When I started building this portfolio site, I thought it would be a simple task, build a few pages, style them nicely, and call it a day. In reality, it turned into a valuable learning experience in planning, scoping, and balancing creativity with practicality.

Planning & Wireframing

The first step was planning the structure of the site. I had to figure out what content was essential, how many pages made sense, and what kind of user experience I wanted to create. I used Relume to wireframe the layout, which helped me visualize the structure before writing any code. This phase taught me how important it is to think ahead, not just about design, but about scope and what needs to be given priority.

Estimating Time, Tougher Than It Looks

One of the biggest challenges was estimating how long each part of the build would take. I broke the project into smaller tasks and tried to assign time estimates to each, setting up a proper content source, creating a good HTML template, styling with Tailwind, writing custom JS, etc.

But things rarely go as planned. Some tasks took twice as long, others got dropped entirely because I realized I was trying to do too much. I had to stop and ask: What’s essential, and what’s not?

Working Within Limits

I built the site using AEM, pulling in content from SharePoint Word files as my HTML source. Styling was done with Tailwind CSS, and I used JavaScript to add interactivity where needed. I loosely based my design on some portfolios and created what felt right in the moment.

The hardest part wasn’t coding, it was scoping. Knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to build. I had to trim features I initially wanted so I could focus on delivering something clean and functional.

What I’d Do Differently

If I were to do it again, I’d start by being more realistic about my own limits without underestimating tasks. I’ve learned that adding flair is nice, but delivering what’s promised is even more important. Overreaching or trying to impress can end up backfiring if it delays the outcome or leads to burnout.

Final Thoughts

This project was a crash course in project ownership, from wireframing and estimation to styling and launch. It taught me more than any tutorial ever could.