My website, like 10-seconds-after-prom-Lieutenant-Ripley, asks of all its visitors, “Are you the keymaster?”

Because it is the gatekeeper.

Yup, I am including another reference to a 1980s big hair Sigourney Weaver film. I wasn’t planning this, yet here we are.

In Ghostbusters (1984), Lieutenant Ripley becomes possessed by a ghost whose motive is to reunite with Dark Helmet Bob McKenzie Rick Moranis another ghost to unlock all of the spirits from the underworld.

But this blog post is not a review of Ghostbusters. I want to talk about my online portfolio.

My website is the result of many, many years of experience in design, tech, and personal discovery. It looks unlike other portfolio sites because I design and code it myself. I don’t use any existing templates, frameworks, or follow trends.

It is a paean to all things Joyce. It is a catalog of past projects that are impactful, complex, and engaging. It showcases a range of bold colors, fun typefaces, and playful graphics. It is a reflection of me.

In fact, it has garnered some clever comments. I’ve been told by friends that my online portfolio is “beyond a personal brand.” It’s even received, “It’s so you.”

While interviewing, it caught the attention of hiring managers. One was quick to quip, “I’ve never seen a website like yours. It really stands out.” Another stated, “Looking at your website, I can tell, you are a confident person.”

Not everyone got it. During my job hunt, I spoke to a recruiter who specializes in staffing designers. He looked at my website, and responded with,

“you’ve done some interesting work – I couldn;t quite see hi fidelity Product design and interface work that would give the right signal here?”

Typos and formatting errors aside, the recruiter was looking for a slick portfolio with polished screens for an easy sell to his clients.

And that’s my point.

My site serves as the front page to anyone who wants to work with me. I turn complex challenges into clear, powerful solutions, and present them in a bold, playful way.

So if you wanna work with me, do you understand my approach and my work? Are you the keymaster? Because my website is the gatekeeper. If it doesn’t resonate with you, we may not be the right fit to work together.

Luckily, it’s not a portal to releasing demons. At least, I don’t think it can.