Exactly What You Want

Build the site you actually want

If you could improve your website with one change, make it this: build exactly what you want to build.

Start by asking yourself a few questions:

• What originally pulled you into development?
• Is there an experimental API you have been eager to try?
• What project could keep you up all night, purely for the enjoyment of it?

Your personal site is a reflection of your identity and your ambitions. When it showcases the kind of work you genuinely enjoy, it attracts more requests for similar projects. That creates a positive feedback loop, letting you spend more time on the tasks you love.

The effort and enthusiasm behind a website are visible, much like a live performance. Cassie Evans’ site is a great example: it is packed with playful details, including an SVG self-portrait. That evident joy in the work contributed to her current position, where she now brings animation expertise to GreenSock.

So do not hold back. Add that trailing mouse cursor, build a confetti component, create a real-time drawing pad, or wire up some hardware to display your coffee machine’s status. Whatever sparks your excitement is worth making.