Problem with Initial Version:
When I completed my apprenticeship at Bloc, I was extremely proud of the progress I made in my UX journey. I completed two projects I was proud of, and learned so much from my assignments. However, my way of
showcasing these projects in my portfolio was underwhelming.
Bloc required that I design and code my portfolio using purely HTML5 and CSS. This was a massive undertaking because I had never coded anything in my life. To tell you the truth, I doubted if I would
finish it and it tested my patience on many occasions. When I finally finished, I had a portfolio I was satisfied with, but did not love. It felt clunky and was riddled with small bugs that made the whole experience uninspiring.
When I began designing my original portfolio, I was only about half way through my apprenticeship. I designed my portfolio to fit in with what I saw other designers doing. I wanted a
minimalist design that took up 100% of the view port because I saw it used on other people’s websites. I thought this was futuristic, but wow was I wrong. In reality, this design choice did not work. In that moment I made a promise to
myself.
When I finish this course, I am going to recreate my portfolio from the ground up and create something that truly embodies me.
Reason for this Design:
I love the style of the 1970’s. Movies like Anchorman, Almost Famous, and Dazed and Confused have always held a place in my heart. I love the colors palettes, the music, and the relaxed vibe. Rather than designing
to
fit in, I wanted to create something unique to me. My portfolio is the one place where I am supposed to showcase myself, so I decided to create something modern, but with a 1970’s twist. Soon, the Retrolio (Retro Portfolio) was born.
Goals For Rework:
My goals were simple. I know I am not the most experienced coder, but I wanted to create a website that looked awesome without using SquareSpace or Wix. While watching UX tutorial videos on YouTube, I came across a
creator called Flux who used a service called Webflow to create websites for his clients. I decided this was the answer to my
issues.
Webflow is a service where you create the front-end design of a website, and Webflow generates the code for your design. You create the front-end design using a feature called the Designer.
This was a great opportunity to create a better portfolio and learn a new skill. Through my apprenticeship, I learned how to use designing services like Figma, and I recently taught myself how to
code,
so I felt confident learning a new design platform like Webflow. This proved to be more difficult than I thought; however, it was a fantastic learning experience that I am glad I pursued.
Below are the major upgrades to my portfolio. I hope you enjoy.
Initial Portfolio
