How I Built My Portfolio Without Coding: A Journey of Creativity and Growth
Creating a portfolio website without coding can feel like an impossible task at first. But what if I told you that you could design something professional, responsive, and visually striking without touching a single line of code?
In this blog, I’ll take you on a journey through my process, the challenges I faced, and the lessons I learned while building my portfolio.
Why a Portfolio Website?
For years, I worked as a digital designer, honing my skills in UX/UI and graphic design. Yet, I realized something was missing—a personal brand. I wanted a space where I could showcase my work, highlight my expertise, and connect with potential clients and recruiters.
So, I set my goal:
“Create a website that reflects my skills, experience, and professionalism.”
But I didn't want just any website. My vision was for this website to be:
Be structured for easy navigation.
Be responsive, working seamlessly on all devices.
Represent me as a designer, with a modern, minimalist style.
At first, I explored design-to-code plugins, thinking they would be the magic solution. Instead, I discovered that using them effectively required more programming knowledge than I had. It was frustrating—my vision was clear, but I lacked the tools to bring it to life.
Then, I stumbled upon Framer, a no-code platform that promised to bridge the gap between design and development. It was like finding a treasure chest I didn’t know existed.
To truly master Framer, I joined Visual Thinking Academy, an online school in Costa Rica. Over 10 weeks (and 40 hours of hands-on learning), I earned my certification in Framer website design. It wasn’t just about building a website; it was about understanding the strengths and limitations of this tool while crafting something meaningful.
Building My First Website
The first version of my site was a simple yet effective framework:
Hero Section:
A banner with a CTA leading to the “About Me” section. My goal was to guide recruiters directly to my CV, experience, and projects.
Projects Section:
A showcase of UX/UI projects and graphic design work.
Brands Section:
Featuring the companies I’ve collaborated with.
Contact Section:
A straightforward way for clients or recruiters to reach me.
Blog Section:
A space to share my insights and expertise.
References Section:
Testimonials to build trust and credibility.
After completing the basics, I wanted to take my portfolio to the next level. With more time and effort, I made several improvements:
Purchased my domain: Thomasuxui.com—a small step that felt like a huge leap in professionalism.
Enhanced the About Me section, restructuring it to include my experience, certifications, and project highlights.
Focused on making the site mobile-friendly, ensuring smooth navigation and a polished user experience.
Every decision I made was about creating a seamless journey for visitors. I wanted recruiters to find what they needed quickly, and potential clients to be inspired by my work.
Looking back, this project was much more than just building a website. It was about growth, creativity, and problem-solving. Most importantly, I learned that creating something meaningful doesn’t require perfection—it requires persistence.
Today, you’re browsing the result of months of learning, experimenting, and refining. This portfolio is a reflection of my journey as a designer and my belief in the power of creativity combined with the right tools.
Let me know what you think of the site and my journey—I’d love to hear your story too!
