v0.dev: AI builds the first draft, you make it yours

Describe what you want in plain English — 'a testimonial section with photos, names, and quotes' — and v0.dev generates a working component in seconds. The catch? The output looks like every other AI-generated component. Same rounded corners, same safe colors, same generic feel. The value is in the speed to first draft, not the final result.

Starting from a blank page is the hardest part of building anything. v0 removes that blank-page problem. It gives you the structure, the layout logic, and the responsive behavior in seconds. Your job is then to strip away the generic parts and make it yours — your colors, your spacing, your personality. This portfolio literally started as a v0 export. The initial scaffolding was AI-generated. The current design is unrecognizable because every piece has been customized to match a specific vision.

Go to v0.dev, describe the component you want, and it generates the code. Copy that into your project. Then the real work begins: replace the default colors with your own, adjust the spacing to match your design system, remove the generic shadows and borders that scream 'AI made this.' Treat every v0 output as a rough sketch, not a finished piece. The more specific your description, the closer the output will be to what you actually want — but it will always need your personal touch.

Scaffolding new pages and components, especially standard patterns like grids, card layouts, forms, and navigation. It's not great for anything that needs to feel unique or distinctive — v0 defaults to 'safe SaaS landing page' aesthetic every time. The moment someone recognizes the v0 look on your site, it undermines the message that you build thoughtful, original things. Use it to get started fast, then invest the time to make it genuinely yours.