Website Design and Development

Goal:

To design and develop a professional portfolio website using Figma for planning and HTML/CSS for coding.

Action:

I created a new portfolio website with a fresh design that looks much better than my previous one. I learned how to make a professional website by watching tutorials on YouTube and following step-by-step guides from W3Schools.

- I started by creating a mood board in Figma to organize my ideas and keep a consistent theme for the website.
- I designed the layout in Figma, focusing on clean navigation and making sure everything matched the theme.
- I coded the website using HTML and CSS, making sure it works well on all devices.
- I also got feedback from my peers and teachers and used it to make improvements step by step.
This project helped me create a more professional portfolio that shows my skills and how much I’ve improved.

Result:

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Feedback and Reflection:

What I Learned Through This Process:

Through this process, I learned so much and improved both my design and coding skills:

- Website Design: I learned how to create a professional-looking website by organizing my ideas with a mood board and designing clean layouts in Figma.
- HTML and CSS: I got better at coding, building the whole website from scratch, and making sure it’s responsive and works on all devices.
- Problem-Solving: I learned how to deal with challenges step by step, finding solutions through research and practice.
- Feedback Integration: Getting feedback from my peers and teachers helped me understand how to improve and make the website even better.
- Time Management: I learned how to balance design, coding, and revisions to meet deadlines and deliver quality work.
This process gave me more confidence in my skills and motivated me to keep improving and take on bigger projects in the future.

Why It Matters to Me:

This project means a lot to me because it shows how much I’ve improved and what I’m capable of doing.
It’s not just about building a website; it’s about taking my ideas and turning them into something real and professional. It gave me a chance to prove to myself that I can push my limits and create something meaningful.

It also matters because I love learning and improving. From designing to coding, every part of this process reminded me how much I enjoy creating and solving problems. Seeing the result made me feel proud and that all the effort was worth it.
This project is a big step for me. It shows how far I’ve come and motivates me to keep learning and challenging myself with bigger and better projects.
It’s not just about the result; it’s about the journey and the confidence I’ve gained along the way.

User Study

Goal:

To understand the challenges faced by international students in Eindhoven and create a website that meets their needs.

Action:

- Conducted surveys and interviews with international students to understand their challenges.
- Used the DOT framework to analyze feedback and identify the most needed features, such as housing filters and transport guides.
- Designed a prototype in Figma and coded the features using HTML and CSS.

Result:

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Feedback and Reflection:

What I Learned Through This Process:

- Improved my skills in collecting and analyzing user data to inform design decisions.
- Learned how to translate user feedback into actionable design and technical features.
- Developed confidence in conducting user interviews and integrating findings into my work.

Why It Matters to Me:

This project helped me understand the importance of user-centered design.
It gave me practical experience in solving real-world problems through research and technology.

Eindhoven Website

Goal:

The goal of my project is to create a professional-looking website for international students coming to Eindhoven.
The website is designed to guide them with all the essential information they need, like housing, university resources, transportation, cultural tips, legal requirements, and social life.
I’ve used everything I’ve learned this semester to make the design simple, modern, and easy to use.
This project is important to me because it’s a way to support other students by making their move to Eindhoven smoother and less stressful.

Action:

- Collaborated with my team to identify key challenges faced by international students, such as finding affordable housing and understanding the public transportation system.
- Took the lead in designing the entire website structure, creating the first two pages, and writing all the information for the user study. My group members, Nedas, contributed two pages, and Maksym created one.
- Designed a user-friendly layout in Figma, incorporating features like search filters and clear navigation guides to enhance usability.
- Developed the website using HTML and CSS, ensuring it was both functional and accessible across different devices.
- I used the phone function and small JavaScript code for the homepage.
- Presented early prototypes to gather feedback and implemented iterative improvements to refine the final design.
- As the primary contributor to the project, I handled most of the presentation and explained the overall structure and functionality of the website.

Result:

View Full Result Image

Feedback and Reflection:

What I Learned Through This Process:

- I improved my HTML skills by creating responsive designs and ensuring the website is accessible for everyone.
- I learned how to combine design and functionality to create a user-friendly experience.
- I gained experience working with my team and presenting work step by step to get feedback and improve it.
- I got better at using CSS, especially Flexbox, and made sure everything fits perfectly on the website without any oversized elements.
- I did all the coding myself without using AI, focusing on studying and practicing every day, which helped me feel more confident in my coding skills.
- Next semester, I’m excited to improve even more by learning how to add animations to make my websites more interactive and engaging.

Why It Matters to Me:

This project is important to me because it gives me the chance to create something meaningful that can truly help others.
As an international student, I know how hard it can be to move to a new country—finding housing, understanding the culture, and figuring out how everything works.
By designing this website, I feel like I’m making a difference by giving students a tool to make their transition easier and less stressful.
It also matters because it shows how much I’ve grown.
This project challenged me to use my skills and creativity to turn ideas into something real and useful.
It’s not just about coding or design—it’s about solving problems and making an impact.
I’ve also learned the value of hard work and staying determined. Seeing the results of my effort has been really rewarding and motivates me to keep improving and pushing myself.
For me, this isn’t just a school project—it’s a step forward in reaching my goals and proving what I’m capable of doing.