Corentin Bernadou is an independent creative developer and designer based in France.
Known for bridging the gap between high-end editorial design and advanced front-end engineering, his portfolio is a frequent highlight in the design community for its technical precision and aesthetic minimalism.
1. The “Swiss-Inspired” Design Philosophy
Corentin’s work is heavily influenced by the Swiss Style (International Typographic Style). His portfolio is characterized by:
- Strong Typography: A focus on grid-based layouts and expressive typographic compositions, often inspired by physical print media, posters, and books.
- Minimalist Palette: A disciplined use of color—typically restricted to black, white, and a signature orange—to maintain clarity and visual impact.
- Editorial Layouts: His websites often feel like digital magazines, prioritizing white space, bold margins, and clear visual hierarchies.
2. Technical Stack & Creative Coding
Despite the minimalist look, his projects are technically sophisticated, leaning heavily into WebGL and custom animations:
- Vanilla JavaScript: He often opts to build without heavy frameworks to maintain full control over the codebase and performance.
- Three.js & GLSL: These tools are used to integrate subtle 3D geometries and interactive shader-driven graphics that add depth to a 2D interface.
- GSAP (GreenSock): The engine behind his fluid motion, used for everything from page transitions to micro-interactions.
- PJAX & Smooth Motion: He uses PJAX routing for seamless page transitions and Lenis for high-quality, smooth scrolling.
3. Key Portfolio Features
- Interactive Micro-interactions: A standout feature is his “navigation switcher”—a dynamic mask that follows the cursor and adapts to the width of the link being hovered, providing tactile feedback.
- Scroll-Reactive Elements: His work often features 3D elements that respond to the user’s scroll, blending 3D environments with readable content.
- Modular Architecture: He uses a JSON-based system for page data, keeping the site lightweight and easily extendable without a heavy CMS.
4. Recognition
His portfolio, Folio No.01, and subsequent iterations have earned significant industry acclaim, including:
- Awwwards: Multiple “Site of the Day” honors and Developer Awards.
- CSS Design Awards: Recognition for UI, UX, and Innovation.
- Lapa Ninja & Codrops: Frequently featured as a benchmark for landing page design and creative development case studies.
