Personal Portfolio Website & Branding
Web Development
UI/UX Design
Branding
Figma
Framer
Adobe Illustrator
This project invloved building a portfolio website for my freelance design business; RavenPixel
The Problem
Over time, my original portfolio had become inconsistent and overly iterative. While it helped me explore design ideas, it lacked a clear structure and didn’t communicate how I solve problems. Visitors had no direct path to understand my strengths or process, and the messaging didn’t reflect my approach. I needed a platform that was clean, purposeful, and more aligned with how I think and work.
Project Scope
This was a complete redesign of both my portfolio and brand identity. The aim was to create a mobile-first site that communicates my ability to approach problems with structure, creativity, and precision. It had to be easy to maintain, adaptable to future projects, and built around showcasing design thinking—not just finished visuals. I handled everything from content and design to development and deployment.
Users & Audience
The site was designed with two main audiences in mind: potential clients and product teams. Both groups typically want to quickly understand what I offer, how I think, and whether my process fits their needs. I focused the design around simple navigation, focused case studies, and a calm visual system—making it easy to scan, explore, and take action without friction or noise.
The Design
Research & Planning
I began by auditing successful portfolio sites and gathering direct feedback on my previous version. Many portfolios I came across leaned too heavily on visuals without offering context. I knew I wanted to focus on transparency and clarity—highlighting what I did, why I did it, and how I made those decisions.
UX & Wireframing
The site structure was built around a four-page system: home, about, contact, and individual project pages. I wireframed each section in Figma with emphasis on flow, quick scanning, and clear progression from problem to solution. Call-to-action placement and visual rhythm were designed to help guide users through without friction.
Visual Design
The visual direction is grounded in a structured grid, spacious layout, and clear hierarchy. A subtle moving background adds a sense of flow without distracting from the content. It’s an intentional balance—structured and precise, yet still expressive—which reflects how I approach every project: deliberate, but never static.
Colour System
The palette blends deep purples, bright blues, and off-whites to provide a professional yet creative tone. Accent colours are reserved for interactive elements to maintain focus and improve usability. The system is designed to feel modern and approachable while supporting strong accessibility contrast ratios.
Build & Optimisation
I built the site in Framer, which allowed for fast iteration and a maintainable structure. I prioritised fast load times and responsiveness across screen sizes. Images were kept lightweight, animations were subtle and purposeful, and the layout was optimised for accessibility, with semantic HTML, keyboard navigation, and solid contrast throughout.
Outcome & Impact
The final site now communicates both what I create and how I approach challenges. It’s clear, fast, and tailored to my workflow. The updated format has made it easier for people to understand my process, leading to more relevant conversations—whether that’s with a potential client or someone looking to hire. The platform is now a stable foundation to showcase evolving projects while staying aligned with the values behind RavenPixel.
Reflection
This redesign taught me the value of framing my work around clarity and decision-making. While the structure and visual execution are strong, one area I’d improve is the depth of user research. Most design decisions were based on personal experience and peer feedback, but next time I’d conduct usability testing and structured interviews to better understand how different audiences interact with the site. Incorporating real user insight earlier would help validate the structure and uncover friction points I may have missed. Moving forward, user research will play a bigger role in shaping both content and UX decisions.
