The Opportunity:
My portfolio needed to do more than just present my work. It needed to prove that I could design and build something from scratch, using my own creativity.
As someone still early in their career, the work alone wasn't enough. I needed something that showed how I think, not just what I've done.
The Work:
Before opening Framer, I used Figma as a sketchbook, not to design, but to think. Figuring out where content would go, what the layout should feel like, and what kind of site I actually wanted to build. The aesthetic came naturally from there: clean and minimal, with dark green accents to give it some personality without overcomplicating it.
From there I moved into Framer, coming in completely fresh with no prior experience. The learning curve was real, getting everything to work together the way I had it in my head took time and patience. But working through it directly on the live build meant every problem I solved stuck.
For the content, ThriftEasy was the natural starting point, a project I built entirely from scratch with a clear story behind it. I knew what I wanted to say, it was just a matter of wording it right.
The Reflection:
Going in with no clear vision turned out to be the right call. Starting from a blank page, with only Figma and a rough sense of what I wanted, meant every decision was mine. The technical side was harder than expected. Getting everything to work together the way I had it in my head took real time. But that's what made it worth it.
The process of building it pushed me to properly learn Framer, make real design decisions, and develop the kind of hands-on skills that don't come from studying alone. More than a place to show what I've done, it put me in the right mindset for everything that comes next.
