How AI gave me the Tools to Create a Portfolio I can be Proud of

AI hasn't always been my first option. I am aware of the horror stories that circulate the globe and I am familiar with the risks implementing something AI has produced comes with. Over the past week, I have been able to come to the conclusion that in my hands, AI can be used to help me create, not hurt the creative process.

Getting Started on the Idea

AI code has seen a renaissance in the past year, exploding in popularity and capability. With AIGC, entire social media accounts operate independently, and go from script to animation and voiceover, while automating the posting as well. While entertaining, I did not want to associate myself or my brand with the idea of something automated, something without the care of human touch. Therefore, for my first project, I made sure that I could have a platform to show my creative process to the world, while only letting AI give me the tools to showcase my work. The goal was to create a Portfolio Builder with the following tools to enable my design:

• A working website that can be sent to connections and recruiters to showcase my work
• Editable text, font, simple shapes and images
• Animations, interactive features, and unique stylistic choices to help me stand out

Coding with Claude

Throughout this project, I worked with Claude to get all backend features working and for help with creating the website and domain as I do not have a background in code. The responses were quick, but the trial, testing and brainstorming took up most of my time. Claude explained how features worked, and asked questions to make sure that what I was typing would be included in the final result. Refining ideas and testing trial after trial made this project exciting, like I was slowly chiseling at a block of marble waiting to be sculpted. Early renditions of my website had broken features, complicated UI and pages that never loaded, however as I pointed out every flaw and added more features, the website slowly refined itself into the finished project that I have to present now. 

Making Sure Creativity Isn't Lost in the Process

Making a website with AI, there were a number of shortcuts I could have taken that would have made this process take half the time, but the effort I put in shows itself in the final work. I wanted my portfolio to stand out, so I made sure to go with theme colors that matched my tastes, off white and sage green for a natural look. I pushed every feature multiple times to expand what could be changed to make sure my creative control remained intact throughout the process. My favorite part of my website is the Filing Cabinet Navigator that I was able to implement with fully working animations thanks to Claude. While coding was completely done with AI, all assets on the site are either simple shapes or created by myself, including the filing cabinet. I gave Claude files with the cabinet at different states, which allowed my art to shine through, instead of opting for a generated digital asset.

Results

Through hours of building with the finished tool, and multiple tests runs, I know present my finished portfolio.