feat: add ProjectThumbnail component with category-themed visuals for projects without images

app/_ui/ProjectDetailClient.tsx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import ReactMarkdown from "react-markdown";
 import { useTranslations } from "next-intl";
 import Image from "next/image";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
+import ProjectThumbnail from "@/app/components/ProjectThumbnail";
 
 export type ProjectDetailData = {
   id: number;
@@ -90,9 +91,13 @@ export default function ProjectDetailClient({
             {project.imageUrl ? (
               <Image src={project.imageUrl} alt={project.title} fill className="object-cover" priority sizes="100vw" />
             ) : (
-              <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-stone-100 dark:bg-stone-800 flex items-center justify-center">
+              <ProjectThumbnail
-                <span className="text-[15rem] font-black text-stone-200 dark:text-stone-700">{project.title.charAt(0)}</span>
+                title={project.title}
-              </div>
+                category={project.category}
+                tags={project.tags}
+                slug={project.slug}
+                size="hero"
+              />
             )}
           </div>
         </div>

app/_ui/ProjectsPageClient.tsx

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import Link from "next/link";
 import { useTranslations } from "next-intl";
 import Image from "next/image";
 import { Skeleton } from "../components/ui/Skeleton";
+import ProjectThumbnail from "@/app/components/ProjectThumbnail";
 
 export type ProjectListItem = {
   id: number | string; // Allow both for Directus (string) and Prisma (number) compatibility
@@ -127,10 +128,20 @@ export default function ProjectsPageClient({
             <motion.div key={project.id} initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 20 }} whileInView={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }} viewport={{ once: true }}>
               <Link href={`/${locale}/projects/${project.slug}`} className="group block h-full">
                 <div className="bg-white dark:bg-stone-900 rounded-[3rem] p-10 border border-stone-200/60 dark:border-stone-800/60 shadow-sm h-full hover:shadow-xl transition-all flex flex-col">
-                  {project.imageUrl && (
+                  {project.imageUrl ? (
                     <div className="relative aspect-[16/10] rounded-[2rem] overflow-hidden mb-8 border-4 border-stone-50 dark:border-stone-800 shadow-lg">
                       <Image src={project.imageUrl} alt={project.title} fill className="object-cover group-hover:scale-105 transition-transform duration-700" />
                     </div>
+                  ) : (
+                    <div className="relative aspect-[16/10] rounded-[2rem] overflow-hidden mb-8 border-4 border-stone-50 dark:border-stone-800 shadow-lg">
+                      <ProjectThumbnail
+                        title={project.title}
+                        category={project.category}
+                        tags={project.tags}
+                        slug={project.slug}
+                        size="card"
+                      />
+                    </div>
                   )}
                   <div className="flex-1 flex flex-col">
                     <div className="flex justify-between items-start mb-4">

app/components/ProjectThumbnail.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,241 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useMemo } from "react";
+import {
+  Terminal,
+  Smartphone,
+  Globe,
+  Code,
+  LayoutDashboard,
+  MessageSquare,
+  Cloud,
+  Wrench,
+  Cpu,
+  Shield,
+  Boxes,
+  type LucideIcon,
+} from "lucide-react";
+
+interface ProjectThumbnailProps {
+  title: string;
+  category?: string;
+  tags?: string[];
+  slug?: string;
+  size?: "card" | "hero";
+}
+
+const categoryThemes: Record<
+  string,
+  {
+    icon: LucideIcon;
+    gradient: string;
+    darkGradient: string;
+    iconColor: string;
+    darkIconColor: string;
+    pattern: "dots" | "grid" | "diagonal" | "circuit" | "waves" | "terminal";
+  }
+> = {
+  "Web Development": {
+    icon: Code,
+    gradient: "from-liquid-sky/20 via-liquid-blue/10 to-liquid-lavender/20",
+    darkGradient: "dark:from-liquid-sky/10 dark:via-liquid-blue/5 dark:to-liquid-lavender/10",
+    iconColor: "text-blue-500",
+    darkIconColor: "dark:text-blue-400",
+    pattern: "circuit",
+  },
+  "Mobile Development": {
+    icon: Smartphone,
+    gradient: "from-liquid-mint/20 via-liquid-teal/10 to-liquid-sky/20",
+    darkGradient: "dark:from-liquid-mint/10 dark:via-liquid-teal/5 dark:to-liquid-sky/10",
+    iconColor: "text-emerald-500",
+    darkIconColor: "dark:text-emerald-400",
+    pattern: "waves",
+  },
+  "Web Application": {
+    icon: Globe,
+    gradient: "from-liquid-lavender/20 via-liquid-purple/10 to-liquid-pink/20",
+    darkGradient: "dark:from-liquid-lavender/10 dark:via-liquid-purple/5 dark:to-liquid-pink/10",
+    iconColor: "text-violet-500",
+    darkIconColor: "dark:text-violet-400",
+    pattern: "dots",
+  },
+  "Backend Development": {
+    icon: Cpu,
+    gradient: "from-liquid-amber/20 via-liquid-yellow/10 to-liquid-peach/20",
+    darkGradient: "dark:from-liquid-amber/10 dark:via-liquid-yellow/5 dark:to-liquid-peach/10",
+    iconColor: "text-amber-500",
+    darkIconColor: "dark:text-amber-400",
+    pattern: "grid",
+  },
+  "Full-Stack Development": {
+    icon: Boxes,
+    gradient: "from-liquid-teal/20 via-liquid-mint/10 to-liquid-lavender/20",
+    darkGradient: "dark:from-liquid-teal/10 dark:via-liquid-mint/5 dark:to-liquid-lavender/10",
+    iconColor: "text-teal-500",
+    darkIconColor: "dark:text-teal-400",
+    pattern: "grid",
+  },
+  DevOps: {
+    icon: Shield,
+    gradient: "from-liquid-coral/20 via-liquid-rose/10 to-liquid-peach/20",
+    darkGradient: "dark:from-liquid-coral/10 dark:via-liquid-rose/5 dark:to-liquid-peach/10",
+    iconColor: "text-red-500",
+    darkIconColor: "dark:text-red-400",
+    pattern: "diagonal",
+  },
+  default: {
+    icon: Wrench,
+    gradient: "from-liquid-peach/20 via-liquid-rose/10 to-liquid-lavender/20",
+    darkGradient: "dark:from-liquid-peach/10 dark:via-liquid-rose/5 dark:to-liquid-lavender/10",
+    iconColor: "text-stone-400",
+    darkIconColor: "dark:text-stone-500",
+    pattern: "dots",
+  },
+};
+
+const slugIcons: Record<string, LucideIcon> = {
+  "kernel-panic-404-interactive-terminal": Terminal,
+  "portfolio-website": LayoutDashboard,
+  "real-time-chat-application": MessageSquare,
+  "weather-forecast-app": Cloud,
+  "clarity": Smartphone,
+  "e-commerce-platform-api": Boxes,
+  "task-management-dashboard": LayoutDashboard,
+};
+
+function PatternOverlay({ pattern }: { pattern: string }) {
+  const patternMap: Record<string, React.ReactNode> = {
+    dots: (
+      <svg className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full opacity-[0.07] dark:opacity-[0.05]" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+        <defs>
+          <pattern id="dots" x="0" y="0" width="20" height="20" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse">
+            <circle cx="2" cy="2" r="1.5" fill="currentColor" />
+          </pattern>
+        </defs>
+        <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#dots)" />
+      </svg>
+    ),
+    grid: (
+      <svg className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full opacity-[0.06] dark:opacity-[0.04]" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+        <defs>
+          <pattern id="grid" x="0" y="0" width="40" height="40" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse">
+            <path d="M 40 0 L 0 0 0 40" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1" />
+          </pattern>
+        </defs>
+        <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#grid)" />
+      </svg>
+    ),
+    diagonal: (
+      <svg className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full opacity-[0.06] dark:opacity-[0.04]" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+        <defs>
+          <pattern id="diagonal" x="0" y="0" width="24" height="24" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse">
+            <line x1="0" y1="24" x2="24" y2="0" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1" />
+          </pattern>
+        </defs>
+        <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#diagonal)" />
+      </svg>
+    ),
+    circuit: (
+      <svg className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full opacity-[0.07] dark:opacity-[0.05]" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+        <defs>
+          <pattern id="circuit" x="0" y="0" width="60" height="60" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse">
+            <path d="M0 30h20m20 0h20M30 0v20m0 20v20" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="0.8" fill="none" />
+            <circle cx="30" cy="30" r="3" fill="currentColor" />
+            <circle cx="10" cy="30" r="2" fill="currentColor" />
+            <circle cx="50" cy="30" r="2" fill="currentColor" />
+            <circle cx="30" cy="10" r="2" fill="currentColor" />
+            <circle cx="30" cy="50" r="2" fill="currentColor" />
+          </pattern>
+        </defs>
+        <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#circuit)" />
+      </svg>
+    ),
+    waves: (
+      <svg className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full opacity-[0.06] dark:opacity-[0.04]" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+        <defs>
+          <pattern id="waves" x="0" y="0" width="100" height="20" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse">
+            <path d="M0 10 Q25 0 50 10 T100 10" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1" />
+          </pattern>
+        </defs>
+        <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#waves)" />
+      </svg>
+    ),
+    terminal: (
+      <svg className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full opacity-[0.08] dark:opacity-[0.06]" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+        <defs>
+          <pattern id="terminal" x="0" y="0" width="200" height="30" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse">
+            <text x="4" y="18" fontFamily="monospace" fontSize="10" fill="currentColor">$_</text>
+            <text x="50" y="18" fontFamily="monospace" fontSize="10" fill="currentColor" opacity="0.4">│</text>
+            <text x="70" y="18" fontFamily="monospace" fontSize="10" fill="currentColor" opacity="0.6">404</text>
+            <text x="110" y="18" fontFamily="monospace" fontSize="10" fill="currentColor" opacity="0.4">│</text>
+            <text x="130" y="18" fontFamily="monospace" fontSize="10" fill="currentColor" opacity="0.3">ERR</text>
+          </pattern>
+        </defs>
+        <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#terminal)" />
+      </svg>
+    ),
+  };
+
+  return patternMap[pattern] || patternMap.dots;
+}
+
+export default function ProjectThumbnail({
+  title,
+  category,
+  tags,
+  slug,
+  size = "card",
+}: ProjectThumbnailProps) {
+  const theme = useMemo(() => {
+    if (slug && slugIcons[slug]) {
+      const matchedTheme = categoryThemes[category || ""] || categoryThemes.default;
+      return { ...matchedTheme, icon: slugIcons[slug] };
+    }
+    return categoryThemes[category || ""] || categoryThemes.default;
+  }, [category, slug]);
+
+  const Icon = theme.icon;
+
+  const isHero = size === "hero";
+
+  const displayTags = tags?.slice(0, 3) ?? [];
+
+  const sizeClasses = isHero
+    ? ""
+    : "";
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={`absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center bg-gradient-to-br ${theme.gradient} ${theme.darkGradient} ${sizeClasses}`}
+    >
+      <PatternOverlay pattern={theme.pattern} />
+
+      <div className="relative z-10 flex flex-col items-center gap-3 sm:gap-4">
+        <div
+          className={`flex items-center justify-center rounded-2xl bg-white/60 dark:bg-white/10 backdrop-blur-sm border border-white/40 dark:border-white/10 ${theme.iconColor} ${theme.darkIconColor} ${isHero ? "w-20 h-20 sm:w-28 sm:h-28" : "w-14 h-14 sm:w-20 sm:h-20"}`}
+        >
+          <Icon className={isHero ? "w-10 h-10 sm:w-14 sm:h-14" : "w-7 h-7 sm:w-10 sm:h-10"} strokeWidth={1.5} />
+        </div>
+
+        <span
+          className={`font-black tracking-tighter uppercase ${isHero ? "text-2xl sm:text-4xl md:text-5xl" : "text-sm sm:text-lg"} text-stone-400/80 dark:text-stone-500/80`}
+        >
+          {title}
+        </span>
+
+        {displayTags.length > 0 && (
+          <div className={`flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-1.5 sm:gap-2 ${isHero ? "max-w-md" : "max-w-[200px]"}`}>
+            {displayTags.map((tag) => (
+              <span
+                key={tag}
+                className={`px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-white/50 dark:bg-white/5 backdrop-blur-sm border border-white/30 dark:border-white/10 text-stone-500 dark:text-stone-400 font-medium ${isHero ? "text-xs sm:text-sm" : "text-[9px] sm:text-[10px]"}`}
+              >
+                {tag}
+              </span>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/components/Projects.tsx

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import Link from "next/link";
 import Image from "next/image";
 import { useLocale, useTranslations } from "next-intl";
 import { Skeleton } from "boneyard-js/react";
+import ProjectThumbnail from "./ProjectThumbnail";
 
 interface Project {
   id: number;
@@ -86,9 +87,13 @@ const Projects = () => {
                       className="object-cover transition-transform duration-700 group-hover:scale-105"
                     />
                   ) : (
-                    <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center bg-gradient-to-br from-stone-100 to-stone-200 dark:from-stone-800 dark:to-stone-900">
+                    <ProjectThumbnail
-                      <span className="text-4xl font-bold text-stone-300 dark:text-stone-700">{project.title.charAt(0)}</span>
+                      title={project.title}
-                    </div>
+                      category={project.category}
+                      tags={project.tags}
+                      slug={project.slug}
+                      size="card"
+                    />
                   )}
                   {/* Overlay on Hover */}
                   <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-black/0 group-hover:bg-black/10 transition-colors duration-500" />