Design Foundations — Antoinette Nguyen

The problem

I could design anything in Figma but felt dependent on developers to build it. The gap between what I could imagine and what I could ship was frustrating — and limiting. I wanted to close it, but I needed a structured approach, not just random tutorials.

The solution

A 9-month self-directed curriculum, built in public. Every lesson produces a real file in a real repo — no throwaway exercises. Phase 1 covers HTML, CSS, Git, and introductory React. Each phase builds on the last. The constraint of shipping something real every session keeps me accountable.

What it does

Semantic HTML layouts built from scratch — no divs for everything
CSS components without frameworks — understanding the box model, cascade, and specificity for real
The design token system — built as part of this project, now used across all my work
This portfolio — the first real product shipped as part of the curriculum

Stack

HTMLStart at the foundation

CSSNo frameworks until you understand what they abstract

GitEvery lesson is a commit; the history is the curriculum

ReactPhase 2 introduction once the fundamentals were solid

What I learned

Learning in public is a forcing function. When commits are visible, skipping sessions has a cost. The most valuable thing hasn't been any individual lesson — it's developing the habit of building something every week, even when it's small.