Building a personal portfolio is more than putting projects on a page. It's about creating a experience that answers recruiter questions within 30 seconds.
Why I rebuilt my portfolio
My previous resume listed skills but didn't demonstrate how I think, build, or communicate. I wanted a site that shows real projects, internship experience, and continuous learning.
Tech choices
I chose Next.js 15 with the App Router for server components and SEO. Tailwind CSS v4 keeps styling consistent, and Framer Motion adds subtle animations without hurting performance.
Key lessons
- Start with content structure before visual design - Performance and accessibility are features, not afterthoughts - Ship early and iterate based on feedback