What a designer's website is actually for
When people talk about a website for graphic designers, they usually mean one of three different jobs. The first is a personal site for a freelancer, replacing a scattered set of links to Behance, Instagram and a Telegram channel. The second is a site for a studio or small agency: services, team, process, selected projects. The third is a service built around design, such as ordering business cards and banners online, selling templates or running courses.
Structure, size, online payments and the way you measure results all follow from that choice. So before debating colours and typefaces, answer one question: what should a visitor do — message you on Telegram, fill in a brief, pay a deposit or sign up for a course?
It also matters who your client is. A designer who works with small shop and cafe owners speaks to a different audience than a studio doing branding for large companies. The first group needs clarity and a quick way to get in touch; the second wants depth in the case studies and a sense of the team.
Which type of site fits your situation
In practice, most designers choose among a handful of formats.
- One-page site: a short intro, your best work, contacts. Fits a designer who is just starting out.
- Multi-page portfolio: a separate page for each case. Better for search and for more demanding clients.
- Studio site: pages for services such as logos, packaging, brand books and social media design, plus team and workflow.
- Site with online ordering: pick a service, upload materials, pay a deposit through Click or Payme.
- Template or course shop: catalogue, personal account, file delivery after payment.
What a graphic design portfolio should show
A gallery of images with no context rarely convinces anyone. The owner of a cafe in Chilanzar or a seller on Uzum wants to know which business problem you solved, not only that the logo looks good.
A strong case study answers a few questions:
- what the task was and for what kind of business;
- what you proposed and why;
- where the work is used: signage, packaging, an Instagram feed, a menu;
- what result the client got — only if it is real and the client agrees to share it.
Enquiries, briefs and payments the local way
Many clients in Uzbekistan would rather write on Telegram or Instagram than fill in a long form. Put a visible button that opens your messenger, and beside it a short brief form for people who prefer to describe the task in text. Keep a phone number too, since some clients from the regions still like to call.
If you take a deposit, connect Click or Payme so the client does not have to transfer money to a card number and send a receipt. It removes friction and looks more professional. For any service with online ordering, this integration is close to mandatory.
Also plan what happens after an enquiry: an automatic Telegram notification to you, a confirmation to the client and a clear next step. An enquiry answered a day later is often already lost.
Speed, mobile layout and search
A designer's work means heavy images, and they are the most common reason a site is slow. Compress layouts, use modern formats such as WebP and load images as the visitor scrolls. Most people will open your link from social media on a phone, so the mobile layout should be designed first rather than patched in later.
For search, each project needs its own page with a clear title and description. People searching for something like logo design in Tashkent land on specific pages, not on a general gallery. Consider Russian and Uzbek versions as well, because your audience searches in both languages.
What drives the price and how to choose a developer
Cost depends on the number of pages, the complexity of design and animation, online payments, a client account, multiple languages, and who prepares the copy and images. Hosting and support are usually counted separately. A reliable developer will explain what you are paying for instead of naming a figure without a breakdown.
The Tashkent market has freelancers, small teams and full-cycle agencies. The difference is rarely the price. It is whether the contractor will agree on metrics up front, such as cost per enquiry, number of requests or search positions, and set up analytics from day one. Without that, you cannot tell whether the site paid off.
At markdev we build websites end to end, from structure and design to analytics and enquiry handling, and we report in numbers rather than impressions. If you would like to discuss a site for yourself or your studio, send us a request and we will look at your task together.
FAQ
Do I need a website if I already have Instagram?
Yes, as a complement. Instagram shows your work well, but a website gives you structure, case studies, Google visibility and independence from platform rules. The best setup is Instagram to attract and the site to persuade and collect enquiries.
Is a website builder enough or should I order custom development?
A builder can work for a small portfolio at the start. If you need online payments, several languages, a distinctive design or growth in search, custom development is the safer choice.
How many pages does a designer's portfolio need?
As many as the goal requires: home, services, individual case studies, contacts. A few well-written cases beat many pages of images with no description.
Can I accept payments directly on the site?
Yes. Click and Payme can be connected, so you can take deposits for projects or sell ready-made templates. Check the connection terms with the payment providers.
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