The Lab Theme
Wow! This was quite the endeavor, but I am immensely pleased with the result. After spending some time dissatisfied with the previous layout (despite how long it took to create), I finally broke free from monotony and crafted something entirely new. My greatest inspiration was the Hill House site. Discovering Neocities rekindled my nostalgia for the early 2000s aesthetic, and I began to reconnect with the things I love. When I stumbled upon Hill House, it struck me: I adore the vintage/retro style of the 1800s. That realization became the spark for exploring more imagery within this theme.
I then asked myself: how could I create something inspired by her site while still showcasing my own personality? The answer came from my profession as a nutritionist and physiologist. The field of health is what I know best, and since childhood, I’ve always wanted to learn two things: 1) how to use a computer and 2) how to draw. Slowly, the idea of something experimental and practical—a laboratory—started taking shape. Given that **I’ll be working in a lab throughout the four years of my doctoral studies, why not design a site around that theme? **And so, the new concept for my site was born.
One of my main concerns was tidying up my code. The previous layout’s code was a chaotic mix of snippets from various sources and websites. This time, I made sure to keep the homepage "clean," and I believe the result is much more polished.
Another update is the addition of a landing page, which offers information about the site’s resolution and "age rating." I’ve also switched to more visually appealing and minimalist options for the chat and guestbook features. I tried my best to give everything a romantic and retro touch. While I might stray from the lab theme now and then, I’m genuinely thrilled with what I’ve built so far.
It’s bittersweet to feel like I’ve arrived a bit late to the Neocities community. Many sites haven’t been updated in months (or even years!). It’s a shame because I would have loved to experience the camaraderie of trading buttons and messages like in the old days.
All in all, I’m incredibly happy and content! I hope to continue honing this hobby of creating websites as time goes on. 🙂