Samuel Cochrane

Samuel Cochrane, a UX/UI and Graphic Designer based in Berlin, had already built three versions of his portfolio website using different platforms — each one worse than the last. The sheer number of tools, templates, and conflicting best-practice advice left him paralysed, unable to make meaningful progress. When he did push something live, it was undermined by unresponsive layouts, buggy behaviour, and platforms that couldn’t realise his creative vision. As a designer whose career depends on the first impression his portfolio makes, having a subpar site wasn’t just frustrating — it was actively costing him opportunities. He needed a portfolio that finally matched his own high standards for aesthetics, performance, and attention to detail, without fighting against a template ever again.

Rather than forcing another template to fit, I built Samuel a fully custom portfolio using Next.js and Tailwind CSS, treating the design system as the foundation rather than an afterthought. Every component was crafted with the same care he brings to his own client work: smooth page transitions for a polished feel, optimised image delivery to keep load times imperceptible, and a clean, typography-first layout that lets his case studies breathe. The development process was collaborative throughout — I translated his Figma comps into a live, responsive site that works flawlessly across every device. No page builders, no compromises, no platform lock-in. Just a site that performs as well as it looks, built on a stack he can extend however he wants.

The result is a lightning-fast portfolio that serves as Samuel’s primary tool for landing high-level design roles and freelance opportunities. He now has a site that actually reflects his capabilities — something the previous builder platforms couldn’t deliver despite months of effort. The investment in a custom build eliminated the overhead of fighting templates entirely, freeing him to focus on what matters most: his design work. Since launch, the site has been a consistent reference point in conversations with potential employers and clients, helping him secure positions that align with his senior-level expertise and creative ambitions.