This is a live case study documenting how I designed and built this portfolio. You'll be able to interact with it directly and give real-time feedback, helping shape my growth while experiencing my UX thinking first-hand.
The Extended Content toggle puts you, the viewer, in control. I created this feature as a way to recognise that not all viewers of my portfolio will want to consume my content in the same way.
By clicking the 'Extended mode' option, additional details about my process will appear. The transition is smooth, featuring a typing animation. It can also be toggled on or off at any point, with no reloads and no interruptions.
This survey is designed to test my UX decisions and improve both the design and experience of this portfolio. It is based on real feedback from users like yourself. All responses are completely anonymous.
The questions are short and multiple choice, appearing naturally as you scroll. They auto-submit once you move on from the question, so they will be easy to answer without breaking your attention.
All feedback is valuable. Whether you answer some, none, or all of the questions, I appreciate it greatly.
The final question at the bottom of the page is open-ended and includes a submit button. This is for optional, more detailed feedback.
The UX industry is highly competitive, particularly for junior designers who are just emerging from study and looking to break into the field. Without real client work to show, I needed a way to stand out.
Junior designers like me who have recently finished university and are entering a highly competitive industry.
With so much competition, my portfolio risked being overlooked. I needed to find a way to demonstrate my skills in a way that felt real and engaging.
It led me to turn my portfolio into a live case study. I also included survey questions throughout the case study to gather valuable feedback directly from my target audience, hiring managers.
I had limited time, a full schedule balancing work and family, and technical limitations. I had to teach myself backend fundamentals in order to build and host this project on my own.
It made me step back and rethink what a portfolio could be. I started asking myself what kind of experience I could create, what questions would the user be wanting answered and which UX practices would help me do it well.
Framed the portfolio as a live case study with real user feedback
Identified the target audience and crafted a feedback loop
Researched competitors and mapped user journeys
Defined user problems and goals
Created content hierarchy and extended/regular modes
Designed layouts and components in Figma
Applied typography, spacing, colour, and grids
Built a custom, accessible interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Implemented animations and interactions with GSAP
Video Editing and Rendering
Wrote clear, purposeful headings, prompts, and labels
Balanced friendly tone with professionalism
Crafted consistent voice across regular and extended content
Embedded survey system to gather real user feedback
Planned ongoing iterations based on usage insights
Managed timeline, workflows, and documentation independently
I began by asking a simple question: what should a UX portfolio actually do? To find out, I looked at a range of portfolios from successful designers. I paid attention to how they presented their work, how their content was structured, what felt effective, and what didn't.
Through this research, one thing became clear. If I'm applying for UX roles, my portfolio needs to reflect good UX. It should be easy to navigate, respectful of the viewer's time, and engaging enough to stand out.
I also realised that reaching my target audience, hiring managers, wasn't going to be easy. Most portfolios don't provide a way for the viewer to participate or leave feedback, which felt like a missed opportunity. I saw a gap.
That's when I started thinking differently. What if my portfolio wasn't a static showcase, but a living product? Something that could grow and evolve through real user input. That thought became the foundation for what you're experiencing now. It is a live case study shaped by real feedback.
Researched successful UX portfolios to understand what worked well and what didn't
Ideated ways to push the concept further and create something more interactive
Prototyped the layout, flow, and features in Figma
Built and launched the site as a live testing space where hiring managers like you are now part of the process
Figma - UI design, prototyping
GSAP - Animations, typing effects
Visual Studio Code - Code editor
Illustrator - Custom graphics, icons
HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Firebase CLI - Hosting and Deploying
Photoshop - Image editing
Firebase - Backend, survey responses
Git / GitHub - version-controlled
Hiring managers were always at the core of my thinking. I kept asking:
What questions do hiring managers want answered?
How can I respect their time?
How can I create a memorable experience?
These questions shaped everything from structure to tone. I made sure key information was easy to find, kept case studies concise by default, and added the option to explore more through extended content. I also embedded a short survey throughout the experience so viewers could give feedback without being interrupted. All of these choices were made to respect time, reduce friction, and make the experience feel intentional.
I created a unique portfolio experience designed to stand out to hiring managers. It gives users control over how much content they see, offers the opportunity to provide live feedback, and demonstrates my approach to solving real problems, not just within case studies but through the portfolio itself. It is a working, evolving case study that users are actively participating in.
In my research, I found that a common issue with portfolios is either being overloaded with information or too minimal, lacking enough detail. To solve this, I introduced a toggle that lets users choose the level of content they want to see. This keeps the experience immersive while also being respectful of the user's time. Another one of my core UX beliefs is that a portfolio should never be static. It should actively evolve. This portfolio revolves around receiving feedback, showing that I'm not just open to critique but actively inviting it in order to iterate and improve.
This project puts my UX thinking, UI design, and frontend development into action. It demonstrates:
Clear communication of ideas
Prototyping in Figma
Frontend development with custom code and GSAP animations
Visual design principles through typography, layout, and interaction
Illustration and animation to support storytelling
Working effectively within technical and time constraints
Prioritising the user experience in every decision
This portfolio is a live case study that will continue to evolve. Every interaction and piece of feedback contributes to its next iteration. My goal moving forward is to keep refining not just the portfolio, but also myself as a designer who listens, learns, and creates with purpose.