The Story
One day, my friend Samwoo approached me and asked if I could create a portfolio to showcase his work as a director.
He didn’t want a traditional portfolio—he wanted something that reflects his personality, his visual language, and the evolution of his craft.
This request instantly sparked my curiosity. It wasn’t just about building a website; it was an opportunity to understand a creator from the inside, and translate that understanding into a design concept that feels authentic, expressive, and meaningful
Insights
- Showcasing his work
- Receiving viewer feedback
- Reflecting his creativity
- Simple yet effective
- Free hosting
- Describing his ideas as brilliant
Technologies
- Next.js
Next.js provides a fast, seamless structure that supports smooth presentation of visual work, making the portfolio feel professional and instantly accessible—ideal for showcasing a director’s projects without delays
- React.js
React adds flexibility and interactivity to the interface, allowing the portfolio to feel dynamic and alive in a way that matches the creative energy behind Samwoo’s ideas
- Tailwind CSS
Tailwind offers a clean, minimal styling system that makes it easy to craft a distinctive visual identity—simple, expressive, and aligned with the cinematic tone of his work.
- Firebase
Firebase enables real-time feedback and smooth data handling, creating an easy way for viewers to share their thoughts and helping the portfolio feel more engaging and connected.
Solutions
To emphasize the idea of visual creativity, I focused on the occipital lobe, the part of the brain responsible for visual processing. I used it as a symbolic starting point, representing the source of Samwael Athnasyous’s creative vision. This is why I designed a subtle flow of light emerging from that area—visually expressing the moment where creativity begins.
I also framed the portfolio not as a simple showcase, but as a space that embodies his artistic identity. This idea is captured in the line: “Here is the creative zone of Samwael Athnasyous.” The goal was to make the viewer feel like they’re stepping into his mind, not just browsing his work.
Since I like to express creativity through multiple forms, one of the concepts I leaned into was the idea of breaking boundaries. That’s why, in the hero section, I intentionally pushed the text outside its usual limits—symbolizing ideas that go beyond constraints and refuse to stay inside a box.
For the color palette, I leaned toward a darker theme after analyzing his stage presentation style, which often uses shadow and contrast to highlight emotion. And because he frequently describes his ideas as “golden,” I incorporated gold accents throughout the design to reflect his sense of value, brilliance, and confidence in his artistic vision