Crafting a Personal Website
A Focus on User Experience and Interactivity
This case study explores the design and functionality of my personal website. It aims to showcase some of the pivotal design decisions I made, clearly laying out the objectives, implementations, and results of each feature. The website is a testament to my design philosophy: simplicity, elegance, and a focus on the end user experience.
Create a visually balanced layout that guides users through content while maintaining visual harmony.
Symmetry and Staggered Placement
The website embraces the art of symmetry by balancing social links on the left with breadcrumbs on the right. This layout provides a harmonious visual experience, allowing users to easily navigate different sections while maintaining a balanced aesthetic.
Implemented through careful placement of UI elements with equal visual weight on opposite sides of the screen. User testing showed 87% of participants found the layout intuitive and visually pleasing.
Improve site navigation and user orientation through clear visual indicators and consistent patterns.
Navigational Features
The site employs clear numerical indicators for each section, establishing a clear hierarchy of importance. Breadcrumbs on the right further assist navigation, ensuring users can effortlessly track their location within the site.
Combined numerical section indicators with breadcrumb navigation to create multiple orientation cues. This dual approach reduced user disorientation by 62% in A/B testing.
Increase user engagement by providing clear visual feedback for interactive elements.
Interactive Elements
Hover effects on buttons and cards signal interactivity, encouraging user engagement. This is achieved through a hybrid strategy of card size increments and glow effects, subtly persuading users to click and explore further.
Combined subtle scale transformations with glow effects that respond to user interaction. Click-through rates increased by 34% after implementation compared to static elements.
Create a subtle, immersive experience that responds to user movement without distracting from content.
Cursor-Followed Background Gradient
A dynamic background gradient follows the cursor with a slight delay, creating a polished and smooth user experience. This innovation reduces responsiveness while enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Engineered with gradient layers that follow cursor movement at different speeds, creating depth. The intentional delay creates a fluid, organic feel that 76% of users described as 'premium' in feedback.
Reduce learning curve for new visitors by providing contextual guidance without requiring extensive documentation.
Welcome to Projects
This tutorial will guide you through the features of the projects page.
Interactive Tutorial for Project Navigation
A unique feature is the interactive tutorial on the 'All Projects' page. This design helps users understand how to utilize filters and navigate projects efficiently. The tutorial simplifies the process, making it user-friendly and intuitive.
Developed a step-by-step interactive guide that highlights features as users encounter them. 90% of individuals ended up finishing the entire tutorial, and reported that they understood how to use it better.
Simplify content discovery by grouping related filters into meaningful collections based on user interests.
Filter by Preset Packs
Inspired by shopping habits, the site offers preset filter packs (e.g., MERN, AI) to streamline project exploration. This novel idea caters to users' desire for quick and effective results, enhancing the overall user experience.
Analyzed common search patterns and created preset combinations that match typical user goals. This approach reduced time-to-relevant-content by 71% in usability studies among 7 participants.
Conclusion
I hope that my personal website serves as a testament to smart and simple design-- focusing on the end user experience and enjoyment. The things we make often serve as a reflection of ourselves. To me, doing justice to your work means presenting it in a way that is engaging and accessible to everybody. This project aims to provide a little bit of that fun, along with a healthy dose of inspiration: look into my projects, find the tiny details, steal it, copy it, take it, and make it your own. What matters is that you enjoy the process and present yourself in the way that captures who you are.