33 comments

  • Ivo MynttinenIvo Mynttinen, over 4 years ago

    I like how you embedded actual figma prototypes instead of just a plain image, great idea.

    7 points
    • Calin Balea, over 4 years ago

      Thanks. Yeah, i think a prototype is worth 1000 images. Unfortunately they only look good on desktops. I'm hiding them on mobile.

      0 points
      • Dan Christian, over 4 years ago

        Hmm, I would let people know that when on a mobile view. I think they add enough value that I would go to a desktop and check them out. If i didn't see this comment I would never have known. Nice work!

        1 point
        • Calin Balea, over 4 years ago

          Thanks for the feedback. It's definitely something i'm trying to improve. I could manually add a mention of this on the page but that's not the smartest way. I think a bit of custom dev would be best. Btw, if you know a good wp dev, send me a referral. Thanks.

          0 points
  • Marius Feraru, over 4 years ago

    Hey Calin, nice one mate! The only thing I'd do is add a previous/next project option for the passworded ones. Once I reach a password protected one, I'm basically stuck and need to go back to index.

    2 points
    • Calin Balea, over 4 years ago

      Yeah, that's not idea but it's the default behavior of the theme I'm using. I'll need some custom dev for that.

      0 points
  • Remus Baltariu, over 4 years ago

    Looking great! I like it. I also like how you build your prototypes in Figma. I understand what's underneath, so really nice and clever. Good job. I hope it will land you awesome gigs. Congrats!

    1 point
  • Mark BultMark Bult, over 4 years ago

    Really clean work in a really nice presentation.

    I wouldn't start the portfolio with a password-protected project, but it's a nice touch that you added the "Go back to the homepage" link on that password notification.

    I like that you include wireframes. Seeing how a designer gets from point A to point B is important when considering hiring them.

    The Figma presentations are a good touch as well. FYI the third Figma embed on this page (phone) is not scaling properly on desktop: https://calinbalea.ro/portfolio/teamweek-project-estimator/

    Excellent work. If you're ever looking for a job in the US, give me a shout.

    0 points
  • Cody McClintockCody McClintock, over 4 years ago

    Love the site! I was looking at your tools and noticed "textografo" and figured i'd check it out since i've never heard of it. I started scrolling and noticed the same image you had on your site and was shocked it had an interview with you right on their homepage!

    0 points
    • Calin Balea, 4 years ago

      Hey. Yeah, I've had a chat with the founder via intercom. He later reached out to me to ask for an interview. Textografo is a really useful tool.

      0 points
  • Emanuel S.Emanuel S., over 4 years ago

    See you on Bucharest Design Meetup next month?

    0 points
  • Ryan RushingRyan Rushing, over 4 years ago

    I tried for an embarrassingly long time to remove the blurriness from your logo by hovering over it.

    So that's my suggestion—to add a tiny bit of a delight, unblur the parts of the logo that someone is hovering over. And you already have a precedent for a hover interaction on the homepage, so I don't think it would feel out of place. (When you hover over the portfolio image, you're displaying the title and categories.)

    Stay with me on this next part... the information you're displaying when you hover over the image is giving more clarity for the portfolio piece, right? Now back to my original suggestion, if you hovered over your name, and it got... wait for it... more clear, these two interactions (hovering over your name, and hovering over your portfolio piece) would be conceptually connected.

    0 points
    • Calin Balea, over 4 years ago

      That's a cool idea. I also created an animated gif for the logo that plays with the blur idea but i'm not sure i want to commit to this 'clarity' idea for my personal brand. There are some downsides to it. I'm experimenting with a different approach to the same idea.

      0 points
  • Gabriel AnghelGabriel Anghel, over 4 years ago

    Nice one man. I think it's quite a good portfolio. Really nice to see the figma embeded, I think it gives a lot of value to have a working prototype included in the page. Keep up the good work.

    0 points
  • Dan WilkinsonDan Wilkinson, over 4 years ago

    Excellent, inspiring work Calin.

    0 points
  • Jan Losert, over 4 years ago

    Really nice portfolio man! :) Love the Figma prototypes

    0 points
  • alex loghinalex loghin, over 4 years ago

    Really great work, I'm a little bit envious :)

    What I really want to know: how much do you use Figma in your daily life as a freelancer? Have you met clients who where not really ok with Figma?

    How do you send them all the deliverables?

    0 points
    • Calin Balea, over 4 years ago

      Hey man. Figma is my main UI design tool nowadays. Partly because i'm on Windows and other apps like Sketch or Framer are not available, and partly because it's a web-based app that does everything(design,collaboration,prototyping,handoff). Yes, there are missing features on each of these verticals but the Figma team is pretty consistent with improvements and new features. I never had an issue working with clients on Figma. Also, it has a Sketch import feature. Actually, clients like having view access to the project file where they can comment and see the status of the project at any time.

      0 points
  • Andrei Tiburca, over 4 years ago

    Awesome work!

    0 points
  • Ramona S, over 4 years ago

    hey, nice site! very clean and easy to use. I find the hovering titles distracting and a little frustrating since it blocks the image of your product.

    0 points
    • Calin Balea, over 4 years ago

      Thanks for the feedback Ramona. Yeah, I'm not 100% happy with that effect but it's a default behavior with the theme and other options are worse. I'll make it better. Thanks!

      0 points
      • Adam SzakalAdam Szakal, over 4 years ago

        I love them! For the performance alone, if for nothing else. How did you manage to get it working so smooth? I'm always ending up with some input lag when making something that should follow the cursor.

        0 points
  • Account deleted over 4 years ago

    My feedback is that your website is extremely good and there's nothing I'd change on it. Your work is awesome too. Nice.

    0 points
  • Calin Balea, over 4 years ago

    Hey DN fam. I'm Calin, a product designer from Romania.

    After a busy couple of weeks, I finally completed updating my portfolio website. I have big plans going forward - more study cases, blog posts and an online shop.

    Constructive criticism is much appreciated, so please - do share :)

    0 points
    • Philip A, over 4 years ago

      Great website, very hard to fault! Good job.

      One tiny thing, on the about page you spelled "inpatient" wrong. It should be "impatient".

      0 points
    • Adam Fisher-CoxAdam Fisher-Cox, over 4 years ago

      Personal preference, but I noticed some mockups have lorem ipsum, which was a turn-off. I would find some real writing to put in there - to me lorem ipsum = unfinished.

      0 points