Why I Needed Another Website Redesign
Yes, I redesigned my site again. The previous version looked clean, minimal, and structurally fine — but it didn’t feel like me. It felt more like something you’d see in a generic “developer portfolio” template than something reflecting my personality or the way I actually enjoy presenting things online.
If your personal site is the one place you can do anything you want visually, it should represent you. Mine didn’t anymore. So the redesign began.
This post goes through why I changed everything, what guided the visual direction, how I built it with Astro, and what I’m planning next.
Why the Old Design Didn’t Work Anymore
The old design was functional but flat. Minimalism for minimalism’s sake.
It did its job, but it didn’t say anything about me — what I like visually, what kind of energy I want the site to have, or what inspires me as a designer.
If I’m going to publish writing, projects, and thoughts on a site with my name on it, I want to actually enjoy looking at it. That wasn’t happening with the old layout.
The Vision Behind the New Style
The starting idea was chaotic in the best way:
“Akira meets superheroes meets fighting games meets Katsushika Hokusai meets modern poster design.”
Somehow that chaos filtered into something coherent: a bold, poster-inspired interface with strong typography, vibrant color blocks, and intentional shapes. Think of something you’d see printed large on a wall.
From my brand/style guide, the core traits were:
- Poster-inspired UI using Japanese woodblock colors (blue, cream, vermilion) mixed with arcade-like shapes
- Typography carries the identity while components stay simple and graphic
- Brand traits:
- Brave — big type, outlined blocks, visible edges
- Readable — calm cream backgrounds, clear spacing
- Playful-serious — fun card hovers, but no unnecessary animations
In short: I wanted my website to look like something you could almost hang on a wall.
Turning the Idea Into a Real Interface
The concept came together quickly; building it took longer. I sketched layouts, searched for references, and tested ideas to make sure the bold visual style didn’t hurt readability.
I also used AI during the early planning. I tried different combinations of layout, type sizes, colors, and interactions, refining the direction until it felt balanced. The superhero influence still makes me laugh — part of me thinks the site looks like Captain America spilled across it with a bucket of cream paint — but I like it.
Once the colors and shapes clicked, everything else made sense.
The Development Process
The technical part was straightforward:
- The site was already built using Astro, so the structure was in place
- Hosting remains on GitHub Pages
- The Astro + GitHub Pages pipeline is quick, which matters when time is limited between work, studying, and hobbies
Most of the work went into:
- Choosing typefaces
- Finalizing the color palette
- Creating a simple brand/style guide
- Translating it all into reusable CSS patterns
Once that foundation was set, the site went from “fine” to “this actually feels like something I’d design for myself.”
Old vs New: A Quick Comparison
A redesign is easier to understand visually than verbally. Here are some side-by-side comparisons:
Front Page
Blog Index
Experience Page
The content didn’t change — the presentation did. And the new version finally feels like something that reflects me instead of generic portfolio minimalism.
What’s Next for the Design
The redesign isn’t a final state. Design never really is. I already have a list of small tweaks I want to make, and a few features I’d like to experiment with.
But for now, I’m genuinely happy with where the site landed. It feels personal, bold, and natural to use as the home for my writing and projects.
Final Thoughts
If there’s anything to take from this whole process, it’s this: don’t settle for a personal website that doesn’t look or feel like you.
It’s the one place online where you can express yourself without constraints.
Whether your style ends up being “Akira meets Hokusai meets arcade UI” or something completely different, it should be something you’re excited to open every time you work on it — and something that makes you want to keep improving it.
Let me know what you think. :)
