Why I’m Building My Creative Portfolio
After two years of graphics, animation, case studies, and storytelling work, it finally feels like the right time to gather everything into one cohesive space, a place that showcases not just my projects but who I am as a designer, illustrator, and storyteller. That’s why I’ve decided to begin building my professional portfolio using Squarespace.
Choosing a platform might sound like a small thing, but it’s the first step toward something bigger. I needed something sleek and customizable, yet intuitive enough to let my work do the talking. Squarespace gives me that freedom. The drag-and-drop setup is smooth, the layout options feel modern and professional, and the built-in blog integration will allow me to include all the work I’ve documented so far, from stop-motion experiments to animated logos, UI loops, and story-driven design.
But before jumping into building, I took a beat to plan.
Planning the Build: Where Strategy Meets Storytelling
I didn’t want to just throw my work online. Inspired by Kimberly Shyu’s blog How to Build a Personal Portfolio Website, I started by outlining the purpose of my site. I knew my main goals were to:
Showcase the range of creative work I’ve done over the past two years (especially from this course),
Present my professional experiences, like my internships and client projects,
And give visitors a clear understanding of who I am as a creative, what I do, and where I want to go next.
I began site mapping, organizing my content into categories: Portfolio, Blog, About, and Contact. Under “Portfolio,” I’ll have subcategories for motion design, visual storytelling, and illustration. The blog section will serve as an archive of all the posts I’ve written each one documenting growth, experimentation, and reflection.
It’s important to me that the navigation is clean. I want the experience to feel intentional, easy to explore, but rich with creative energy. As Shyu puts it, “Everything you decide from here should support your goal.” That’s the mantra I’ve been holding onto while planning my structure.
Inspired by the Creative Hustle
Reading about the journey of other creatives helped me feel grounded in this process. In one post, an independent comic artist shares how their passion for storytelling, even without guaranteed financial return, still brings fulfillment and meaning. That hit home.
Like them, I’ve realized I don’t just want to be a designer—I want to be someone who builds my own worlds. Who communicates through motion and color, and typography. Who learns continuously and experiments boldly. Their story reminded me that our portfolios aren’t just visual resumes—they’re proof of growth, persistence, and identity.
And then there’s Katelyn Dekle’s story of going from graphic designer to full-time creative entrepreneur. Her decision to finally “launch the damn thing” reminded me that waiting for perfection often just delays progress. We all start somewhere, and messy starts are still starts. Dekle’s pivot from print design to web, and eventually teaching, was a huge reminder that our careers don’t have to look like anyone else’s. They just have to feel true to us.
A Creative Life in Motion
This portfolio is just the beginning. I’m hoping it will be a launching point for more freelance opportunities, collaborations, and maybe even creative direction someday. There’s a part of me that’s always craved being both an artist and a strategist, someone who creates the visuals and thinks about their impact.
This whole journey, from learning how to write and interview for case studies to writing blog reflections, to animating UI elements and even turning a 2D skate photo into a 3D motion piece, has taught me that motion design isn’t just a skill. It’s a form of storytelling.
And now, I’m excited to package that story and share it with the world. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is to show where I’ve been, what I’ve built, and where I’m headed.
