate SEO metadata, image alt text, titles, paragraphs and product descriptions. Pricing: Free trial available. Paid plans start at $19/year (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Basic ($19/month): Offers one website with essential features like hosting, email support and SSL security. Team ($29/month): Collaboration tools for small teams, including client management and team permissions. Agency ($52/month): Designed for growing agencies and includes advanced client features. White label ($149/month): Full branding control, advanced automation and scalable tools. Custom (contact for pricing info): Automate and grow. 05. Webflow Webflow is a robust visual development platform that blends design control with production-grade code output. Designed for professionals, it offers a responsive visual canvas with a dynamic CMS, integrated eCommerce, real-time collaboration and extensive customization capabilities. Best for: Designers and developers who want advanced control through a visual interface, with the option to add code when needed. Best features: Responsive Designer: Webflow’s box-model visual editor gives you full control over layout, spacing and responsive behavior using CSS Grid and Flexbox. Dynamic CMS: Ideal for designers looking to start a blog , create an online portfolio and content-driven sites, Webflow’s CMS supports reference fields, dynamic pages and headless API access. Interactions & animations: Add sophisticated motion, scroll-triggered animations, hover states, parallax, 3D transforms and Lottie support. AI tools: Webflow’s AI-powered site builder generates layouts based on simple prompts. AI features like content rewriting, metadata generation and personalization are also expanding. Team collaboration: Webflow supports real-time content editing for teams, with commenting and design handoff tools. SEO & marketing: Webflow comes with solid website SEO tools like sitemap control, schema editing and alt-text customization. Additional marketing integrations are available via the Webflow Marketplace. Ecommerce: Webflow supports custom checkout flows, digital and physical products, POS system integration and limited native payment gateways. Accessibility: Webflow supports website accessibility best practices by giving creators the tools to build inclusive, WCAG-compliant websites. It offers an accessibility checklist that outlines steps for creating accessible experiences, covering everything from semantic HTML to ARIA roles, color contrast and keyboard navigation. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $14.00/month (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Starter (free): Suitable for those just getting started with Webflow. Basic ($14/month): Includes a custom domain and 10 GB bandwidth. CMS ($23/month): Ideal for blogs and content-driven sites. Business ($39/month): Designed for higher traffic websites and includes faster website performance . Enterprise (custom pricing): Tailored solutions for large-scale needs. 06. Framer Framer is a website builder that merges visual design and performance with an intuitive Figma-like editing environment. It’s built for designers who want to rapidly prototype, animate and publish polished websites, without relying on templates or dev handoff. Best for: Freelancers, creative teams and designers who prioritize high-fidelity visuals, interactive layouts and a smooth prototyping-to-launch workflow. Best features: Visual canvas: Framer offers a design-first experience with side-by-side breakpoint editing, grid-based layouts and an infinite canvas. Manual layout control mimics Figma’s UX, making it intuitive for graphic designers. Motion & interaction design: Add scroll animations, hover effects, Lottie files and creative transitions without code. Effects like press, loop and drag are built in. CMS & scalability: Framer’s built-in CMS supports dynamic pages, structured content and up to 100,000 CMS items. Real-time collaboration: Teams can co-edit designs live, leave comments and manage roles and permissions directly in the editor. SEO & optimization: Framer offers built-in SEO tools like automated meta tags, XML sitemaps, alt text and indexing control. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $5/month (billed annually). Free: Start designing and publishing with Framer at no cost. Mini ($5/month): Design and publish simple landing pages. Basic ($15/month) : Build a basic, functional website. Pro ($30/month) : Access advanced features to grow your business. Launch ($75/month): Get tools tailored for launching your business. Scale ($200/month): Scale your site with powerful business tools. Enterprise (Custom pricing and billing terms): Custom solutions with flexible pricing and support. 07. Jimdo Jimdo is a beginner-friendly platform offering both a classic editor and an AI-powered site generator. It’s ideal for graphic designers who need to launch visually appealing sites quickly. Best for: Solo designers and creative freelancers who want a simple, visual workflow with quick AI assistance. Best features: A simple visual editor: Jimdo provides an intuitive interface with template-based layouts. You'll find basic element alignment tools and automatic color schemes , but no advanced grid logic or layout components like dock, stack or padding controls. Native business solutions: Jimdo includes an online store (up to 100 products), blog features, contact forms and automated SEO tools. Its eCommerce is designed for simplicity, no plugins needed, but more advanced commerce features aren’t available. Pre-designed assets: More than 100 responsive templates cover portfolios, shops and business sites. Templates adapt your logo’s color palette automatically, which is helpful for brand cohesion. AI tools: Jimdo’s AI builder (formerly Dolphin) guides you through a setup wizard: answer questions about your business, choose brand colors and get a draft site with pages, layout, images and copy tailored to your inputs Pricing: Free plan available. Premium plans start at $11/month (billed annually). Jimbo offers two paths: website builder and online store. Website Free: Includes basic features. Website Start ($11/month): For personal websites. Website Grow ($17/month): For business needs, inducing SEO and analytics. 08. SITE123 SITE123 offers a highly streamlined experience, ideal for graphic designers crafting basic websites like a landing page builder , portfolios or small business sites. It’s fast and beginner-friendly, but designers may miss the fine-tuning and responsive tools found in more advanced platforms. Best for: Designers who want a website builder for simple projects and quick launches. Best features: Form-driven editing approach: Choose a template and fill in content via guided steps. This structure ensures clean, consistent layouts—though it lacks grid logic, stack/dock tools or padding controls for detailed alignment. Native business solutions: SITE123 includes built-in eCommerce, blogs, contact form builder and booking systems. These integrated features cover basic business needs but don’t offer the visual customization flexibility of other platforms. AI tools that assist setup: SITE123 offers guided content recommendations and SEO prompts during setup. Pricing: Free plan available. Premium plan costs $12.80/month (billed annually) with four duration options: 3 months, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months. 09. Shopify Shopify is a robust eCommerce platform that has evolved its website builder to support visual design, responsive outputs and developer-level customization. It's a strong contender when your primary goal is building responsive, brand-driven online stores with the flexibility to fine-tune layouts and code when needed. Best for: Designers and agencies specializing in eCommerce who want visual control combined with store functionality. Best features: A visual editor: Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 uses a section-and-block editor within a theme structure. You can drag and rearrange sections like hero banners, product grids or testimonials , though free formula placement (like Studio’s grid/dock tools) isn't possible. This gives a clean, predictable layout for store pages. Responsive design: All Shopify themes are fully responsive. While global breakpoints can't be customized, you can preview and tweak content for mobile, tablet and desktop. Reusable templates & widgets: Shopify sections and blocks are reusable across pages and stored in the theme. Global settings allow branding consistency, but it doesn’t support cross-project design systems like Studio’s templating. Code-free animations & effects: Some themes include built-in slide shows and image zoom effects. Advanced effects like scroll-triggered animation or WebGL are available with custom code or plugins. Custom CSS: Shopify allows full theme editing via CSS/SCSS and liquid templates. Designers comfortable with code can customize under the hood for precise control. Native business solutions: Shopify is built around eCommerce. It supports product catalogs, inventory, variants, discounting, checkout flows, digital goods, subscription services and integrated marketing tools like email campaigns and abandoned-cart retargeting. Pre-designed assets: Shopify’s Theme Store offers ~200 themes (with around a dozen free, rest paid $100‑$500). They’re professionally crafted for ecommerce, covering various industries. AI tools: Shopify’s AI suite, Shopify Magic, generates product descriptions, marketing copy, SEO tags and image background removal. The Sidekick assistant helps with setup steps, content tips and strategy guidance. No-code CMS: Shopify’s core content support is for product pages, blog posts and custom pages. While good for structured eCommerce content, it lacks broader CMS features like nested collections or complex page builders for non-product pages. Client collaboration & handover: Shopify includes roles and permissions and supports staff accounts. Collaboration features rely on the store’s backend; there’s no live canvas commenting or client-edit mode. Creative feedback is generally managed separately. Pricing: Free trial available. Plans start at $29/month (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Basic ($29/month) : Ideal for solo entrepreneurs starting out. Grow ($79/month) : Built for small teams looking to expand. Advanced ($299/month) : Designed for businesses ready to scale. Plus (starts at $2,300/month) : Advanced tools for complex business needs. Enterprise : Custom pricing for high-volume, enterprise-level solutions. 10. Dorik Dorik is a simple yet powerful no-code website builder gaining traction among freelancers and agencies. It emphasizes fast site builds, component-driven design and white‑label capabilities, making it a solid pick for designers needing deliverable speed without sacrificing branding or client-centric workflows. Best for: Designers and small creative studios looking for a white‑label, lightweight builder that blends ease of use with agency-grade features. Best features: A visual editor built for rapid design: Dorik’s drag-and-drop interface lets you build structured layouts using pre-designed UI blocks and templates. It doesn’t offer the granular grid and layout logic of Studio’s advanced system, but provides clean, repeatable building blocks ideal for fast, consistent design. Responsive design: Mobile-friendly by default, Dorik auto-adjusts layouts based on device viewing. Almost every component is automatically responsive, yet you can adjust or change them according to your preference on different devices. ֿReusable templates & widgets: Dorik lets you save and reuse sections, blocks and even full-page layouts, making it easy to maintain consistency across multiple projects and speed up your design process. You can create your own custom design library to use again and again without starting from scratch. Custom CSS/Code export: Customers on paid plans can inject custom CSS or export static HTML/CSS/JS—a nice option for designers needing deeper control or alternate hosting. AI tools: Dorik’s AI Assistant can generate an entire site from a prompt, along with text and images. That’s useful for quick prototypes or initial layouts. White-label CMS: Dorik also offers a fully white-labeled CMS experience. You can deliver sites under your own brand, create custom client dashboards, provide branded documentation and even handle billing—all without relying on external tools or code. Pricing: 14 days free trial and 14 days money back guaranteed available. Plans start at $18/month (billed annually) with month-to-month billing also available. Personal ($18/month): Includes one domain and access to AI website builder. Business ($39/month): With 3-10 custom domains and up to 10 collaborators. Agency (custom pricing): For unlimited domains, pages and collaborators. 11. Web.com Web.com is built for simplicity and speed, ideal when you need to launch a clean, responsive website quickly. It offers a practical drag‑and‑drop interface and a large template library, making it suitable for small business owners or individuals seeking a professional look without the overhead of complex design tools. Best for: Solo entrepreneurs looking for a fast, affordable online presence with minimal fuss. Best features: A visual editor: The Web.com editor offers a straightforward drag‑and‑drop experience, with basic alignment tools and section layouts. It’s simple and accessible, though it lacks the granular grid control, reusable component libraries and design-system styling you'd find in more design-centric platforms. Responsive design: Every site on Web.com is mobile-responsive by default. Any changes made in the desktop editor auto-adjust for smaller screens, and there’s also a built-in mobile editing mode that allows quick tweaks to the mobile layout. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $4.99/month (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Website ($1.99/month): Includes access to the AI-powered website builder, free domain for one year, business email and SSL Certificate . Website + Marketing ($3.99/month): With additional social media and email marketing, Googly My Business listing and an appointment scheduler. Ecommerce ($9.99/month): Includes online store features and marketplace integrations. 12. WordPress WordPress is a flexible, customizable and completely open-source website builder. For graphic designers comfortable working with themes, page builders or a bit of code, it offers control over both content and presentation. Best for: Experienced designers who want creative control, plugin flexibility and full ownership over their sites. Best features: A visual editor, powered by themes & plugins: Out of the box, WordPress uses the Gutenberg block editor, which allows drag-and-drop layout building with responsive blocks. For more advanced design workflows, most professionals turn to page builders like Elementor, Bricks or Divi, each offering their own visual editing tools, grid controls, global styles and reusable components. Responsive design: Most modern WordPress themes are mobile-responsive by default. Page builders like Elementor and Bricks allow custom breakpoints and per-device editing. Reusable templates & widgets: With the right setup, designers can create reusable templates, global sections and design systems via their chosen builder. However, this is plugin-dependent and not standardized across the WordPress ecosystem. Creative control with custom CSS & code: Designers can inject CSS, HTML, JavaScript or PHP anywhere—either via theme files or safely within visual builder tools. Native business solutions: WordPress supports eCommerce, bookings, memberships, multilingual content, gated content and SEO tools, all through plugins. Pre-designed assets: Thousands of themes and template kits are available (free and premium). Many include global style settings and are compatible with visual builders. No-code CMS: WordPress’s content management system is robust. It supports dynamic content, custom post types, fields, taxonomies and content relationships. Client collaboration & handover: WordPress supports user roles and permissions and staging sites can be created with most managed hosts. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $10/month (billed annually), with m onth-to-month billing also available. Free: Basic features with WordPress.com subdomain. Personal ($4/month): Includes free domain for one year, removes WordPress.com ads and offers email live chat support. Premium ($8/month): Adds monetization tools, premium themes and advanced customization. Business ($25/month): Offers plugin installation, advanced SEO features and the ability to install plugins. Commerce ($45/month): Provides features for online stores, including payment gateways and premium integrations. Enterprise (starts at $25,000/year): For businesses that require more scalability and data-driven capabilities. Editor’s note: all pricing and information are current as of 07/26/2025. How to evaluate a website builder for graphic design needs Choosing the right website builder isn’t just about what looks good on the surface, it’s about how well the platform supports your creative process, adapts to your workflow and fits your business model. For graphic designers, that means looking beyond templates and pricing and digging into how each tool handles design freedom, responsiveness, integrations and scalability. Use the comparison table below to evaluate the platforms featured in this guide, based on what matters most for creative professionals. Website builder Customization flexibility Design software integration Responsiveness Budget & licensing Wix Studio High Figma import Advanced (custom breakpoints, cascading) Free plan available; premium plans for pro use Wix Moderate None Basic (separate mobile editor) Free plan available; tiered pricing GoDaddy Low None Automatic only Affordable; business-focused Duda Moderate None Manual per device Agency pricing; white label available Webflow High Figma-to-Webflow plugin Advanced Free plan available; tiered pricing Framer High Figma-to-Framer plugin Advanced Free plan available; tiered pricing Jimdo Low None Automatic only Budget-friendly; limited features SITE123 Low None Automatic only Very low-cost; limited control Shopify Moderate None Theme-based High-tier eCommerce plans Dorik Moderate None Basic Low-cost for personal sites Web.com Low None Automatic only Entry-level pricing; upsells common WordPress High Third-party plugins Advanced (theme/plugin dependent) Open-source; hosting costs vary Customization flexibility At the heart of every designer’s process is control. Whether it’s adjusting grid spacing, refining typography or building reusable elements, your platform should give you the freedom to shape every detail. Look for tools that support custom CSS, grid-based layout systems, reusable components and full control over animations and interactivity. Integration with design software Designers don’t work in a vacuum. They have an entire suite of design tools, including Figma, Illustrator and other creative tools. A builder that integrates directly with your design software can save hours of rework and ensure visual consistency. Native Figma-to-web flows, in particular, can help maintain spacing, structure and styling from design mockups to live sites. If direct integration isn’t available, consider how easily your designs can be translated into the builder’s system manually. Mobile-responsive control The best responsive website builders offer great design adapts intentionally across devices. So having the ability to control layouts across breakpoints is essential. Platforms that offer custom breakpoints and cascading behavior let you design once, then refine per screen size. Builders that only offer automatic responsiveness may be faster for setup, but they often limit your ability to polish the experience on mobile or tablet. Budget and licensing options Whether you're freelancing or running a studio, budget matters, especially if you’re managing multiple projects or clients. Some builders offer generous free plans or pay-as-you-publish pricing. Others are better suited for agencies, with client billing options or white-label models. It’s also worth checking if premium features (like custom code or CMS access) are locked behind higher-tier plans. Choose a platform that aligns not just with your creative needs, but also your business model. Explore some of the best website builders: Best website builders for marketing agencies Best website builders for SEO Best website builders for freelancers Best one page website builders Best AI website builders Best resume website builders Best website builders for writers Best website builders for creatives Best website builders for consultants Best booking website builders Best website builders Canada Best mobile website builders Best website builders for coaches Choosing the best website builder for graphic designers At the end of the day, the best website builder is the one that fits your creative process, not the other way around. If you’re a designer who thinks in grids, layers and interactions, you’ll want a platform that gives you the freedom to design with intention, not just fill out a template. That means looking for tools that offer responsive control, reusable design systems and visual precision, so your work feels polished on every screen. That’s where Wix Studio stands out. Built specifically for professionals, it offers a design-first environment with advanced layout tools, responsive control, reusable components and seamless Figma integration. Of course, depending on your focus, other platforms may suit your workflow too. Shopify is a strong choice for eCommerce-focused designers, Duda is built for multi-client management and WordPress offers unmatched plugin flexibility. But if design precision, scalability and creative freedom are your top priorities, Wix Studio is a platform worth building on. Sign up for Wix Studio for free and start building fully responsive websites with powerful, professional-grade tools. Best website builders for graphic designers FAQ What is the best website builder for graphic designers? The best website builder depends on your workflow and creative needs. For professional designers who want full control over layout, responsiveness and scalability, Wix Studio stands out with its design-first editor, advanced layout tools and seamless Figma integration. What do graphic designers use to create websites? Many graphic designers use professional website builders like Wix Studio, Webflow, WordPress (with page builders) or Shopify for eCommerce. These platforms allow designers to implement their visual concepts without having to rely on developers for every change. Which platform is best for graphic designers? Platforms like Wix Studio are purpose-built for designers, offering high-end creative control without a steep learning curve. If you're looking for a balance of flexibility, speed and scalability—especially for client work—Studio is a top choice. Which website builders offer advanced design tools? Advanced design tools can include grid-based layout systems, custom breakpoints, CSS editing, design system support and Figma-to-web workflows. Wix Studio, WordPress (with visual builders like Elementor) and Duda are among the platforms offering these types of features to varying degrees. Can designers use website builders for client projects? Yes. Many designers and agencies rely on website builders to deliver client work more efficiently. Platforms like Wix Studio and Duda even offer white-label tools, client handoff kits and collaboration features to streamline the design-to-launch process and ensure your clients can manage their site confidently post-launch. What features should a graphic designer look for in a website builder? Look for layout flexibility, responsive control, reusable design components, custom CSS capabilities, a no-code CMS and native business tools. Seamless integration with your design software (like Figma) and features that support accessibility and scalability are also key—especially if you’re working on multiple client sites.
- How to make money as a graphic designer in 15 ways
Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio → Graphic design isn’t just a job—it’s a money-making playground when you know where to look. You can create sleek logos, eye-catching merch or scroll-stopping social media graphics , finding endless ways to turn your creativity into cash. The best part? You don’t have to stick to one income stream. From freelancing and selling digital products to designing for businesses and content creators, you can combine opportunities to build a steady or even passive income doing what you love. Think beyond traditional client projects, your designs could make money while you sleep. Sell ready-made templates, launch a print on demand store or teach design online. The key is tapping into high-demand markets and creating work people actually need. If you’re looking to take on clients, start a side hustle or dive into digital sales, this guide will show you smart ways to make money as a graphic designer, without burning out. Showcasing your talent should be easy. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio that shows your best work in just a few clicks. Wix’s customizable templates and easy-to-use tools let you present your skills with confidence–leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits your site. 12 ways to make money as a graphic designer Logo design Web design Print design Social media graphics Brand identity design Illustration Packaging design Merchandise design Infographic design Motion graphics App design eBook cover design Passive income and digital products Education and consulting Niche and specialized design 01. Logo design First up is logo design. Crafting unique and memorable logos is a crucial asset to any graphic designer's repertoire and is a great way to make money online . By collaborating with businesses and individuals, you have the opportunity to shape their visual identity, creating a symbol that not only reflects their ethos but also leaves a lasting impression on their audience. Logos are often one of the first things a customer sees about a company, making it one of the most important features of any brand. So, stay on top of any design trends and fonts to make sure you’re delivering fresh work. 02. Web design As a web designer, your role extends beyond aesthetics to the very core of online experiences. You'll be tasked with creating visually captivating and user-friendly websites, ensuring that the interface not only appeals to the audience but also enhances their interaction with the content. Responsive web design might also be worth exploring, given that 60.08% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. You’d just have to know which layouts work best on smartphones or tablets throughout the website design process, whether your clients are bloggers or run an online store . You can also start a web design business to help you turn your experience into a way to make money. Learn more: What is web design? 03. Print design Diving into the world of print design includes creating tangible materials such as brochures, business cards, stickers and other printable materials. Your designs will grace physical spaces, making a tangible impact and leaving a lasting impression on those who encounter them. Timothy Goodman is an award-winning example of a graphic designer in the print design world. His art has populated walls, packaging, clothes, products, magazine covers and even a sanitation truck. Print design also stands out as one of the few ways to earn genuine passive income as a designer. You can create a few T-shirt designs, and thanks to print on demand services , you can make money off the same design with very little work. Creating and selling custom products has never been easier. With Wix’s on demand printing , powered by Printful, you can design and launch personalized apparel, accessories, home goods and more—made to suit any style, niche or need. No extra tools, no complex setup. Just pick a product, upload your design and start selling—all from your Wix dashboard. With seamless Printful integration, you get a streamlined way to build, brand and sell—without ever leaving Wix. 04. Social media graphics Social media posts play a crucial role in brand communication. By crafting eye-catching static posts, engaging stories and compelling banners, you can contribute to a brand's online presence, helping them connect with their audience on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Just make sure to tailor your services to platforms that may need them. For instance, Emplifi found Instagram and TikTok had median interactions more than twice that of X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook in 2023. Since both are highly visual platforms, learning what you need to make high-quality designs on them is a good place to start. That said, different social media networks require different templates , so you’ll find that many of the challenges in designing for social media come from trying to balance your clients' expectations with the limitations of the network they need to post on. Learn more: How to make money on Instagram How to make money on TikTok How to make money on Youtube 05. Brand identity design Brand identity design goes beyond logos—it involves developing a holistic visual language. This includes defining color schemes, selecting visual elements and creating a cohesive identity that resonates with the brand's values. Your work will contribute toward creating a consistent and recognizable brand presence across various mediums for customers—a presence they want to be instantly recognizable and come across as authentic. After all, consumers value authenticity and actively look for it when deciding whether they want to purchase from a specific brand. 06. Illustration Offering illustration services allows you to bring concepts to life through visual storytelling. From creating captivating prints to providing editorial illustrations that enhance written content, your artistic skills add depth and creativity to a diverse range of projects. You can also offer digital illustration services, like Jasmine Craciun . Her work lends a unique look to all sorts of digital products and customers looking for a specific style can browse her portfolio website to see if she might be a good fit. 07. Packaging design As a packaging designer, your focus is on creating visually appealing and marketable product packaging. Your designs not only protect and present the product but also serve as a key marketing tool, catching the consumer's eye and influencing their purchasing decisions. If you get into packaging design, you’ll need to pay attention to the purpose of your package in addition to the looks. Colors, typography and graphics are important, but you’ll need to make sure that any required information is also included. Learn more: Types of designers 08. Merchandise design Merchandise design is about transforming your designs into tangible merchandise. Whether it's designing T-shirts, mugs or other promotional items, your creative input adds value to physical products and reinforces brand messaging through wearable or usable art. You can sell products directly or design items for other companies. You might also find you do best with certain products. T-shirt design, for example, has a lot of competition, but there are other categories, like tarot cards or ceramics, with lots of opportunities. 09. Infographic design Translating complex information into visually engaging infographics is a specialized skill. As an infographic designer, you simplify data and concepts, creating a visual representation of the information. Venngage even found that 43% of marketers reported original infographics were their best-performing content in 2023. Whether for educational purposes or marketing campaigns, it’s easy to see why infographics are so useful. 10. Motion graphics In the dynamic world of digital content, motion graphics breathe life into visuals. Producing animated graphics for videos, presentations and online content adds a layer of dynamism, capturing and maintaining the audience's attention through visually compelling storytelling. 11. App design As an app designer, your focus is on creating seamless and visually pleasing user interfaces for mobile applications. Your designs contribute to an intuitive and enjoyable interaction, enhancing the overall user experience in the competitive landscape of digital applications. 12. eBook cover design In the realm of digital publishing, eBook cover design is a niche that marries artistic creativity with marketability. By offering your services for digital books and publications, you’d play a crucial role in attracting readers and conveying the essence of the written content. Many design tools lend themselves to eBook covers and you’ll be able to use the skills you develop in several other niches as well. 13. Passive income and digital products Selling digital products is a great way for graphic designers to earn money without trading time for dollars. Templates, fonts, stock illustrations and UI kits can be sold over and over with little extra effort. Platforms like Creative Market, Envato Elements and Gumroad make it easy to connect with buyers around the world. Evergreen products like Instagram templates for businesses or resume templates for job seekers can bring in steady income. Bundling assets and offering multiple file formats like AI or PSD makes products more appealing and boosts sales. Marketing plays a big role in selling digital products successfully. Sharing visually engaging content on platforms like Pinterest and TikTok can help drive traffic. Promotions, limited-time discounts and free lead magnets are great for attracting new customers. SEO-optimized product listings make sure your designs show up in marketplace searches. Staying on top of trends like minimal branding, hand-drawn illustrations or retro designs helps keep your products fresh and in demand. 14. Education and consulting Teaching is a great way for designers to turn their expertise into income. Online courses, workshops or coaching programs are all solid options. Platforms like Skillshare, Udemy and Teachable make it easy for designers to create courses on topics like logo design or typography. YouTube is another popular choice, where designers can earn through ads, sponsorships and memberships while growing an audience. Offering downloadable resources like design cheat sheets or tutorial PDFs adds even more value for students. Consulting is another profitable path, especially for designers with branding or marketing experience. Businesses often need help with visual branding, like picking color schemes or typography. Design audits—where a designer reviews a client’s website, branding or social media—are becoming more popular. Sharing knowledge through blog posts, LinkedIn articles or speaking engagements can also attract high-paying consulting clients. 15. Niche and specialized design Focusing on a niche is a great way for designers to stand out and land higher-paying projects. Growing fields like YouTube thumbnail design, Twitch graphics and social media branding are in high demand as creators look for polished, professional visuals. Game asset design, including characters, backgrounds and UI elements, is another booming area fueled by indie game development. Designers can also work with musicians, podcasters and event organizers to create album covers, podcast artwork and invitations. Emerging areas like NFT art and AR/VR design offer exciting opportunities for creative, forward-thinking designers. Selling NFT artwork on platforms like OpenSea or designing AR filters for Instagram and Snapchat are great ways to combine creativity with tech skills. How to get started making money as a graphic designer In addition to looking into some of these niches recommended, you want to be smart about how you approach your work as a graphic designer. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your time. 01. Assess your skills The journey to a successful freelance graphic design career begins with assessing yourself. Take the time to evaluate your graphic design skills and pinpoint a niche that not only plays to your strengths but also aligns with current market demands. Are you great at creating abstract designs but struggle with creating lifelike images? Illustration might not be the best match for you compared to work in app or web design. When you approach your design strategically, you’ll be better positioned to choose jobs you can do well in and deliver quality designs for. 02. Build a design portfolio Once you’ve narrowed down your field, you need to learn how to make a website and create a professional showcase highlighting your best work, incorporating samples or links to completed projects. This portfolio serves as a visual representation of your skills and becomes a powerful tool for attracting potential clients and opportunities. Wit180 is a great springboard for inspiration for you to build your own. The designer cleverly showcases some of the companies he has worked with in an animated box, highlighting both his focus on branding and his skills in motion graphics. 03. Set up professional profiles Now that your website is set up, you should set up professional design profiles across freelance platforms, design-specific websites and several social media channels. An omnichannel approach enhances your visibility, making it easier to connect with potential clients and collaborators in the expansive world of graphic design. 04. Understand business basics Learn the basics of how to start a business , including setting competitive rates, generating invoices effectively and managing taxes. This foundational knowledge will help you achieve a professional and sustainable freelance practice, setting the stage for a flourishing graphic design career. Tips for making money as a graphic designer Thriving as a freelance graphic designer requires some pretty specific skills and traits. For instance, being skilled in design software like Photoshop and having an eye for aesthetics lets you command a good wage for your services. That said, it’s not all about being a great artist. Making money as a graphic designer also requires time management, self-discipline and effective communication skills to negotiate with clients and meet project deadlines. Moreover, to promote your graphic design career effectively, you need to create a graphic design portfolio to showcase your work. A website that acts as an online portfolio makes it easy to share your work across job platforms and social media to attract potential clients. Lastly, specializing in a graphic design niche can also be a game-changer, allowing you to focus on a specific style or genre while making money as a freelancer . By specializing, you can also establish yourself as an authority, command higher rates and increase your chances of finding targeted gigs. To sum it up, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind when you’re trying to learn how to make money as a graphic designer: Learn in-demand programs Promote yourself effectively Take advantage of social media Specialize in a niche or two With these in mind, let’s dive into 12 of the best ways to make money as a graphic designer. Ready to build your website? Sign up for Wix for free . How to make money as a graphic designer FAQ How do I find freelance graphic design gigs? Start by creating profiles on popular freelance platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr and Envato. You should have a portfolio linked both on these platforms and your own website. Networking on social media, particularly platforms like Behance and LinkedIn, can also uncover opportunities. Additionally, reaching out directly to businesses and agencies with a specific pitch can be effective. What should I charge for my freelance graphic design services? Research industry standards and consider factors such as experience, niche and the scope of the project when setting your rates. You want to make sure your rates cover all of your expenses and help you make money, too. How do I identify profitable freelance graphic design niches? Identify niches aligned with your design style, skills and market demand. Specializing in specific areas, such a s web design or branding, can lead to higher-paying opportunities. Can I make a full-time income from freelance graphic design? Yes, many graphic designers successfully make a full-time income by securing consistent gigs, building long-term client relationships and expanding their services. It’s important to remember that, in many countries, self-employed workers are responsible for additional taxes, so make sure you make enough to cover this as well. How do I ensure I get paid for my graphic design work? Use clear contracts for every project, specify payment terms and consider using secure payment platforms. Building professional relationships and a strong online presence can also contribute to reliable payment for your graphic design services. For first-time clients, you may consider sending over watermarked samples or requiring a deposit.











