This portfolio refresh was approached as a product surface with adaptive theme behavior, keyboard-first accessibility, and deep-link storytelling patterns that make intent visible in every interaction. Codex AI was used as a production tool to accelerate implementation and documentation, not as a replacement for design sensibilities, judgment, or craft.
The original template communicated the work, but not the craft behind it. The refresh focused on shipping UX systems, not just visuals: resilient theme logic, reliable accessibility states, and linkable narrative context inside the archive.
Started from the existing case-study architecture so structure, spacing, and component behavior stayed aligned with the broader site system.
Implemented persistent theme state, keyboard-visible focus logic, and query-driven archive state to move from static pages to product-like interactions.
Captured production-accurate screenshots and close callouts so every UX decision is demonstrated, not just described.
I implemented keyboard-first interaction coverage across navigation, controls, and modal flows. The result is predictable focus behavior, clear visual feedback, and reduced effort for users navigating without a mouse.
Critical paths are reachable immediately with visible focus context.
Dialogs preserve context, trap focus correctly, and return users to the originating control.
Accessibility coverage was tied directly to WCAG 2.2 AA criteria during implementation, so compliance was verified in the build process rather than deferred to a final audit.
Interactive controls are operable end-to-end in a predictable order across navigation, archive, and dialog states.
Focus visibility and bypass patterns provide immediate orientation and lower repeated navigation effort.
Theme modes maintain readable contrast, and layouts preserve task continuity under zoom and narrow viewports.
Codex automated screenshot capture, crop QA, and file organization so visuals reflected actual shipped states instead of manual recreations.
Automated captures covered light, dark, auto, and keyboard-focused states with consistent framing.
QA passes checked composition, legibility, and object-position behavior before images were published.
Approved files were organized with consistent naming so future iterations can reuse the same workflow.
The archive now supports query-driven context. A link like ?agency=thatsnice auto-sorts by company, highlights matching records, and surfaces a clear reset action, turning a generic listing into a guided story state.
Theme state now behaves consistently across light, dark, and auto modes with explicit, user-readable control states.
Keyboard navigation, focus visibility, and modal semantics now work as a coherent system across high-traffic user flows.