Cocktail Website

Overview
This project is an interactive web application that explores how third party APIs can be used to fetch, transform, and display live data in a meaningful and engaging way. The goal was to design a system that allows users to browse, filter, and explore cocktail recipes while demonstrating technical understanding of API research, system design, and front end interface development.

The final outcome is a responsive cocktail exploration site that dynamically pulls drink data, images, and ingredient information from external APIs and presents them within a clean, narrative driven interface.

Project Goals
The primary goal was to create a functional and visually engaging website that brings real time data into a meaningful user experience. I focused on:
- Researching and testing multiple third-party APIs
- Designing a clear dynamic data use case
- Transforming raw API responses into structured, user-friendly content
- Building an interface that supports browsing, discovery, and filtering
This project emphasizes both technical problem-solving and thoughtful interaction design.

System Design & API Integration
I explored multiple cocktail related APIs and evaluated them based on accessibility, authentication, documentation quality, and available query parameters. Through testing using REST clients and browser-based fetch requests, I learned how to:
- Make GET requests using API endpoints
- Use query parameters to filter drink results
- Handle JSON responses
- Map and restructure API data for front-end display
I built a dynamic JavaScript system that transforms API data into structured HTML components using template strings. This allows new drink data to be generated automatically without hard-coding content.

Interface & User Experience
The interface was designed to support exploration and discovery. Users can browse cocktails by letter, view drink images, and access ingredient details in a clear and visually organized layout. Visual hierarchy, color, and spacing were used to guide attention and maintain usability while supporting the project’s nightlife inspired theme.

The design focuses on readability, clarity, and intuitive navigation, allowing users to easily explore large data sets without feeling overwhelmed.

Learning Outcomes
Through this project, I strengthened my understanding of:
- API research and documentation analysis
- JavaScript data mapping and transformation
- Dynamic UI generation
- Front end system design thinking
- Problem solving through testing, iteration, and debugging
This project demonstrates my ability to integrate live data into a thoughtfully designed digital experience blending technical logic with user centered visual design.