Jake Dewar
All projects

jakedewar.com

My personal site: an editorial, performance-minded home for the work and thinking behind my career.

Role
Designer & Developer
Timeline
2026
Built with
Next.js 15 · TypeScript · Tailwind CSS v4 · Next Image

The problem

The portfolio’s colorful cards, oversized presentation, and decorative effects made reviewing the work more demanding than it needed to be. I wanted the site to feel personal while giving someone a direct path to understand my work.

The design direction

I simplified the site into a narrow column with neutral colors, straightforward typography, and direct project links. A small portrait and a few personal details keep it grounded in who I am. Current-page navigation, visible focus states, and case-study section links make the site easier to use.

Decision process

How the design took shape

Each choice follows the same path: identify the signal, make a focused decision, and be explicit about what that decision leaves out.

  1. 01

    What should command attention first?

    Signal
    Colorful cards and oversized treatments competed with the work instead of helping a reviewer understand it.
    Decision
    Use a narrow editorial column, neutral surfaces, and direct project links to establish a clear reading order.
    Tradeoff
    The redesign gives up some visual spectacle so the substance of each project can lead.
  2. 02

    How can the site stay personal without becoming decorative?

    Signal
    A purely minimal portfolio was easy to scan, but risked feeling anonymous.
    Decision
    Keep personality concentrated in a small portrait, concise personal details, and the voice of the case studies.
    Tradeoff
    Personal expression comes through a few deliberate moments instead of a highly branded interface on every page.
  3. 03

    How should polish show up?

    Signal
    For a portfolio, speed, keyboard access, and orientation communicate craft as directly as visual styling.
    Decision
    Favor server-rendered content, minimal client JavaScript, visible focus states, current-page navigation, and reduced-motion support.
    Tradeoff
    The site uses fewer ornamental interactions, but remains faster and easier to navigate across input methods.

What shipped

  • Opptics leads the work, with a direct path to the comprehensive case study
  • Monochrome colors and restrained typography across light and dark themes
  • Server-rendered portfolio content with minimal client JavaScript
  • Current-page navigation, case-study section links, keyboard focus states, and reduced-motion support
  • Per-page metadata and optimized responsive images