To support my job search and personal brand, I launched a complete personal website redesign to better showcase my skills in UX, development, and digital strategy. The result: a performant, SEO-optimized portfolio that led directly to increased recruiter engagement, interviews at top-tier companies, and a clearer narrative of who I am as a leader. This project blends storytelling, tech stack mastery, and intentional UX—all wrapped in my visual brand.
Winter–Spring 2025
UX Designer, Front-End Developer, SEO Strategist, Content & Brand Designer, Project Owner
My website is more than just a portfolio—it’s my digital home. A place where brand, strategy, and craft come together to tell my story clearly and credibly. I designed it not only to showcase my work, but to reflect how I think, lead, and build.
This personal website redesign is built to:
Whether you’re exploring my leadership style, technical depth, or creative vision—I designed this experience to feel thoughtful, welcoming, and distinctly mine.
Before the redesign, my site no longer represented who I was—or where I was headed. It lacked the clarity, depth, and personality needed to support my job search and showcase my unique skillset.
Key challenges included:
I needed a fresh, strategic foundation—one that could grow with me and clearly communicate the full scope of what I do.
This project wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about clarity, connection, and conversion. I set out to:
This wasn’t just a redesign—it was a strategic rebuild from the ground up. I treated myself like the client, leading every phase from research and architecture to brand refinement and technical implementation.
My approach included:
I designed a visual identity that felt both professional and distinctly mine—modern, approachable, and just a little bit sparkly. I used Canva to define a bold but cohesive brand system rooted in clarity, accessibility, and personality.
While the site isn’t yet fully WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, I’ve prioritized improvements like meaningful image alt text—now implemented on staging and scheduled for production launch. Additional enhancements, including keyboard navigation and semantic structure, are planned with ongoing refinements as the site evolves.
I architected a performance-focused WordPress site that balances flexibility, structure, and speed—designed to scale with my evolving brand and goals. The stack reflects my strengths in modern front-end development, CMS architecture, and SEO implementation.
Performance and visibility were core goals from day one. I focused on fast load times, crawlable content, and rich metadata—ensuring the site not only looks great, but also ranks well and responds fast.
The redesign delivered both measurable performance gains and real-world traction during my job search. Key outcomes include:
”This isn’t just a website—it’s my design philosophy, development process, and leadership style, all in one place.
—Maria
A personal website should be more than a digital résumé—it should tell a story, reflect a brand, and drive real results. This redesign helped clarify my value, amplify my voice, and open doors to meaningful conversations. Built with strategy, heart, and a sprinkle of sparkle, this site captures who I am and what I do—beautifully and intentionally.
Engineering Manager
UX Nerd
Full-Stack Firestarter
