Overview
After building a basic static portfolio to learn front-end fundamentals, I migrated to a Next.js-based site for more flexibility and easier content management. I used an open-source project starter by Transitive Bullsh!t as a foundation, then customized the layout, navigation, and styling to reflect my personal branding and simplify updates.
Key Features & Purpose
This project prioritized deployment and usability over deep customization. I used a Notion-integrated Next.js project as the base, then configured my own Notion workspace to manage site content through. I deployed the site via Vercel and set up custom DNS routing through Cloudflare to improve performance and security. While I’m not a web developer by trade, I wanted a flexible, low-maintenance site that would let me focus on content creation.
What I Customized
- Added a top navigation bar with external links
- Created embedded galleries in Notion to organize content across the homepage and separate pages (Insights and Projects) for easier browsing as content grows
- Removed unused UI components from the original template (such as the GitHub source link in the top-right corner)
- Added a custom favicon and tweaked the layout and styling to match my personal branding
Why I Built It
My goal was to build a lightweight, easily customizable portfolio that allowed me to focus on storytelling and content creation during my career transition. I wanted to avoid having to make constant commits for small updates like tweaking the About section. This project gave me hands-on experience with modern web deployment tools, basic layout customization, and content strategy using Next.js and Notion.