Today: Nivedha Nirmal

Nivedha Nirmal’s portfolio is a bold and beautiful masterclass in identity, storytelling, and visual craft.

A multidisciplinary showcase that radiates personality, feeling, and focus.

This isn’t your typical product design portfolio — and that’s exactly the point. Nivedha’s work is rooted in brand, creative direction, and web design. But her approach transcends discipline. The clarity of expression, the thoughtfulness of motion, and the strength of identity she’s built should inspire designers of all kinds — from UX to service to visual.

Even better: the work has earned its praise. Celebrated recently by respected designers and hiring managers, including a memorable post from Eric Sin — who wrote that Nivedha’s portfolio made him feel something — this is one of those rare cases where the buzz is fully justified.

Let’s take a look at what makes this so impactful — and a couple ways to take it even further.

The Good

Personality-driven, without a single photo

It’s not easy to communicate who you are — especially without words or portraits. But Nivedha does just that.

Her voice is present in every detail: the type choices, the color palette, the balance of motion and stillness, even the placement of tiny interface elements. It’s all unmistakably hers. The result is a portfolio that feels cohesive and crafted without ever needing to say too much.

She doesn’t just present her work — she presents herself. And because of that, her portfolio doesn’t just showcase projects. It builds a memorable brand.

Visual storytelling that draws you in and doesn’t let go

Across every case study, Nivedha shows exactly how to let the work speak.

Motion is used sparingly but intentionally. Interactions are subtle but polished. And most importantly, the layout and pacing allow the work to breathe. There’s no clutter, no unnecessary text, no detours — just bold, full-bleed visuals that keep your attention where it should be.

Even her About page reflects this commitment. A set of six interactive cards (with delightful touches like a spinning CD animation that feels just off-center enough to be human) offer a peek into her personality. It’s thoughtful, warm, and crafted — the kind of interaction that makes you smile and keep scrolling.

A model of restraint — and confidence

The case studies are short on text — but that’s not a weakness. It’s a choice. And in this case, it works.

Nivedha’s work doesn’t rely on long explanations. The presentation does the talking. And while that approach isn’t right for everyone — especially in product or UX — it works beautifully here. Because when the craft is this strong and the intent is this clear, it doesn’t need to be spelled out.

The Potential

Polish a few small inconsistencies to match the rest of the craft

This is nitpicking — and we mean that sincerely. The work is so strong that we’re only mentioning this to help take it from excellent to spotless.

In the Smart Beans case study, for example, the hero graphic has a few visual inconsistencies: one card with a border where others have none, one card with no border radius, another with a rounded corner that seems clipped. These are tiny details — possibly even export quirks — but they stand out in an otherwise razor-sharp presentation.

Same goes for the CTA section at the end of the page, where corner radius inconsistencies make it feel slightly less refined than the rest. None of this detracts from the strength of her work — but they’re easy wins for that final layer of polish.

Elevate the “Play” section to match the rest of the experience

Compared to the rest of the portfolio, the Play section feels slightly undercurated. The grid layout is clean but conservative. The intro text is minimal — almost absent. And while the work inside is excellent, it lacks the framing or storytelling that gives the rest of the site so much personality and intentionality.

This doesn’t need a dramatic overhaul. Even a short note about what this work is — a creative sandbox, a moodboard, an archive — would help bring it into the same orbit as the rest of the site. A slightly more playful layout or interaction could also tie it more closely to the rest of her visual language.

Final Thoughts

Nivedha Nirmal’s portfolio is an outstanding example of what’s possible when you combine clarity, restraint, and personal expression.

It doesn’t overexplain. It doesn’t overcompensate. It simply shows the work — with just enough context to bring it to life, and more than enough personality to make it unforgettable.

If you’re a designer working in brand, visual, creative direction, or web — this is a portfolio worth studying closely. And even if you’re coming from UX or product, there’s a lot to learn here about how to present your work with feeling, precision, and intent.

Guess what Nivedha used for her portfolio? Yep, it’s Framer.

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.

It’s not a surprise that a talented web designer like Nivedha is choosing Framer for her portfolio. It gets you where you want to be without any roadblocks and enables you to put your vision together seamlessly.

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.

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