I designed a portfolio site for myself to showcase some of my past work and fun stuff I do on the side. This project was quite the process and is always evolving and changing, just like me!

The first step in this process was getting together all of the information, designs, data, and artifacts from my past projects. This part took a LONG time. But I also learned a lot about how I should document my future projects.

My first designs right out of college left a lot to be desired (putting it nicely). I used Wix to get my first couple of projects up. I had a embedded PDF for my resume, and an inconsistent design. I was also not practicing what I preach - I didn't know what my users wanted or needed at this point so how could I design an effective portfolio?

When I finally had the epiphany that my portfolio site was indeed another UX project, something finally clicked. I was able to see my work in a new light and implemented a user-centered approach.

Since it's near impossible to get feedback from the jobs you actually apply to, I had to get creative in finding out what my users needed. My early pieces of feedback were from my fiancée, family, and friends (shout out to them for letting me endlessly show them my new designs).

Later, I joined ADP List and got feedback from mentors who were in the field. I also had the opportunity to share my portfolio and get feedback from a handful of senior designers at one of Tony Moura's open office hours.

Designing for yourself is one of the most challenging things to do. But after realizing I'm designing for hiring managers, and senior designers, I was able to improve my website. I looked for trends int eh feedback I was getting and started to make changes. As I made changes I would seek out more feedback and iterate.

This website is a living website. It will never be complete because it will grow with me. As I continue to design, I will continue to add my new work. As I gain more experience and get more feedback I'm sure I will also change the design of the site many times.