The Project

DCODE Studio Website Development

What

During my second year at Fontys, I had the opportunity to work on the DCODE Studio website project. DCODE is a creative design and web development studio in Eindhoven that combines design and coding to create modern digital products. As part of my learning journey, I helped develop their interactive prototype, which was a great way to apply my front-end development skills in a real-world context.

How

I contributed to the project by helping translate static Figma designs into an interactive prototype. This was a perfect opportunity to practice my HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills. I worked on implementing responsive layouts, smooth transitions, and interactive components like service filters and team profiles. The site uses a modern tech stack with Next.js and TailwindCSS, which I was learning about in my studies.

Why

This project helped me understand how to combine design and development in practice. It was exciting to see how my coding skills could bring a brand's identity to life through interactive elements and smooth user experiences.

Refugee Language Learning App

What

As part of a group project, we tackled a real-world problem: helping refugees in the Netherlands learn Dutch. Many refugees in asylum centers receive only one hour of Dutch lessons per week, which isn't enough for proper integration. Our challenge was to create a language learning app that would work offline and be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.

How

In this project, I focused on backend development and PWA implementation, which aligned perfectly with my second-year curriculum. I used Node.js with Fastify for the backend and PostgreSQL with Prisma ORM for the database. I also got to work with AI technologies like OpenAI's GPT-4 and Whisper for language learning features. The most challenging part was implementing offline functionality using service workers and smart caching strategies.

Why

This project showed me how technology can make a real difference in people's lives. It was rewarding to apply my programming skills to create something that could help others. The experience taught me a lot about building scalable applications and working with modern web technologies.