I'm Ford
from the Philippines
now building in Chino, CA.

Web designer + developer based in Chino, CA.

I'm originally from the Philippines, now based in Chino, California. I've always liked designing things — drawing, playing around with layouts, and especially clean and minimal design.

I recently finished my Digital and Web Design program at Citrus College. Right now I'm continuing to learn on my own to improve my skills in making websites. I personally love designing minimal, straightforward and clean websites that actually solve problems.

From computer science to web design.

After high school, I was a bit skeptical of what to take in community college. I was going for computer science, but it would take four years. I planned to do two years only, so it didn't align with my goal. I browsed careers to find a similar field, and I ended up finding web design, which was perfect for me since I love creating and designing.

So I started learning the basics of how a website works. I learned basic HTML, CSS, and JS as well, but we didn't dive deeper. Eventually, my professor assigned me to a real client named Robert. It was definitely a real life job experience because it was my first time, and I wasn't confident in my skills at the time. I was nervous and didn't know if I could do it.

The professor told me to do WordPress and use templates. I didn't like using templates because I wanted to design it from scratch. That's how I found Elementor and how I built my first client Robert's website.

Why I moved to pure HTML/CSS/JS.

After graduation, I took free courses on YouTube to learn deeper HTML, CSS, and also JavaScript. I realized it was so much fun to write your own design rather than using plugins or dropdown layouts. You could control how it will look and solve client's problems.

Because in WordPress, you are limited if you don't have premium, which was the case for me. That's why I decided to make websites with pure code — HTML, CSS, and JS. I'm not saying it's better, it's just how I want to do my work because it matches my ideal: more suitable, fast, straightforward, and no plugins that affect performance.

All the pieces connected.

Honestly, learning free courses shaped me most so far because I didn't have proper foundation skills on my own. Once I learned them, it felt more comfortable and widened my view on my path to make websites.

However, all of my experiences were like puzzle pieces because they connected each part that led me to improve. Like, the professor assigned me to a real client. That person eventually recommended me to his brother-in-law named James Brown, my second client. Those made me push myself into this path, and I appreciate what I know now.

• First client — RobertSchool project, Elementor
• Second client — James BrownRebuilt 2x, now pure code
• NowFreelance, self-learning

Outside building websites.

Outside building websites, I love to go to the park to play basketball, appreciate nature, listening to different kinds of music, read comic books online (manga/manhwa). I like conversing but not many people know that. I love to draw, I also like playing games, and I like doing chores while listening to self-improvement videos because it makes me reflect and stay positive.

I'm not sure if these interests influence how I design. Most of the time when I start my project, I focus on the client's goal, interest, and problems. Maybe it affects me in some way that I don't realize, but I can say that I do my work with passion and no rush.

• Basketball Park, nature, staying active
• Music Different kinds, rhythm and mood
• Manga Reading manhwa/manga online
• Drawing Always liked designing from scratch
• Self-growth Chores + self-improvement videos

Minimal, fast, and balanced.

I prefer designs that are minimal and fast because I want my audience to know that I'm straightforward and care about what's important. When I design minimal, I can still feel the aesthetic of it somehow. I get excited when it looks clean and everything matches and is connected — the colors, typography, and the layouts.

I try to not stick with basic layouts, and I think that's what makes it unique even for a minimal design. I like designing things that I can control and from scratch, so if there's a problem, I can make it work somehow. That's why pure code — HTML, CSS and JS — really matches that ideal.

If you work with me, I will make sure to try to solve your goals in terms of visual and features since I can customize the design. I'm not saying my work is better than a template, WordPress, etc. because there are definitely pros and cons. I prefer pure code because it is more suitable, fast, straightforward and no plugins that affect performance. More importantly, I can control the visual look without limiting my creativity.

A few moments outside of work.