The most common portfolio mistake is a site so designed that the work has to fight it. Redesign yours so the projects lead and everything else recedes.
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Portfolios are judged in seconds by people with a specific question — can this person do the thing I need? Almost every design decision follows from making that answerable quickly.
The images are the content
On a portfolio, layout exists to present images at a size and rhythm that lets them be judged. That means generous space, consistent aspect ratios, and no decorative competition around them.
Heavy interface — animated backgrounds, elaborate navigation, ornamental type — reads as compensating. It's the most common failure in designer portfolios specifically, where the temptation to demonstrate skill on the site itself is strongest.
Fewer projects, shown properly
Six projects presented well beats twenty in a grid of thumbnails. A hiring manager or client will look at two or three; which ones they see should be your choice, not a function of scroll depth.
This is a content decision the redesign makes visible rather than one it makes for you — but a layout that gives each project real space forces the edit.
Contact has to be obvious
Portfolios routinely bury the way to get in touch behind a nav item, or omit it in favour of a form nobody trusts.
An email address, visible, on the page. It's the entire conversion goal of the site, and it's the thing most portfolios treat as an afterthought.
Common questions
Should a portfolio look unusual?
Only if the unusualness is the point of your work. For most disciplines a restrained site that shows work clearly outperforms an inventive one.
How many projects should I include?
Fewer than you want to. Your weakest included project sets the impression, not your strongest.
Will my images carry over?
Yes, images from your existing page come across. Low-resolution originals will still be low-resolution in a larger layout.
Do I need case studies or just images?
Depends on the discipline — a short paragraph on the problem and your role is usually worth more than a long process narrative.
Redesign it so your three best projects are visible without scrolling far, and cut the rest.