Personal Website

The Problem

My old personal website worked. It loaded. It had my name on it. But every time I sent someone the link, there was this little voice in the back of my head going “this doesn’t actually look like me at all.”

The original site was built purely to get a job. I grabbed a Next.js + shadcn template, threw my info in, and called it a day. While it worked for its purpose, it lacked personality. It could’ve been anyone’s site — a developer in Jakarta, a designer in Berlin, a student in Ohio. No fingerprint. No personality.

The Solution

I rebuilt my personal website from scratch using Astro, focusing on creating something that actually feels like me while still looking professional. The goal wasn’t to impress with trends, but to be recognizable and authentic.

Key Features

Content Management

• Blog Section: Share thoughts and experiences through markdown-based posts
• Projects Showcase: Display portfolio projects with detailed information
• Resume Section: Present work experience and education in an elegant accordion format

Design & UX

• Unique Visual Identity: Custom color scheme and design elements that reflect personal style
• Responsive Design: Fully responsive layout that works seamlessly on all devices
• Smooth Animations: Subtle reveal animations and hover effects for enhanced user experience
• Custom Cursor: Interactive cursor element for a polished feel

Technical Features

• Fast Performance: Built with Astro for optimal loading speeds
• SEO Optimized: Proper meta tags, structured data, and sitemap generation
• Type Safety: TypeScript throughout for better development experience
• Component Architecture: Reusable Astro components for maintainability

Technical Stack

• Framework: Astro for static site generation
• Language: TypeScript for type safety
• Styling: Tailwind CSS for utility-first styling
• Interactive Components: Svelte for dynamic components
• Content: MDX for blog posts and project content
• Icons: Phosphor Icons for consistent iconography

Design Philosophy

The rebuild wasn’t just a design exercise — it was about finding my voice. I picked colors I actually like, added little personal touches that make people smile when they notice them, and focused on creating something that feels authentic.

Templates aren’t bad — one literally helped me land a job. But they’re designed to work for everyone, which means they’re not really designed for anyone. Your personal site is one of the few places on the internet where you have full control. Don’t waste it on something that could belong to anyone.

Challenges & Learnings

The biggest challenge was finding the balance between professional and personal. I wanted something that would still impress potential employers while being authentic to who I am. The solution was to focus on quality and attention to detail — a well-crafted site speaks for itself.

I also learned the importance of iteration. The first version of this site was different from what you see now. It took multiple iterations to find the right balance of personality and professionalism.