Why My Portfolio is More Than Just a Showcase
As a designer, I've always thought of a portfolio as a final product—a curated collection of my best work for a job application or a client pitch. But along the way, I discovered it’s so much more than that. It's a living, breathing tool that I use for my own growth and organization.
An Archive for My Projects
For me, a portfolio is a personal archive. It’s a single source of truth for all my projects, from the polished successes to the valuable lessons learned from projects that didn't go as planned. This kind of detailed record is especially important because with so many projects on the go, it allows me to track exactly where I left off. It works in tandem with a to-do list, helping me understand what's left to be done and where to pick up again. This keeps my momentum strong and and also makes it easier for others to understand my skills and process when I share my work.
The Evolution of My Portfolio
The evolution of my portfolio was a journey in itself. It started with the simplicity and freedom of pen and paper, a method that allowed for uninhibited ideas. But I quickly discovered the limitations of a physical archive—smudges, a lack of cloud access, and the inability to easily share my work.
Transitioning to digital tools like Google Docs was my next step. It solved those problems by offering accessibility and cloud capabilities. But I learned that the freedom of a blank page can be its own downfall when it comes to aesthetics. While the content was clear to me, a disorganized document was hard for others to follow.
The Final Form: A Dedicated Website
That's when I realized a dedicated website was the ultimate solution. A website can be constantly updated, so it’s always a reflection of my most recent work. It's also accessible from any device, with no need for a download—a major benefit for both me and anyone I share it with. While I started with a platform like Squarespace for its ease of use and clean look, I've since found that coding my own site is a great opportunity to continue learning, especially with languages like JavaScript. It’s like a new project in itself.
By seeing my portfolio as a tool for personal and professional growth, I've transformed it from a static collection into an active part of my creative process—a pragmatic archive that keeps me grounded, organized, and moving forward.
