Standout examples of effective use of white space in portfolios

Real-world examples of effective use of white space in portfolios

Let’s start where your future hiring manager starts: the first scroll.

One powerful example of effective use of white space in portfolios is the single-hero project grid. Picture a UX designer’s homepage with a plain background, one bold headline in the top left, and just three large project tiles centered with generous gaps between them. No noisy sidebars, no wall of text. That space between projects isn’t “empty”; it tells your brain, these are the main acts. Recruiters can scan, choose, and click without feeling overwhelmed.

Another of the best examples: a photographer who shows one large image per row, full bleed horizontally, with thick vertical margins above and below each shot. The white space becomes a frame, like a gallery wall. Instead of cramming six images into one view, they show one or two at a time, which immediately communicates confidence. “I don’t need to show you everything at once. You’ll stay. This is worth your time.”

These examples of examples of effective use of white space in portfolios all share one thing: they use space like punctuation—pauses, commas, and full stops in a visual sentence.

Portfolio homepages: examples of white space that hook recruiters fast

The homepage is where most people either lean into white space or completely panic and fill every pixel.

One standout example of effective use of white space in portfolios: a product designer’s site with a single-column layout. Centered headline, a short one-sentence bio, and then a vertical stack of 4–6 case studies. Each case study preview has:

• A project title
• One line of context ("B2B dashboard redesign for logistics platform")
• A single thumbnail
• Generous padding above and below

The space between these previews is larger than you’d expect—think the height of a smartphone screen rather than a tiny gap. That spacing does three jobs at once: it separates projects, creates a rhythm as you scroll, and reduces cognitive load.

Another homepage example of effective use of white space in portfolios is the “hero + nothing else” first screen. You land on the page and see:

• A bold name and role ("Jordan Lee — UX Researcher")
• One simple tagline
• A small arrow or “View work” link

Everything else is just clean background. No navigation overload, no instant project dump. This is a pattern you’ll see in many modern portfolios in 2024–2025 because it mirrors the calm, focused landing pages of high-end product sites.

If you want more on why cognitive load matters when people scan dense information, the basics of visual processing are discussed in resources on human factors and design like the NIH’s visual attention research.

Inside case studies: examples of white space as a storytelling tool

The best examples of effective use of white space in portfolios really shine inside the case studies, not just on the homepage.

Imagine a UX case study laid out like this:

• A full-width title and short summary at the top
• A big chunk of white space
• A single, large mockup or photo
• Another chunk of space
• A short paragraph explaining the context

Instead of stacking ten screenshots in a row, each key artifact gets its own “moment” with space around it. These examples of examples of effective use of white space in portfolios turn each step of the story into a slide in a presentation.

Some specific patterns that work beautifully:

The “chapter” layout

Designers break their case study into chapters like Problem, Research, Exploration, Solution, Impact. Each chapter starts with a clear heading, then a generous top margin before any text or image appears.

White space between chapters signals: new idea starts here. It’s the visual equivalent of a paragraph break in writing. Without it, your case study feels like one giant, exhausting block.

The side-by-side comparison with breathing room

Another strong example of effective use of white space in portfolios is the before-and-after comparison. Instead of squeezing both versions into a tiny, busy layout, the designer places them side by side with a thick gutter of white space between them. The gap makes your eye naturally compare the two without distraction.

This approach mirrors how academic and research visuals are often displayed for clarity—clean separation, clear labeling, and minimal visual noise, similar in spirit to good scientific figures you might see in university resources like Harvard’s online design and communication materials.

Cross-discipline examples: white space in illustration, writing, and photography portfolios

White space isn’t just a UX or product design thing. Some of the best examples of effective use of white space in portfolios are from illustrators, photographers, and writers.

Illustration portfolios

Illustrators who understand white space often:

• Show one illustration per screen with a neutral background and a lot of empty area around the artwork.
• Use small, quiet captions beneath each piece, with enough space that the text doesn’t visually compete with the art.

These examples of examples of effective use of white space in portfolios feel like an art book instead of a sales catalog. The space tells your brain: this is finished work, not a mood board.

Photography portfolios

A strong photography portfolio might:

• Use a grid with wide gutters between images so each photo has its own territory.
• Avoid text overlays on top of photos, placing titles in the margin below with a lot of breathing room.

This is similar to how museums and galleries hang work with generous spacing so your eye can reset between pieces—an approach supported by visual perception research on clutter and attention, such as work cited by the National Institutes of Health.

Writing and content portfolios

Writers and content strategists can also show an example of effective use of white space in portfolios by:

• Using short paragraphs and extra line spacing to make dense text scannable.
• Breaking sections with subheadings and extra top/bottom margins.

The white space here isn’t decorative; it makes reading easier and faster. Think of it as accessibility for attention spans.

2024–2025 trends: how modern portfolios use white space

In 2024–2025, the best examples of effective use of white space in portfolios share a few trends:

Bigger type, more space. Designers are pairing large typography with even larger margins. Headlines might be 48–64px, but they’re surrounded by generous padding so they don’t feel aggressive.

Fewer projects, more air. Instead of trying to show 15 projects, many designers now show 3–6 and use the freed-up space to make each project feel substantial.

Soft grids. Rigid, edge-to-edge grids are giving way to layouts where elements float with more space on the sides, often centered or slightly offset. It feels more editorial and less like a template.

Accessible contrast and spacing. Accessibility guidelines, like those discussed by the U.S. government’s digital accessibility resources, are influencing portfolio layouts. Designers are using white space to improve focus order, tap targets, and readability—so white space becomes a functional tool, not just a style choice.

These modern examples of examples of effective use of white space in portfolios aren’t about being “minimal” for aesthetics alone. They’re about attention, clarity, and respect for the viewer’s time.

How to create your own best examples of effective use of white space

Let’s talk tactics you can copy without feeling like you cloned someone else’s site.

Start by removing, not adding

If your current portfolio feels crowded, your first move is subtraction. Hide or archive older projects, remove extra buttons, and shorten long intro paragraphs. White space appears the moment you stop trying to show everything at once.

Treat sections like scenes in a film

Think of each screen as a scene. One main idea per view. One strong visual, one key message. When you design this way, you naturally create space between scenes so your viewer can process what they just saw.

The best examples of effective use of white space in portfolios almost always follow this one-idea-per-view rhythm.

Use consistent spacing tokens

Even if you’re not building a design system, steal the idea of spacing tokens:

• Small spacing for related items (title + subtitle)
• Medium spacing between components (card to card)
• Large spacing between sections (case study to case study)

Consistency makes your white space feel intentional, not random.

Let white space do the highlighting

Instead of adding more color, lines, or icons to highlight something, try this: remove nearby clutter and give the element more space. A call-to-action button, for example, stands out more if it’s surrounded by calm whitespace than if it’s trapped in a busy header.

These are the kinds of small layout decisions that turn your portfolio into a quiet, confident example of effective use of white space in portfolios, rather than a collage of competing elements.

Common mistakes when trying to use more white space

Sometimes people hear “use white space” and accidentally make their portfolio feel unfinished or confusing. A few pitfalls to avoid:

Random gaps with no logic. If spacing feels inconsistent—huge gap here, tiny gap there—your portfolio can look broken instead of intentional.

Too little content. There’s a difference between clean and empty. If every page has one sentence and one image with oceans of blank background, it can feel like you haven’t done much work.

Ignoring hierarchy. White space works best in partnership with typography and alignment. If everything is centered and equally spaced, nothing feels more important than anything else.

The strongest examples of examples of effective use of white space in portfolios balance emptiness with structure. You can feel the grid even if you don’t see it.

FAQ: examples of white space in portfolios, answered

Q: Can you give a simple example of white space improving a portfolio?
Yes. Imagine a UX case study where the designer originally placed six wireframe images in a tight 3×2 grid. After revising, they show two key wireframes per row with wider gutters, more margin around the grid, and a short caption under each. Same content, but now your eye can focus on each screen, and the story feels more thoughtful.

Q: Do I need a minimalist style to use white space well?
Not at all. Plenty of colorful, expressive portfolios still show examples of effective use of white space in portfolios. You can have bold colors, illustrations, or even playful typography—as long as you give each element room to breathe and avoid visual crowding.

Q: How do I know if I’ve gone too far with white space?
Ask two questions: Can someone quickly find your main projects? Do they have to scroll a long time before seeing any real work? If the answer to the first is no and the second is yes, tighten things up. White space should support clarity, not hide your work.

Q: Are there any research-backed reasons to care about white space?
Yes. Research in visual perception and readability suggests that spacing affects how easily people can process information and stay engaged. While most of that work lives in academic and usability studies, the principles carry directly into portfolio design. You can explore related topics in resources like NCBI’s open-access articles on visual attention and information layout.

Q: What are the best examples to study if I’m redoing my portfolio?
Look at portfolios from senior designers at reputable tech companies, art directors at agencies, and illustrators represented by established studios. You’ll notice patterns: fewer projects, large margins, clear section breaks, and focused storytelling. Those are the living, breathing examples of examples of effective use of white space in portfolios that you can adapt to your own style.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: white space is not wasted space. It’s how you say, “This matters. Look here.” Use it generously, and your portfolio will instantly feel more confident, more modern, and much easier to love.