Finally: A Portfolio That Actually Feels Like Me

The Portfolio That Wouldn't End

I've rebuilt this portfolio more times than I care to admit.

Each time, I'd get about 70% through, look at it, and think: This isn't it.

Too generic. Too safe. Too much like every other UX portfolio trying to check all the boxes.

So I'd scrap it and start over.

But this time? This time it stuck.

Not because I suddenly became a better designer overnight, but because I finally stopped trying to make a portfolio that impressed other designers and started making one that actually felt like me.

Learning Framer (For Real This Time)

I'd dabbled in Framer before, but I never really got it. I was still thinking in Figma terms, treating it like a prototyping tool instead of what it actually is: a full-fledged design and development playground.

This time, I committed to learning it properly.

I watched tutorials. I broke things. I rebuilt them. I learned how components actually work, how to set up responsive layouts that don't fall apart the second you resize the window, and how to think in states and variants instead of static frames.

And honestly? Once it clicked, it was so much fun.

Framer lets you design and build at the same time, which is exactly how my brain works. I'm not interested in designing something beautiful that's impossible to implement, or coding something functional that looks like it's from 2008. I want both. And Framer actually lets you have both.

Microanimations: The Details That Matter

One of my favorite parts of building this site was adding microanimations everywhere.

Not the obnoxious kind that makes you feel like you're being attacked by a pop-up ad, but the subtle ones that make interactions feel alive.

Buttons that respond when you hover. Page transitions that feel smooth instead of jarring. Little moments of delight tucked into places most people might not even consciously notice, but they feel the difference.

I spent way too much time perfecting a hover effect on my project cards. Was it necessary? Probably not. Did it make me unreasonably happy? Absolutely.

Because here's the thing: those tiny details add up. They're what turn a functional site into an experience. And as someone who's spent years learning how people interact with digital products, I know that those moments matter.

They're the difference between a site someone clicks through quickly and one they actually remember.

Quality Over Quantity (Finally)

For a long time, I thought I needed to showcase every single project I'd ever touched.

Three internships? Better include all of them. Did a hackathon project? That goes on there too. Random side project from two years ago that I barely remember? Sure, throw it in.

But cramming everything in just diluted the whole thing. It turned my portfolio into a resume dump instead of a story.

So this time, I was ruthless.

I picked the projects that actually mattered. The ones where I had something real to say. The ones that showed growth, problem-solving, and impact.

I focused on telling those stories well instead of trying to tell every story at once.

And weirdly, having less on the site made it feel like more. More cohesive. More intentional. More like something I'd actually be proud to send to someone.

What I Learned (Beyond Framer)

Building this portfolio taught me more than just how to use a new tool.

It reminded me that done is better than perfect, but also that good enough isn't actually good enough when it comes to representing yourself.

It taught me that constraints are freeing. Once I stopped trying to include everything and started focusing on what actually mattered, the whole thing came together faster.

And it reinforced something I already knew but needed to hear again: the work you put into the details shows. People might not consciously notice that hover animation or that smooth transition, but they feel it. And that feeling is what sticks with them.

So, What's Next?

Now that this thing is finally live, I can stop obsessing over it and get back to what I actually love: designing and building things that solve real problems for real people.

But also? I'm already thinking about what I want to tweak next.

Because that's the thing about having your own site — it's never really done done. It's a living thing that grows with you.

And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

If you want to check it out, it's live now. Go click around. Break things. Let me know what you think.

— Emma