I bet you’ve NEVER seen button hover effects quite like these. And honestly, this time, I COOKED!
I went into this wanting to build a portfolio website. Somewhere along the way, it became so good that I’m genuinely considering making it my MAIN portfolio.
The scroll. The transitions. The interactions. But especially the button hover effects. Every little detail makes the experience feel alive, and I’ve probably spent more time hovering over these buttons than I’d like to admit.
But this wasn't just about making something that looks good. I wanted to build something that actually works for me.
THE BRANDING: I built the entire experience around my existing Sup* identity, keeping the personality intact while giving it a website that feels distinctly mine. From the visual language to the interactions, I wanted every part of the experience to feel intentional rather than like another template with a name slapped on it.
THE EXPERIENCE: As a designer, I obsess over the little things. The way an element responds when you hover over it. How scrolling feels. How one section transitions into the next. And how all of it comes together into an experience that feels cohesive.
The button interactions were easily one of my favourite parts to work on. But don't just take my word for it. Go try them yourself.
And yes, I designed a mobile-specific menu experience too. Please don't skip that part!
THE AUTOMATION: A portfolio shouldn't just display your work. It should help you get work.
One of my biggest goals was to turn this website into a funnel that brings potential clients directly to my Contra profile. I wanted to make it easier for people to discover my work, get in touch, and take the next step.
So, I built in form automation that delivers incoming submissions straight to my email and the website's admin side. No manually checking submissions across different places. The enquiries come to me, giving me a more direct way to keep track of potential opportunities.
It's a small but meaningful workflow that makes the website more than just a pretty front end.
THE STORY BEHIND THE BUILD - I've always wanted a portfolio website that properly showcases my work, personality, and approach to design. And once I found Contra, I realised I had the perfect opportunity to do more than just build a portfolio.
I could create a funnel that showcases my work and helps bring potential clients directly to my Contra profile.
When the @Base44 x @Contra HQ contest came along, it felt like the perfect excuse to bring that idea to life finally.
And the best part? This was my FIRST time trying @Base44. (Process video in the comments)
I've never had to type so little to get something this good. The recommendations were surprisingly on point, and instead of constantly fighting the tool to get what I had in mind, I could focus on what matters most to me: the experience, the details, and making the final product feel right.
As someone who genuinely enjoys pushing interfaces beyond the expected, that was a pretty exciting experience.
Because building something that looks good is one thing. Building something that looks good, feels good, works behind the scenes, and has an actual purpose? That's where the fun begins.
And Base44 made getting there ridiculously enjoyable.
This one's for the Base44 x Contra contest, and I might've accidentally built my new favourite portfolio in the process.
A couple of things I want you to try:
1. Hover over the buttons. Like Seriously.
2. Experience the mobile-specific menu.
3. Check out the custom favicon. Yes, that's me. 😉
A modern landing page animation designed for a self-discovery and personal growth platform. This scrolling website concept transforms the browsing experience through smooth motion, immersive transitions, and a clean visual hierarchy that guides users from an emotional hero section into an interactive overview of the product. The animation is crafted to make storytelling feel natural while reinforcing the brand's premium identity.
Moving from an emotional hero into a product overview gives the story a useful direction. I’d make sure the essential explanation and CTA remain available with reduced motion too, so the experience still makes sense when someone skips the animation or prefers a calmer browsing experience.
I created Starling as an interactive character with three connected animation states: Idle, Selected, and Success. Its expression, wing movement, and star effects respond to interaction, giving the character a personality beyond a looping video.
The project includes an editable Rive file, a runtime asset, and a browser preview. I tested the transitions with mouse, keyboard, and touch input. The video shows the animation; the interactive preview lets viewers try it for themselves.