Alba Ferrucci

Design Student — Florence, Italy

“I always struggled with consistency in my layouts. The way this course broke down components and structure using Astro was so refreshing. I’ve already applied what I learned to rebuild my portfolio — and it looks 10x better. ”

From Design Uncertainty to System Thinking

Student Profile:

  • Name: Alba Ferrucci
  • Location: Florence, Italy
  • Role: Design Student
  • Course: Astro Design System
  • Background: Visual design skills, limited coding experience

The Challenge

Alba faced a common designer-developer gap: strong visual design skills but struggled with translating designs into structured, consistent code. Her main pain points included:

  • Layout Inconsistency: Difficulty maintaining visual coherence across projects
  • Decision Paralysis: Constantly second-guessing UI choices
  • Code Translation: Messy implementation of visual ideas
  • Lack of Structure: No systematic approach to component organization

This uncertainty was preventing her from shipping personal projects and building a professional portfolio.

The Course Impact

“The design system section helped me finally ship my first portfolio!”

Key Breakthrough Moments

  1. Component Reusability - Understanding how to build once, use everywhere
  2. Design Tokens - Systematic approach to spacing, colors, and typography
  3. Structure Logic - Clear patterns for organizing design elements
  4. Code Confidence - Astro’s approachable syntax bridged the design-dev gap

Learning Experience

The course transformed Alba’s approach by showing her that code could be as structured and systematic as visual design. Despite not being a developer, Astro’s component model clicked with her design thinking.

Results

Immediate Outcomes

  • Portfolio Launch: Successfully shipped her first personal portfolio
  • Visual Improvement: Portfolio looks “10x better” with systematic approach
  • Confidence Boost: Gained courage to build projects independently
  • Skill Integration: Combined visual design expertise with structured development

Expanded Impact

  • Peer Mentoring: Now helping friends build their portfolios
  • Career Direction: Discovered enjoyment in code-adjacent work
  • Professional Asset: Has a live portfolio to showcase design skills
  • System Thinking: Applies design system principles across all projects

Key Success Factors

For the Course:

  • Designer-Friendly Approach: Astro’s syntax was accessible to non-developers
  • Visual Focus: Emphasized design system concepts over pure coding
  • Practical Application: Direct connection between learning and portfolio needs

For Alba:

  • Growth Mindset: Willing to step outside pure visual design comfort zone
  • Immediate Application: Applied learning to personal project right away
  • Community Impact: Shared knowledge by helping others

Lessons Learned

This case demonstrates that well-designed developer tools can empower designers to implement their own visions. Alba’s success shows the value of:

  • Bridging Skill Gaps: Technical education that respects existing expertise
  • Practical Outcomes: Learning that leads to immediate, tangible results
  • Confidence Building: Overcoming the designer-developer divide
  • Community Effect: Success multiplies when students become teachers

Alba’s transformation from uncertain designer to confident builder illustrates how the right educational approach can unlock new career possibilities and creative confidence.

“I never thought I’d enjoy working in code this much.” - Alba Ferrucci

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Astro Design System

“The design system section helped me finally ship my first portfolio!”