The Journey Begins

After years of maintaining a blog that never quite felt like "right," I decided it was time for a complete overhaul. Not just a visual refresh, but a fundamental rethinking of what a personal blog should be in 2025.

The Philosophy: Make It Modern, Make It Beautiful

1. Content-First Design

The most important decision was to put content at the center of everything. Just clean, readable content that respects the reader's time and attention.

2. Dark Mode by Default

I've always believed that dark mode isn't just a preference - it's a necessity for developers and content creators who spend hours in front of screens. The dark theme reduces eye strain and creates a more immersive reading experience, especially for technical content.

3. Aesthetics with Personality

I didn't want the blog to feel sterile or corporate. The subtle gradients, gentle hover effects, and carefully chosen typography add personality without compromising readability.

Technical Decisions That Shaped the Design

Nuxt 4 + Tailwind CSS

The choice of technology stack was deliberate:

• Nuxt 4: For its excellent developer experience and performance
• Tailwind CSS: For rapid prototyping and consistent design system
• Content-driven: Using Nuxt Content for markdown-based blog posts

Performance as a Feature

Every design decision was made with performance in mind:

• Static generation for fast loading
• Optimized images and assets
• Minimal JavaScript footprint
• Responsive design that works on all devices

The Design System

Neon Glassmorphism

The design philosophy I've embraced is what I call "Neon Glassmorphism" - a modern aesthetic that combines subtle neon-like glow effects with sophisticated glassmorphic transparency. This approach creates a unique visual identity.

Color Palette

• Primary: Deep purples and pinks for accents
• Background: Dark grays and blacks for reduced eye strain
• Text: High contrast whites and grays for readability
• Accents: Subtle gradients that add depth without distraction

Typography

• Clean, readable fonts
• Proper hierarchy with clear heading styles
• Comfortable line spacing and margins
• Optimized for both light and dark modes

Layout Philosophy

• Grid-based: Clean, organized content sections
• Card-based: Each section is a distinct, focused unit
• Responsive: Works seamlessly from mobile to desktop
• Accessible: High contrast ratios and keyboard navigation

The Content Strategy

What I Write About

• Technical insights: Programming, development practices, tech stack decisions
• Personal experiences: Life in Japan, career transitions, learning journeys
• Industry observations: Trends, best practices, community involvement
• Cultural insights: Bridging Swiss and Japanese perspectives

How I Write

• Clear and direct: No fluff, just valuable insights
• Personal voice: Authentic, not corporate
• Practical focus: Real-world examples and actionable advice
• Bilingual approach: Embracing my international background

The User Experience

Navigation

• Simple and intuitive: Clear paths to find content
• Search-friendly: Well-structured URLs and metadata
• Fast loading: Optimized for speed and performance
• Mobile-first: Designed for how people actually browse

Reading Experience

• Comfortable typography: Easy on the eyes for long reading sessions
• Proper spacing: Breathing room between elements
• Focus mode: Content that doesn't compete with itself
• Accessibility: High contrast and keyboard navigation

The Technical Implementation

Architecture

blog/
├── app/                # Nuxt 4 application
│   ├── components/     # Reusable Vue components
│   ├── pages/          # Route-based pages
│   ├── assets/         # Styles and static assets
│   └── content/        # Markdown blog posts
└── public/             # Static assets

Key Features

• Markdown support: Easy content creation and management
• Syntax highlighting: For code examples and technical content
• Image optimization: Automatic compression and responsive images
• SEO optimization: Meta tags, structured data, and performance

The Philosophy in Practice

Why This Matters

In a world of overwhelming information and constant distractions, I wanted to create a space that:

• Respects the reader's time: No unnecessary clicks or loading
• Provides genuine value: Content that helps and inspires
• Reflects my values: Clean, honest, and authentic
• Stands the test of time: Design that won't feel dated in a year, probably...

The Future

This redesign isn't just about aesthetics - it's about creating a foundation that can grow and evolve. The modular design system, clean codebase, and content-first approach mean that adding new features or content types will be straightforward and consistent. That being said, this blog is very much a work-in-progress, and it will change and evolve over time.

Lessons Learned

Design Decisions

• Start with content: Design around your actual content, not hypothetical scenarios
• Test on real devices: Don't just rely on browser dev tools
• Performance is UX: Fast loading times are as important as visual design
• Accessibility isn't optional: It's fundamental to good design

Technical Insights

• Nuxt 4 is excellent: The developer experience is unmatched
• Tailwind CSS scales well: Even for complex design systems
• Content-driven sites are powerful: The separation of content and presentation is liberating
• Static generation is fast: The performance benefits are real

Conclusion

This redesign represents more than just a visual update - it's a reflection of my philosophy on web design, content creation, and user experience. I've created a blog that not only looks good but serves its purpose effectively.

As I continue to write and share my experiences, this foundation will support the growth and evolution of both the content and the platform itself. Because the best designs are those that serve their purpose while getting out of the way of the content that matters.

What do you think about the redesign? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the philosophy behind it and how it could be improved further.