👋 Hello, I am Claudius

Welcome to My Portfolio

Hello! I'm Claudius Lai, a professional web developer, award-winning photographer, and graphic designer originally from Hong Kong, now based in Tokyo, Japan. My world is a fusion of two distinct passions: the logical precision of clean code and the expressive power of compelling visuals. By day, I am a results-oriented Frontend Engineer with over five years of experience building scalable, high-performance web applications. By night and on weekends, I am an artist, exploring the outdoors and telling stories through my camera lens. This portfolio is where my technical and creative worlds meet.

My Professional Journey: Code & Creativity

My journey into technology began with a BSc(Hons) in Computing from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. After beginning my career in my home country, I embraced a new challenge and relocated to Japan, which has been my home for several years. As a developer, I specialize in ReactJS, Next.js, and TypeScript, and I hold multiple professional certifications in both AWS and GCP. But my technical roles have never been just about code. I have consistently blended my engineering work with a strong focus on design, leading UI/UX initiatives, producing graphic design assets, and even managing product photography to ensure the final product is as beautiful as it is functional.

Artistic & Academic Pursuits

My passion for visual arts is a core part of my identity. I am an avid photographer, and this love for the craft led me to pursue and complete a BA(Hons) in Photography from Falmouth University. I actively compete in photography and am honored to have received 16 awards since 2011. My work has been featured in numerous exhibitions across Japan. This artistic practice sharpens my eye for composition, light, and narrative—skills that directly translate into my UI/UX and graphic design work, allowing me to build more engaging and human-centric digital experiences.

Future Goals

I am driven by a deep-seated curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning. My ambition is to continue exploring the intersection of technology and art. I am always seeking opportunities to grow, with the long-term goal of one day pursuing a master's degree to further elevate and integrate my expertise in both software engineering and the visual arts.