Hello, and welcome to my portfolio! For some background on me:
- My name is
Joel Gutierrez
- I'm a proud supporter of one's Right To Repair
- I live for challenges and puzzles
- I once ate 13 tacos in one sitting... No regrets
- And my go-to party trick is solving a Rubik's cube in under 30 seconds
At this very moment, I am:
- A student at the Arrupe College of Loyola University of Chicago
Some projects of my latest projects are:
This was my latest project, and one I really enjoyed because it started with a simple, local connection. I found Broadway Massage, a local Chicago spa, while walking my dog. The owners were incredibly kind, but their digital presence was in desperate need of a refresh; the old website was outdated, had a poor layout, and was not mobile-friendly. My work went beyond just a simple redesign. I built them a modern, responsive landing page that beautifully showcases their services and atmosphere. But I also provided a more complete digital overhaul by updating and optimizing their Yelp, Google Maps, and Google Business Profile pages to ensure consistency and professionalism across all platforms. A key part of the project was also ensuring the new website was properly listed on Google's Search Engine to help new customers find them. I'm incredibly happy with the final design. Initially, we planned to build a custom booking system with Google's Calendar API, but the client decided it was more than they needed for their current operations. I respected their decision, as it was a great lesson in building what a client truly needs, not just what's technically possible. It was a rewarding experience to help a great local business put their best foot forward online.
This project is a demonstration portfolio I designed for a fictional photographer, James Peterson. The goal was to create a visually stunning and highly functional website tailored specifically for creative professionals. I focused on an elegant, image-centric experience where the photography itself is the star, supported by a clean and modern design that enhances the artwork without distracting from it. The site features a fully responsive layout, a minimalist UI, and clear calls-to-action like "View Gallery" and "Book a Session" to guide visitors and convert them into clients. It also includes essential business elements like client testimonials and experience metrics to build trust. Ultimately, this demo serves as a perfect example of my ability to build a polished, professional online presence for any brand that needs to make a strong visual impact.
Below are some blog posts where I document what I'm building, breaking, and figuring out: