Today: Michelle Liu

Some portfolios feel good.

Some portfolios feel promising.

And then there are portfolios like Michelle Liu’s — where within seconds you know you’re looking at something special.

Michelle is currently finishing her studies at UCLA, and the amount of work she has already done is, frankly, wild. NASA JPL. Roblox. Apple. Adobe. Figma Campus Leader. Freelance for respected Bay Area startups. All while studying.

That level of activity alone would be impressive.

But activity isn’t what makes this portfolio special.

Execution is.

Let’s break it down.

The Good

A surface that proves simplicity wins — if you nail the details

Michelle’s portfolio looks simple at the very first glance.

Three tabs: Work, Art, About.

Large, bold project cards.

Strong typography.

Minimal color.

Clean structure.

That’s it.

But then you start interacting with it.

The entire portfolio is vibe-coded. Built with modern tools like Cursor, probably Figma Make, and others. And it shows. Not in a flashy “look what I can do” way — but in a deeply intentional, detail-oriented way.

The Sketchbook project is a perfect example. Scrolling through her sketches feels tactile. The motion, the transitions, the presentation of the sketchbook — it feels authentic and alive.

The vibe-coded projects aren’t just experiments thrown onto a page. They are small, tight, well-crafted pieces that show:

• Taste

• Execution ability

• Builder mindset

• Comfort beyond static Figma files

Her Art section is equally strong. Completely different vibe, but cohesive. You scroll and realize: this is not someone dabbling. She is creatively gifted. Through and through.

Then the About section.

Most designers treat the About page as an obligation. Michelle turned it into an experience. It’s warm. It’s personal. It’s layered. It makes you stay.

You understand who she is, what she values, what she participates in, how active she is in communities like Figma at UCLA. It reinforces her identity as someone deeply embedded in design culture.

This is what happens when simplicity meets craft.

You don’t need complexity at the top level.

You need intentionality at the detail level.

Michelle absolutely nailed that balance.

A blueprint for handling NDAs intelligently

This might be one of the strongest examples of NDA handling I’ve seen.

So many designers default to:

Michelle did the opposite.

She investigated what she could show, and tailored each case study accordingly.

Adobe

She shows a strong visual that alludes to the work.

She includes a mission statement.

She includes a testimonial from her manager.

The case study is password-protected.

She invested her public-facing effort into a powerful visual and validation. That testimonial carries weight. It builds trust even without seeing the work.

Smart.

Roblox

She shows blurred designs where allowed.

She lists the projects she worked on.

She adds context.

She includes another testimonial.

Again: she maximizes what is permissible instead of defaulting to silence.

Apple

This one is fully confidential. No unlocked view.

Instead of leaving it blank, she:

• Explains her role in writing

• Shares context about an internal contest she was a finalist in

• Provides proof of participation

• Invites conversation for more details

She did not retreat behind the NDA.

She worked within it.

For anyone struggling with NDA-heavy portfolios: study this approach. She didn’t treat NDA as a wall. She treated it as a constraint to design around.

And that mindset alone says a lot about how she thinks.

The Potential

Clarify and elevate the vibe-coded section

Michelle’s vibe-coded projects are excellent. They are relevant. They belong.

But their context isn’t loud enough.

Right now, the distinction between:

• Internship / company case studies

• Vibe-coded explorations

is subtle.

Designers will notice.

Recruiters may not.

And in 2026, vibe coding is not a side note. It’s a signal.

Companies are shifting prototyping to Lovable-style tools.

Design systems are increasingly AI-driven.

Builder mindset is becoming baseline.

Michelle already demonstrates this skill beautifully. But she could:

• Add a subtle section heading

• Include a short description explaining these were built with tools like Cursor

• Frame them as deliberate explorations of modern tooling

Be loud and proud about it.

This is not “play.”

This is strategic future-proofing.

Making that context clearer would increase the perceived relevance of those projects dramatically — especially for recruiters who skim.

Optional: steer positioning more deliberately

This is a luxury-level suggestion.

Michelle likely will not struggle to get interviews. I would bet on that.

But if she wants to steer her career more intentionally, she could.

Most of her visible work leans toward:

• Consumer-facing experiences

• Visually rich products

• Playful, delightful interfaces

I do not see her in a B2B role.

I see her crafting experiences people love using in the consumer space.

If she has a specific direction she cares deeply about — gaming, VR, creative tools, robotics, education tech — she could subtly state that.

It doesn’t require a dramatic pivot.

It could be as simple as refining her intro sentence to hint at:

• What excites her most

• What industries she’s drawn to

• What she wants to build long-term

When you’re this strong across multiple domains, the differentiator becomes passion and specificity.

If she doesn’t want to narrow? That’s completely valid.

Her portfolio is already compelling.

But if she does have a fire for a particular area, this is the stage where articulating it can shape opportunities.

The Verdict

Michelle’s portfolio is not just good.

It’s forward-thinking.

It demonstrates:

• Elite visual craft

• Builder mindset

• Strong storytelling

• Intelligent NDA handling

• Personal depth

• Community engagement

She understands modern tools.

She understands restraint.

She understands presentation.

And importantly: she understands how to design within constraints.

The potential tweaks discussed here are marginal. They won’t make or break her trajectory.

But the bigger takeaway for everyone reading this is this:

Simplicity wins — if your details are world-class.

NDAs are constraints — not excuses.

Vibe coding is a signal — not a gimmick.

Michelle embodies all of that.

And if this is what she’s producing before graduation, the future is going to be very interesting.

If you’d like to craft a similarly impressive portfolio Framer is likely your best choice.

Still struggling to get your portfolio off the ground?

Don’t want to spend weeks learning yet another tool? Framer is my top recommendation for building your portfolio — fast, clean, and without the usual headaches.

If you’re just starting out (or even if you’re not), I think Framer is a perfect fit. Here’s why:

• Flat learning curve: The interface feels familiar if you’ve used Figma — plus, there’s a plugin to bring your designs straight in.

• Plenty of learning support: Framer Academy is packed with free tutorials, videos, and guides to help you go from zero to published.

• A huge template library: Tons of high-quality (often free) templates in the marketplace to help you launch quickly without starting from scratch.

• Free if you are a student: Although Framer already offers a generous free plan for everyone, if you are an enrolled student you can get Framer Pro completely for free!

And that’s just scratching the surface. I wrote more about why I recommend Framer here—but honestly, the best way is to try it for yourself.

Affiliate disclaimer: I only recommend tools I personally believe in. Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase — at no extra cost to you.

How I can help YOU

Do you want your own portfolio reviewed in-depth with a 30-minute advice-packed video review? Or do you require mentoring to figure out a proper strategy for your job search?

I got you!

• Book an in-depth portfolio or resume review with me

• Book a mentoring session with me

• Book a quick 15 min chat to ask a question and see if we vibe