Project Overview
The "3D Developer Workspace" is an immersive web experience designed to showcase technical skills in a visually engaging manner. Unlike traditional portfolios that rely on static grids, this project places the user inside a virtual room—a digital twin of a developer's sanctuary. The user can navigate the camera, interact with objects like the laptop and monitor, and trigger animations, all directly within the browser.
This project was born out of a desire to break the mold of "cookie-cutter" websites. I wanted to prove that web technologies have evolved to a point where high-fidelity 3D graphics can run smoothly without requiring heavy downloads or dedicated gaming hardware.
The Challenge
Building a 3D scene for the web comes with significant performance constraints. The primary challenge was Optimization. A high-poly model directly exported from Blender would crash mobile browsers instantly. We needed to balance visual fidelity with frame rate.
Another challenge was Interaction Design. In a 2D website, a button is obviously clickable. In a 3D scene, affording interactivity is harder. How does the user know they can click the monitor? How do we handle navigation without making the user motion sick?
Technical Solution
To solve the performance issue, I used React Three Fiber (R3F), a React renderer for
Three.js. This
allowed me to break the 3D scene into reusable components (e.g., `
- Model Optimization: I used Draco compression to reduce the 3D asset size by over 70%. Textures were baked with lighting information to avoid expensive real-time shadow calculations.
- Camera Control: Instead of standard OrbitControls which can feel "loose," I implemented custom camera logic using interpolation (Lerp). This creates a "cinematic" feel where the camera glides smoothly to specific points of interest when the user scrolls or clicks.
- Responsive Design: The scene detects the device's aspect ratio and adjusts the field of view (FOV) accordingly. On mobile, the interaction model switches from "hover" to "tap" to accommodate touch screens.
Results & Impact
The result is a portfolio piece that keeps users engaged 3x longer than a standard static page. It demonstrates not just coding ability, but an understanding of graphics programming, user experience, and aesthetic design. It serves as a powerful conversation starter for clients looking for unique, interactive web experiences.