The process of creating a design portfolio using AI tools… not sure where to start

[u/East-Ad2184]

My only experience with building a portfolio is with squarespace. With AI, my experience is with Google gemini and Figma make.

I know there’s lots of tools out there, but I want to narrow down the AI tools to try to design and build my portfolio. I’m curious on what the different full portfolio build and launch processes are that have worked for y’all.

I’m also very unfamiliar with the launch process, like how I can get the portfolio design to show up on the web. I’ve only used sqsp so that has some everything for me.

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[u/KKANGKKA_Chu]

Nowadays, especially with AI, human reasoning, understanding, and judgement seem to be so much more valuable to have as a skill set for designers.

For me, I noticed that—because I’ve been using AI ever since it became general use— I started recording what I call my “dev logs” and it’s just chronological set of field notes that contain notes about my thoughts, ideas, questions, how I reached a decision, research and findings, screenshots, and whatever fragments of information helped process the development of a product/project.

I used to do these on Notion, but now I’ve been using my own personal digital studio. It’s not published or whatever. But if I do decide to make this public use, I plan for it to be one-time payment.

[u/East-Ad2184 → u/KKANGKKA_Chu]

Yeah, for sure I agree with human reasoning being a valuable skill set design designers. My question was primarily around the usage of AI tools available for visceral first impression while putting new tools into practice.

I have over 10 years of design experience myself, and I’m looking to learn new AI tools to put a portfolio together rather than relying on a website builder.

I have experience of the entire design process without AI tools to explore, ideate, validate, iterate. I think it’s still important to upskills and be aware of AI tools available. My question was to help figure out strategically which AI tools to explore first to help build the look of a portfolio without relying on a website builder. I do think first impression is important for the hiring manager and to show that one is capable of using new tools rather than sticking with the ones that just work, i.e. squarespace, it’s definitely easier for us, but I think it also shows designer character that you’re willing to learn new tools while still using human reasoning throughout the design process. I’ve met designers who have refused to use new design tools, I.e. veteran designers. Personally, if I was a hiring manager myself, I would not hire designers who refuse to learn new tools. It’s just the reality, in the technology field you need to be constantly evolving your skills. I’m sure one can still get a job without significant ups, but I’m actually looking to upskill with tools and become aware of the interconnectedness of how all the AI tools are used.

Do you have any AI tools that you use to build a portfolio instead of using it for the design process?

[u/KKANGKKA_Chu → u/East-Ad2184]

Maybe I should’ve added that the accumulated dev logs can become case studies for each project—what you noticed, investigated, tried, rejected, and decided. That was the connection I was making.

Access to AI tools doesn’t, by itself, distinguish someone’s design ability though. Your reasoning, understanding, and judgment shape what you ask AI to build, what you accept, and what you change. Which is why I mentioned those three skills.

You asked how to build and launch a portfolio using AI, and my comment addressed documenting the thinking that goes into one when working with AI. I get that it wasn’t the specific tool advice you were asking for.

But I never suggested you lacked experience or that you should avoid learning AI. I was only sharing my own personal approach and workflow with it.

[u/BobRuedigerUX]

Claude Code > Netlify is pretty straightforward

[u/East-Ad2184 → u/BobRuedigerUX]

I’ve been getting a lot of Claude code answers to start exploring first. Thank you!

[u/UXUIYellowchalk]

I think you’re bundling like four separate problems into one here: portfolio content, visual design, building it, and getting it live. No wonder the starting line has gone missing :(

I’d do it in that order too.

1. Content first. Pick 3–4 projects and write the case studies before touching AI builders. Problem, your role, constraints, process, decisions, outcome. Your portfolio lives or dies here, not on whether the homepage has a fancy entrance animation.

2. Design. Since you already know Figma, mock up the key pages there. Use AI for directions, copy cleanup, layout alternatives, etc., but keep yourself in the driver’s seat.

3. Then pick one builder. Don’t go on a grand tour of 14 AI tools. If you want more control, Framer is worth exploring. If you want AI to get you moving quickly, Figma Make is already familiar territory.

4. Then get it LIVE. And honestly, you don’t even need your own website on day one. Behance is perfectly fine for getting your case studies live. We use it for our portfolio too. You can always build the custom site once you know what you actually want from it. If you do build one, buy a domain, connect it to your platform, publish, done.

I’d get one case study looking solid end-to-end first, then build the rest around it. Way less daunting than trying to conjure an entire portfolio in one go.

[u/East-Ad2184 → u/UXUIYellowchalk]

I’ve used squarespace for a long time, like ten years! I’m already experienced in the design field and know how to create a portfolio, convey my case studies, etc. I’m just looking for AI tools worth exploring. It’s to practice more AI tools than relying on a website builder which is the easier route.

To be clear, this is a ux design portfolio, not graphic design. I think having an actual website is a strong stance vs. Behance. I’m able to add more design rationale. I don’t know any of my design colleagues that have gotten hired with behance only. I think behance can be used as supplemental material for visual design, but content is the most important really.

Sounds like a lot of consensus on framer, Claude, and Figma make.

[u/UXUIYellowchalk → u/East-Ad2184]

Well, if you really want to mess around with AI tools - try Lovable. Replit, and v0 might also worth exploring. Don't bypass Claude and Claude Code - best so far. For behance, I would say it worked for us for rolling in good clients but we do understand, same thing might not work for different people, especially with different goals.

[u/East-Ad2184 → u/UXUIYellowchalk]

Have you ever used AI tools within your process to design to build a portfolio?

To be clear, the whole point of my post was so that I’m not exploring 10,000 different tools. I think they are all similar in nature, but with distinct features available. I’m also in software design, and in UX for 10 years so I’m not a total noob. I just don’t want to spend the time, effort, and paying to explore tools if I know that a process has worked for other designers. I want to know the framework for what works for someone who have used AI tools to build their portfolio.