Build a Portfolio Website with Next.js and Tailwind CSS
Tags: javascript, nextjs, tailwindcss, webdev
Published: 2023-08-20 14:09:34

{% embed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-V-56vBU9g&ab_channel=EpicProgrammer %}

You can use your portfolio to showcase your projects, your education, share re-usable code snippets with the world, provide helpful resources, and write your own blogs. There are countless things that you can do with your own website.

I built a template that you can use to create, edit, and deploy your own portfolio website for free on the internet in no time. And if you want to build your own version from scratch, I'll show you how in this article.

So let's dive in – I'll show you what technology I used, how I structured the portfolio, and I'll break it down by section so you can see how each part works.

## Tech Stack
Let's talk about the tech stack I used to build this template:

- Next.js - Bundler
- React - UI Library
- Tailwind CSS - CSS Framework
- Framer Motion - Animation Library
- GSAP - Animation Library
- Bun - Task Runner
- ESLint - Linter
- Prettier - Code Formatter
- Blobity - Cursor Effects
- usehooks-ts - Custom React Hooks

## Why Next.js?
Because it is a React framework with Server-Side Rendering, which is good for SEO (Good for us if we get found on Google, right?).

Also, Next.js helps us build blazing-fast websites along with benefits such as Image optimization.

## Why tailwindcss?
Because TailwindCSS is a framework which reduces a lot of styling efforts. It has low level CSS classes that you can directly embed into the HTML code.

Not only that, it comes with amazing support for responsiveness. For example <div className="text-sm md:text-xl"></div> signifies that text will be small on smaller screens and xl on medium to large screens.

Finally, we are going to deploy the application on Vercel. Vercel gives us an easy way to deploy our application with CI/CD. The code is pushed to a remote GitHub repository and with every push, it's deployed.

## The Animated Component: A Glimpse
Let's begin by introducing our star player: the Animated component. This component is designed to encapsulate any React content you wish to animate when it comes into view. With the help of Framer Motion and React Intersection Observer, you can seamlessly create entrance animations for your UI elements.

## Crafting Key Sections for Impactful Design

- **Hero Section:** The hero section is your website's grand entrance. Use it to showcase your brand identity, captivate users with a compelling headline, and provide a clear call to action. Utilize striking visuals to convey the essence of your message.
- **Header and Navbar:** Your header and navbar are the navigational core of your website. Keep them clean, intuitive, and accessible. Implement sticky navigation to enhance user convenience while scrolling.
- **About Page:** The about page humanizes your brand. Share your team's story, values, and expertise through a blend of compelling content and engaging imagery. Build a connection by letting visitors see the people behind the brand.
- **Contact Section:** Make contacting you effortless. Design user-friendly forms, incorporate interactive maps for location details, and provide clear contact information. Encourage user engagement and inquiries.
- **Footer:** The footer is the perfect place for essential links, copyright information, and social media connections. Optimize this space to help visitors navigate, explore, and stay connected.

## Conclusion
So, whether you're building a personal portfolio, a business website, or an online platform, infuse these design elements and sections with your unique style and purpose. Let your creativity shine through and create a digital space that leaves a lasting impression on your visitors. Happy designing!

## Reference
- **YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-V-56vBU9g
- **Documentation:** https://www.epicprogrammer.org/build-a-portfolio-website-with-next-js-and-tailwind-css/