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Djvon Simpson
Djvon Simpson

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New Site For The Old Minimalist

New Year, New You Portfolio Challenge Submission

This is a submission for the New Year, New You Portfolio Challenge Presented by Google AI

This is a submission for the New Year, New You Portfolio Challenge Presented by Google AI

About Me

I’m a developer who believes that the ability to build whatever you can imagine is one of the greatest privileges in the world. For me, development isn't just about code—it's about making things simple, minimal, and smooth.

I am deeply motivated by the future of technology, specifically how AI can empower us to create modern, futuristic experiences. My goal with this portfolio was to capture that exact vibe: a digital space that feels alive, responsive, and uniquely "me."

Portfolio

How I Built It

I wanted a site that didn't just look like a template but felt like an interactive application.

Tech Stack:

Core: React.js
3D Elements: Three.js (React Three Fiber & Drei) for the interactive "Life Cube".
Styling: Custom CSS implementing Glassmorphism (translucent cards) and Neumorphism (soft, extruded buttons) to create depth.
Animations: Framer Motion for smooth page transitions and the "bubbling" text effects.
Google AI Tools Used:

Antigravity: I used Google's AI-first development environment to pair-program. It helped me debug complex Docker build issues, refactor CSS for mobile responsiveness, and generate my custom "DS" favicon logo.
Gemini API: I integrated gemini-2.5-flash directly into the "My AI Assistant" chat component. I engineered a custom system prompt that feeds the AI my bio, skills, and project data so it can answer questions about me in real-time.

What I'm Most Proud Of

I’m most proud of the fact that I built something very close to what I imagined. It works!

Specific highlights:

The "Bubbling Through" Vibe: The way the UI elements float and interact feels exactly like the smooth, futuristic aesthetic I was aiming for.
The Smarter Chatbot: It's not just a generic bot; it knows who I am, where I'm located (Chicago, IL!), and can share my contact info.

The Journey: As a self-taught dev, going from a blank screen to a deployed, containerized application on Cloud Run feels like a massive achievement. #devnewyear #devnewyear2026 #google #AI

--labels dev-tutorial=devnewyear2026

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