And it’s hurting builders more than helping
Yes, I’m serious. Let’s talk.
I’ll say it upfront:
Most portfolios and personal websites in 2026 are doing way too much.
Too many pages.
Too many animations.
Too many “brand stories.”
And somehow… less clarity than ever.
The 2026 Problem Nobody Wants to Admit
Here’s the frustration I keep seeing (and feeling):
We’re building personal sites like they’re startups.
But they’re not.
They’re supposed to answer very simple questions:
- What do you do?
- Are you good at it?
- Can I trust you?
- How do I contact you?
Yet instead, we get:
- 3D animations that lag on mobile
- 6-page portfolios no one finishes
- “About me” essays longer than SaaS landing pages
- Tech stacks flexed harder than the actual work
My Hot Take: Simpler Sites Win in 2026
I genuinely believe this:
The best personal websites right now feel boring — and that’s why they work.
One page.
Clear sections.
Real proof.
Straight talk.
Not vibes.
Not trends.
Not “personal branding frameworks.”
Just signal.
What Actually Works (From Real Experience)
From designers, devs, and indie hackers I’ve seen win:
1. One clear page > five clever pages
If someone needs more than 60 seconds to “get you,” you’ve already lost them.
2. Proof beats personality
Numbers, outcomes, screenshots, timelines > adjectives.
3. Process matters more than polish
People care how you think, not how smooth your hover state is.
4. Honesty > aesthetics
Raw progress logs beat fake success stories every time.
Why Are We Over-Complicating This?
My theory (feel free to disagree):
- Twitter rewards aesthetics
- Dribbble rewards visuals
- LinkedIn rewards storytelling
- But real buyers reward clarity
So we optimize for the wrong audience.
We design for other builders.
Not for decision-makers.
Another Spicy Opinion 🌶️
I think “personal branding” advice has gone too far.
Not everyone needs:
- A narrative arc
- A content strategy
- A color psychology breakdown
- A logo for their own name
Some people just need:
“Here’s what I do. Here’s proof. Let’s work.”
And that’s enough.
Where I Might Be Wrong (And Want Your Take)
Maybe complexity does work in some cases.
Maybe animations do convert in certain niches.
Maybe I’m biased toward builder-first thinking.
That’s why I’m posting this as #discuss, not a tutorial.
Let’s Actually Talk 👇
- Do you think portfolios are over-designed in 2026?
- Have complex sites ever helped you win work?
- What’s the simplest personal website you’ve seen recently?
- Are we building for people… or for other developers?
Drop your honest take in the comments.
I’m more interested in disagreement than agreement.
Top comments (0)