Introduction
Whatsup guys, So as someone who has always been intrigued by the idea of building something meaningful, I decided to take the step and create a side project. This project is a template system designed to solve a problem I’ve encountered repeatedly: the lack of easy customization in traditional website templates. But beyond solving a problem, this project is also a way for me to explore whether I can build something valuable enough to potentially earn from it and also learn other skills that are not necessarily related to coding. So let’s dive right into the article
Why I Started This Project
As unexpected as it might sound, this project began because I ran into a bug while working on something else and needed a distraction. I had always envisioned creating my own portfolio template website someday, and this felt like the right moment to start. In the past, I tried my hand at building traditional website templates for platforms like ThemeForest, which is an incredible platform (though, fun fact, all my submissions were rejected 😅).
One thing that always bothered me about traditional templates was the amount of time buyers spent tweaking someone else’s code to fit their needs. Sure, documentation is provided, but you know what I mean—most templates don’t offer the flexibility users really need.
That’s when I thought: What if there was a better way? What if I could create templates that were easy to set up and even easier to customize without constantly diving into the code? That’s how this project started taking shape.
What I’m Building
The idea is a template system built with Sanity and Astro. Here’s how it works:
- Niche-Specific Templates: Users can choose from templates designed for specific industries, such as photography, developers, creative professionals and more.
- Seamless Setup: After downloading the template, users only need to do a few initial installations in the code.
- Customizations via Sanity: Most updates and tweaks can be done through Sanity’s user-friendly interface, rather than editing code every time.
The goal is to provide a tool that’s flexible for developers but also approachable for non-developers. It’s a system that I hope can make building and managing websites more intuitive.
The First Step: A Free Photography Template
To kick things off, I’ve built the first template in this system, tailored specifically for photographers. It’s a simple yet functional template designed to showcase photography portfolios effectively. And for now, it’s completely free.
Try It Out
You can download the template right now from Portfolio Kit. Currently, there’s just one template available, but it’s free because I’m looking to:
- Gather Feedback: Understand what users like and what needs improvement.
- Validate the Idea: See if people find this system helpful and valuable.
- Learn Marketing: Experiment with sharing my work and building an audience around it.
If you’d like to see how it works in action, check out this YouTube video where I walk through using the template.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning. I’m already thinking about templates for other niches and exploring ways to make the system even better. But for now, my focus is on getting feedback and learning as much as I can.
How You Can Help
If this project resonates with you, here’s how you can get involved:
- Try the Photography Template: It’s free, and your experience will help me improve.
- Share Your Feedback: Whether it’s about the design, usability, or setup process, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
- Spread the Word: If you know someone who might find this helpful, let them know about it.
Conclusion
This project is deeply personal to me. It’s not just about creating a product but also about testing myself—can I build something that people find valuable? Can I turn this into something sustainable? These are questions I’m still trying to answer.
For now, I’m taking it one step at a time. If you’ve read this far, thank you for being part of this journey. Your feedback, support, and even just your interest mean a lot. Let’s see where this goes together.
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