--- title: Design your portal from scratch sidebarTitle: Design from scratch description: >- Go from an empty portal to a finished one you can put in your bio, in about twenty minutes. audience: luminary feature: portal type: guide availability: live last_verified: '2026-10-13' keywords: - design portal - portal setup - build website - branding - theme - link in bio page url: 'https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/portal/design-your-portal-from-scratch' --- # Design your portal from scratch > Go from an empty portal to a finished one you can put in your bio, in about twenty minutes. By the end you'll have a portal with your photo, banner, bio, look and the sections you want visitors to see. ## When to use this - You chose Start from Scratch at sign-up, or you want to redo Soul's AI draft. - Your portal looks generic and you want it to feel like you. ## Before you start Have these ready: a square headshot, a wide banner image (or pick one from Soul's gallery), a short bio, and the links to your social profiles. **Step 1: Open the editor** Go to [My Portal → Design](https://portal.bringsoul.life/portal). Make sure the preview is in Edit mode (the pencil icon at the top left of the preview). **Step 2: Set your name** Click the pencil next to your name (Edit name). Enter your Public name. Optionally add a Subscriber name (optional) if members know you by a different name. Click Save. **Tip:** Use the name people already know you by, often your Instagram or TikTok name, not your full legal name. **Step 3: Add your profile photo** Click Edit profile photo and upload a friendly headshot. Square photos around 400×400px work best. Crop it, then click Apply Crop. It saves straight away. **Step 4: Add your banner** Click Edit cover image. On the Desktop tab, upload a wide image (about 1400×300px), or click Or Choose from Our Gallery and filter by colour. Then open the Mobile tab and add a narrower version (about 720×300px), or skip it and the desktop banner is used. Click Done. **Step 5: Write your bio** Click Add a bio (or Edit bio). Keep it short and personal: who you help, how, and what visitors can do here. Leave Show full description on for short bios. Turn it off for long ones, so visitors see an excerpt. Click Save. **Step 6: Add your social links** Click Add social links, then Add Social Link. Choose a Platform, paste the URL, and click Add. Repeat for each profile, then click Done. **Step 7: Choose your look** In the Theme & Logo tab, click a theme swatch. Hover a swatch to see its name. The preview updates as you click. Want your own colours? Click the swatch with the pencil (*"Custom theme — choose your own colours"*), set Headline Font, Body Font, Background Color and Accent Color, and click Apply. Then click Save. Theme changes don't save until you do. **Step 8: Add your logo (optional)** Under Logo, click Add logo. Use a simple square image of at least 200×200px. It appears in your portal's navigation menu. **Step 9: Turn on your sections** Open the Sections tab. Switch on each section you have something for: Sessions, Events, Courses and so on. Drag the grip handle to put the most important first. Sections save automatically. For each section that's on, choose who sees it: Public & Subscribers, Subscribers Only or Public Only. **Step 10: Check it as a visitor** Switch the preview to Preview mode and choose Preview As → Visitor. Then try Mobile. Most people will see your portal on a phone. ## Tips - Write the bio for a stranger. One line on who you help, one on how, one inviting them to start. - Keep the accent colour readable. Your accent colour is used for links and buttons. If the custom theme dialog warns that text _"would be hard to read on this colour"_, pick a lighter background. Portals are designed for light backgrounds. - Fewer, fuller sections beat many empty ones. A section with nothing in it shows nothing, so only turn on what you've built. - Let Soul AI do a first pass. On Home, ask _"Review my portal"_ or _"Write me a warmer bio"_. You approve every change before it's made. **Warning:** Theme changes are only a preview until you click Save in the Theme & Logo tab. If you leave the page while it says *"You have unsaved changes"*, your theme isn't kept. ## What your visitors see Your banner, photo, name, social icons and bio at the top, then your Featured Video, Membership card, Highlights and Links (if they're on), then your other sections in the order you set. Logged-out visitors see only sections set to Public & Subscribers or Public Only. ## Related - [My Portal introduction](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/portal/overview) - [Feature and reorder your offerings](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/portal/feature-and-reorder-offerings) - [Add links and header buttons](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/portal/add-links-and-buttons) - [Share your portal](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/portal/sharing)