In today's world, we're constantly bombarded with websites filled with animations, vibrant colors, and complex micro-interactions. As a product designer, I've learned that the most powerful design choice isn't always adding more-it's knowing when to hold back.
Why I Built My Portfolio Simply
When I was building my portfolio website, I had a choice: follow the trend of heavily animated, "award-winning" designs, or create something that truly serves its purpose. I chose the latter, and here's why.
Restraint is a Design Skill
The hardest thing for designers to learn isn't how to add features-it's knowing what not to add. I could have made one super duper website, I mean vibe coded but that thing would just have stopped me from even creating a simple one. I would have kept delaying just to get that perfect looking website. Anyways my portfolio has:
- Subtle animations that enhance rather than overwhelm
- A thoughtful dark mode showing care for accessibility
- Clean typography and clear hierarchy
- Purposeful micro-interactions on hover and scroll
Each of these choices demonstrates maturity in design thinking. They show I understand that design isn't about showing off-it's about solving problems.
"Good design is as little design as possible."-Dieter Rams
Flashy Websites Often Hurt More Than Help
Many heavily animated portfolio sites suffer from critical issues:
- Slow load times that frustrate users
- Poor accessibility that excludes people with disabilities
- Confusing navigation that hides important information
- Generic "Awwwards aesthetic" that looks like everyone else
- Content gets lost in the spectacle
When you're applying for jobs or pitching to clients, they need to find your information quickly. A beautiful animation won't matter if they can't figure out how to contact you or see your work.
Product Design Principles in Practice
As a product designer, I focus on:
- User needs first - Recruiters need to find information quickly ✓
- Usability over decoration - Every element serves a purpose ✓
- Functional elegance - Beauty through simplicity ✓
- Accessibility - Dark mode, readable fonts, clear contrast ✓
My portfolio demonstrates these principles rather than just claiming them. It's a working example of my design philosophy.
The Template Trap
I could have used a Webflow or Framer template. Many do. But using someone else's design to showcase your design skills is contradictory. It's like:
- A chef serving frozen food at their audition
- An architect presenting someone else's building
- A musician playing only cover songs at their debut
Building from scratch means I can explain every design decision, every choice, every problem I solved. That's infinitely more valuable in an interview than explaining why I chose Template #47.
What Makes Simple Design Stand Out
Here's what a well-executed simple design achieves:
- Readable - People actually read the content
- Fast - No waiting for heavy animations
- Professional - Shows you understand business needs
- Personal - Your choices show your thinking
- Functional - Works on any device, any browser
Key Takeaways
Whether you're building a portfolio, designing a product, or creating any user experience, remember:
- Know your user's primary goal and optimize for that
- Every element should serve a purpose-remove what doesn't
- Accessibility isn't optional-it's fundamental
- Your work should reflect your thinking, not someone else's template
- The best design is often invisible-it just works
Simple doesn't mean easy. Creating something that feels effortless requires deep thought, careful consideration, and the courage to say "no" to trends that don't serve your users.
That's good design.