jacobstarr.work LLC
TL;DR
jacobstarr.work is my personal portfolio and a meta case study. After outgrowing Squarespace and Notion, I rebuilt in Framer to balance enterprise-grade credibility with approachability for clients, creating a site that represents both my work and my identity as a designer.
The Challenge
The bane of every designer's existence is the "perfect portfolio." It’s both a project showcase and a case study of your brand. My first passes on Squarespace and Notion fell short: templates were rigid, and the design lacked control and ultimately, professionalism.
I needed to build a portfolio that could accomplish two things at once:
Appeal to hiring managers looking for polish and enterprise credibility.
Convince SMB clients I was approachable, agile, and human.
So I discovered Framer, a website builder offering full creative control. Using Squarespace and Notion were attempts at creating simplified structures that let my work speak for itself. Using Framer, I challenged myself to create a strong personal brand that still allows my projects to shine.
Framer Iteration V1: Personality First
My first Framer build leaned heavily into style and personality.
Single-page landing layout → a playful scrollable journey, but not conversion-optimized for serious freelance prospects.
Custom animated typeset → comic-book energy, showcasing experimentation with motion design and interactivity offered through Framer.
Modular case study blocks → quick plug-and-play, but not deep enough for storytelling.
It was fun, bold, and unmistakably me. But the downside was clear.
It was too personal. Warm leads didn’t see business credibility. V1 worked as a personal portfolio, but failed as a tool to convert clients.
Framer Iteration V2
Crafting a new iteration of the portfolio that prioritized the dual-positioning towards corporate and freelance proved difficult.
The solution ended up being very meticulous verbiage and framing choices, usability tested against members of both audiences to validate clarity and effectiveness.
Lines like "Your go-to partner for strategic digital design, asking the right questions every step of the way" speak to prospective freelance clients looking for a hands-on collaborator, while also signaling the design-thinking skills employers expect.
Though digital design can take many forms, I positioned my website, UX/UI, and digital brand work equally: as well-crafted tools to strengthen a business's reputation and give users a reason to stay.
Bridging the gap was a puzzle, but rounds of feedback proved it successful and left me more confident in my copywriting ability.
Craft & Highlights
Beyond solving the dual-positioning challenge, I also focused on details that made the portfolio interactive, functional, and scalable.
Custom-coded Contact Section: A bespoke scheduling block that mimics Calendly, with auto-updating dates and interactive booking, fully coded inside Framer to feel seamless and on-brand.
Case Study Templates: A reusable structure for every project page for consistency across mediums, responsive across desktop and mobile and ensuring clarity and polish.
Motion-Driven Hero: Ticker-style hero section with a rotating project grid, adding visual rhythm and reinforcing the breadth of my work.
Interactive Project Cards: Subtle hover-based interactions designed to be intuitive and engaging, giving users a reason to explore deeper into each project.
Takeaways
Beyond solving the dual-positioning challenge, I also focused on details that made the portfolio interactive, functional, and scalable.
Visual identity came easy after finding the right language to serve two audiences at once.
Consistency scales. Templatized case studies and reusable structures make the portfolio easier to grow, and create a level of comfort for users.
Even small touches, like motion, interactivity, or custom code, go a long way in making a site feel credible and alive.