Bento Portfolio: What It Is, Why It Works, and 7 Layout Ideas You Can Copy

A bento portfolio arranges everything about you in a grid of cards of different sizes — like the compartments of a Japanese bento box. A big card for your profile, wide cards for projects, small squares for links and stats. It has become the most popular portfolio style of the last few years, and for good reason.

Why the bento layout works

• It is scannable. Visitors see the whole picture at a glance instead of scrolling through paragraphs.
• Size shows priority. A bigger card says "look here first" without a word.
• It works on phones. A four-column grid on a laptop becomes two columns on a phone, and the cards keep their order.
• It mixes media. Photos, video, links, text and numbers sit side by side comfortably.

Rules for a good bento grid

1. One hero card. Your profile (or logo) in the largest card, top left.
2. Three sizes are enough — small (1×1), wide (2×1) and large (2×2). More sizes look messy.
3. No holes. Gaps look like mistakes. Resize or reorder until the grid is full.
4. Group by meaning. Links together, work together, contact at the end.
5. Limit colours. One accent colour and soft backgrounds; let photos provide the colour.
6. Every card earns its place. If a card does not help someone hire you, delete it.

7 bento layout ideas

1. The developer

Profile (2×2) · GitHub and LinkedIn (1×1 each) · skills (2×1) · two projects with screenshots (2×1 each) · resume download (1×1) · contact (1×1).

2. The designer

Profile (2×1) · three large image cards for case studies (2×2) · Behance and Dribbble (1×1) · a short video of a prototype (2×1) · contact.

3. The fresher

Profile with "Open to work" (2×2) · final-year project (2×1) · certificates as images (1×1 each) · skills (2×1) · education (2×1) · resume download.

4. The freelancer

Profile (2×2) · services (2×1) · testimonials (2×1) · WhatsApp and Instagram (1×1) · a "Get a quote" contact card (2×1).

5. The creator

Profile (2×1) · YouTube video (2×2) · Instagram, X and YouTube links (1×1) · stats — followers, views (2×1) · collaborations contact.

6. The skilled tradesperson

Profile with trade and city (2×2) · photos of work (1×1 each) · certificates with validity (2×1) · countries you will work in (2×1) · WhatsApp contact.

7. The company

Logo and one-line description (2×2) · website and social links at the top (1×1 each) · numbers (2×1) · services (full width) · we're hiring (2×1) · contact (2×1). More in the company portfolio guide.

Build a bento portfolio without designing it

GoodProfile's portfolio maker is a bento grid: cards are created from your profile and resume (or your company website), you drag them to reorder and pull a corner to resize, and the grid closes gaps for you. On a phone the same page reflows to two columns. You can add photos, videos, certificates, a QR code card, your resume and a contact form — free.

Related reading

How to make a portfolio website for free · Portfolio vs resume: the difference · How to make a portfolio as a fresher · Company portfolio: what to include · See a real portfolio