Step 1: Develop Your Idea
Intent: To create a minimalist digital archive that sells my cross-disciplinary design skills. The goal is to bridge the gap between physical craftsmanship (woodworking) and digital precision.
Step 2: Discovery and Research
Tone: Quiet, confident, and professional. I researched high-end furniture designer sites like Gregory Beson to understand how negative space emphasizes material texture.
Step 3: Target Your Audience
Primary Audience: Design Company HR and classmates.
Persona - Leo (Student): A classmate looking for inspiration in simple UI and coding logic. He appreciates the unique background color and returns to check the navigation structure.
Persona - Chloe(HR Manager): Chloe is the recruitment manager of a top furniture design company. Today, she has to review 50 portfolios and will give each one only 2 minutes of attention. She likes the clean and unadorned project list on my website, which enables her to instantly see my CNC and woodworking skills. Once she decides to schedule an interview, she will immediately go back to the "Contact" page to obtain my contact information.
Persona - Max (Client): Max just bought a new house and wanted to have a custom-made dining table. He saw my works on social media and clicked on the link to visit the website. He was attracted by the extremely high-resolution detail pictures of the wood joints. The website provided him with clear dimensions of the work and a direct email button to contact me, meeting his communication needs. He will save the website as a reference for future discussions with the interior designer.
Step 4: Intro Framing & Concluding CTA
Intro: A simple ZOIE JIANG logo and a central Chinese name profile image to establish a personal connection immediately.
CTA: A dedicated Contact page with a clear email link to invite collaboration.
Step 5: Inspiration and Concepts
Concept: "The Blueprint Blue." Using #8ba7db as the primary background to mimic architectural blueprints, symbolizing the planning and structure behind my furniture pieces.Using it becasue thisi is my favorite color.
06. Thumbnails & Sketches
07. Wireframes and Prototypes
08. Final Delivery
The final site is in HTML/CSS. It prioritizes fast loading and clean typography, reflecting the "less is more" philosophy of my physical design work.