I started this portfolio after trying several open-source portfolio templates and realizing they looked too similar to each other. Most were good technically, but they did not match how I wanted to present myself. I wanted a site that feels like my own product, not just a modified starter.
The main design goal was to combine personality with credibility. I used bold sections, custom motion, and a strong visual rhythm so the site feels alive, but I balanced that with readable typography, clean spacing, and clear information hierarchy so recruiters and clients can scan quickly.
I chose Next.js because I wanted strong routing, optimized images, and a production-ready rendering model without extra setup. The App Router structure also keeps sections maintainable as the project grows into journal entries, project case studies, and future feature pages.
TypeScript is used to keep components predictable. It helps me scale sections like projects, journal content blocks, and reusable UI elements with fewer runtime surprises. This is especially useful in a portfolio where visual components and data-driven content are tightly connected.
Tailwind CSS was a deliberate choice for speed and consistency. Instead of jumping across many CSS files, I can iterate quickly while still enforcing spacing, typography, and responsive behavior through a repeatable utility system. It helped me tune fine details per section without losing coherence.
For interaction, I used Framer Motion where animation communicates structure, not just decoration. Entrance timing, hover responses, and section transitions are meant to guide attention through the page and make the reading flow smoother.
Performance and accessibility were part of the build decisions. I use next/image for optimized assets, maintain contrast-aware overlays for text on image cards, and keep responsive behavior intentional across desktop and mobile so the experience remains stable on different screen sizes.
This portfolio is still evolving, but the core principle is fixed: build a recognizable digital identity through custom design and solid engineering choices. Every section is intentionally designed to reflect both taste and technical depth.
Live project: https://www.caspersantos.dev | Source: https://github.com/kyazs
