At some point, as designers, we become obsessed with our portfolios. Or at least I do. I spend days and weeks browsing other people’s websites, collecting all the free and paid templates out there, and obsessing over the tiniest little interactions that catch my attention. And the voice in my head? It's always ready with a sarcastic commentary on how brilliant or terrible they are.

Two examples pop into my head right now. The first one is the single best portfolio I’ve ever seen in my life. Seriously, I’ve probably spent an unhealthy amount of time studying it. It’s the most smart and creative portfolio website because it tells a story about the person. After looking at their site, I feel like I’ve known them for years. Here’s the kicker: it does everything “wrong.” People will tell you never to use illegible cursive fonts, jarring colors, and long-ass paragraphs. This website has all those things, yet it’s the most beautiful combination ever and just screams, “I know how to design.”

Now, let’s talk about the other end of the spectrum: the portfolios that could use some work. When it comes to bad portfolios, there’s definitely a pattern. They can feel really rigid—like they’re following the ‘rules’ but missing the spirit. The structure often looks something like: ‘I discovered this issue, did research, created personas, made black-and-white wireframes, and moved on to hi-fi designs.’ And the designs themselves? Let’s just say they don’t always hit the mark, especially when the colors and fonts feel a bit… off. I’m not saying this to knock anyone down. Everyone’s on their own journey, and if this resonates with you, it’s just a nudge to take a step back and rethink the process. We all grow from that.

So, yeah, that’s my two cents on this topic. My portfolio is currently built off a template (I know, don’t come for me), and it’s just not “me” enough. I want it to be all about me as a designer and as a person.

And so, without further ado, today (as of June 13th) I’m starting a journey to create the most freaking original and ME portfolio ever. I’m no longer relying on external resources or references, and I don’t want to obsess over others’ work anymore. I know I’ll love it, and I hope you do too.