Latios - Free Portfolio Template for UX/UI Designers

Overview

I built Latios because I kept seeing the same problem: designers with solid experience getting stuck trying to launch their portfolios. They'd spend weeks (sometimes months) tweaking every detail, paralyzed by the pressure to make everything "perfect."

The template is designed for mid-level UX/UI designers in tech/fintech who need something “that works for now”. Something minimal and tech-focused that actually stands out instead of blending into the sea of gradient-heavy, over-animated portfolio clones.

The core challenge: How do you create a portfolio template that helps designers differentiate themselves while keeping the focus on their work?

The Problem

What I Observed

Spending time on Framer Marketplace and analyzing designer portfolios, I noticed several recurring issues:

• Everything looks the same. The market is flooded with templates that are basically variations of each other. Hiring managers must get tired of seeing the same layouts and styles on repeat.
• The "Dribbble effect" is real. There's this widespread belief, especially among newer designers, that more visual complexity = better design. This leads to portfolios packed with excessive gradients, unnecessary illustrations, and animations that ultimately distract from what matters.
• Perfectionism becomes paralysis. Designers treat their portfolio as an extension of their identity (because, let's be honest, it kind of is). This creates massive anxiety. I saw people constantly postponing launches, endlessly tweaking, never feeling ready to hit publish.

Who I Built This For

Mid-level designers (2-5 years in) working in tech/fintech who need to:

• Get their portfolio live quickly without building from scratch
• Project technical competence and professionalism
• Stand out without resorting to gimmicks
• Have room to expand over time as their work evolves

How I Approached It

Research Phase

I analyzed what exists on Framer Marketplace and studied real designer portfolios. The gap became obvious: lots of generic minimalist templates, but nothing with a strong tech identity.

The key insight: people were anxious about creating portfolios because they felt it represented their entire professional identity. This led to my main design decision make it deliberately lean. Include just enough structure that someone can publish quickly, but leave room for personalization. Remove the pressure of "having everything perfect on day one."

Exploration

I looked at what performed well in the Marketplace and mapped that against standard design patterns in tech. Since Framer lets you design and prototype simultaneously, I jumped straight into the platform for a much faster iteration.

My guiding principle: every element needs to earn its place.

References:

Finding the Visual Direction

First attempt: Clean minimal with some typographic variation. Too generic. It didn't have the tech personality I was after.

The breakthrough came from exploring components in Framer University. I found some interesting parallax effects that sparked an

idea: what if I created depth without being heavy-handed?

From there, I developed:

• Parallax effect in the hero that creates immediate visual interest

• Pseudo-3D background (built in Figma) that gives depth right when you land

• Tech-inspired visual language: angular elements, perspective grids, corner brackets
• High-contrast monochrome palette with white accents for maximum readability

The Solution

Hero section that makes an impression

Large, bold typography with your name, a 3D grid background that establishes the tech vibe, a clear tagline, and prominent CTA placement. (Full custom and responsive)

Streamlined information architecture

Minimal navigation (Work, About), projects with immediate visual previews, and a concise About section, bio, services, toolstack.

Built for growth

Modular structure for progressive content addition, reusable components for consistency, and a system that scales without breaking visual coherence.

Optimized for hiring managers

Fast loading, clear path to key information, multiple contact points.

Results & What I Learned

Initial Feedback

• Some poeple liked it some where concern with some design decisions
• Some were happy to be able to publish a professional portfolio in hours instead of weeks
• From Framer Support feedback, I still had to fix some minor issues related to their templates standards which I'm working on right now, so that I can publish it in their marketplace, in the end I decided to remove contacts btn on top and mix it with about, since they are really close, this will reduce the cognitive load a bit.
• About the navbar... I know it's not perfectly accessibility-friendly because the text on it isn't visible while scrolling. However, I noticed this pattern is common in most templates. I think it's because designers want users to focus primarily on the content on screen, with just a subtle emphasis on the CTA in the top right. Idk but it is customisable now, so that everyone can decide how they want it.

Reflection

When you're designing for designers, you're working with the most critical audience imaginable. We notice everything.

The solution wasn't trying to make the "perfect portfolio template." It was recognizing that perfection kills momentum. The best design is the one that actually gets used and published, not the one that sits unpublished in Figma because it's "not quite ready yet."

Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is lower the barrier to action. That's what Latios does.

I'll try to improve it as much as I can and also make it for customisable.

Thank you

Press here to remix it

Or: https://framer.com/remix/m5aEXJNqfHw7U9nyibIl