Portfolio Concept

I am drawn to portfolios which are elegent, dynamic and above all simple. Nothing is less appealing to me than too many options. I want to be able to showcase my work quickly and easily because in this day and age people do not have the time nor the inclination to look through hundreds of links and pages.
Things to include:
My wedding cake business webpage - I built this after completing a few free online courses and it'll likely need re-evaluated once I increase my knowledge and skillset, but it is a good starting point for showcasing both my code and also the high standard I hold myself to in the cakes I've made.
Laurel Cottage Ltd website - future project to be completed for the company I currently work part time for once I learn backend coding.
Projects from CareerFoundry Course.

Project Goals

As I am off during the day on a Monday and a Friday, I intend on using these as my main coursework days, aiming for 16-20 hours between the two. I would also like to spend a couple of hours per night midweek if I can in order to complete the course and get a job sooner!
By the end of the Easter break I want to be at least 50% through the course, and completing it by the end of June at the latest.

Course Goals

Short term: Get a job as an entry level developer.
Long term: Either become a consultant/freelancer or work from home/remotely.

About Me

Introduction

My name is Ruth and I am a student Web Developer based in Waringstown, a small village half an hour from Belfast. A few months ago I took several free courses on HTML and CSS which enabled me to build a website for my cake business. That project got me hooked on web development and so I enrolled with Career Foundry with the aim of becoming a full time web developer.

Ruth Johnston

More About Me

I am currently a self-employed musician, teacher and cake maker. I am 33 years young and live with my partner Ryan and our fluffy feline ball of hatred - Pockets the Ragdoll cat. I'm looking for a complete career change in order to keep myself challenged and inspired.

Contact Me

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Work

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More info Why did you decide to become a web developer?

I’d been a self-employed woodwind tutor, professional saxophonist in a wedding band and wedding cake maker for 11 years. I loved what I did, but unfortunately none of those jobs carry any security - a pupil can stop lessons with a week’s notice and the gigging musician/wedding cake maker’s guarantee of work is non-existent! When I was living with my parents and responsibility free that was fine, but as the proud new owner of a house and mortgage I felt it was necessary to move to a job which didn’t depend on pupils continuing to learn and bookings for weddings. I’d done some basic computer programming as part of my Music Technology degree so becoming a Web Developer was natural next step for me.

More info What is your design process?

Coming from a wedding cake designer background, I am very visually focussed. I want any website I build to look clean and beautiful. I believe we as a society have become much more visual and want information immediately. A website where everything is not easily accessible or feels like a chore to navigate will quickly lose the customer’s attention.

More info Who are your clients?

I dipped my toe into the world of Web Dev through necessity. I wanted a web page for my wedding cake business, so instead of paying someone else to build it, I had a go myself. I am currently working on a complete rebuild of a publishing website for Laurel Cottage Ltd. This will include functionality for the publishers to update content at their end and also a shopping cart.

More info What is your average turnaround?

I can have a basic webpage built in less than a week.
A CMS website will take me TBC.

More info Why should you choose me?

When it comes to work I am my own biggest critic. I simply will not be satisfied until I have created an outstanding piece of work. I am friendly and approachable, and will always welcome constructive criticism in order to make your website the best it can be and exactly what you were looking for.

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