digital development, design and training
Compare the last version, which looked rather old fashioned, and worked
New version, in summary:
In just 24hrs lovewatches.co.uk built and launched their (basic, but being updated) e-commerce site using WordPress. Not using any fancy plugins, just a basic site layout and a little customisation. Even using a simple child-theme for future customisation, this only goes to prove what a straightforward process that was!
A client has been talking to me about a WordPress theme they have bought, or actually, were they complaining?
The story goes they found a lovely theme online that looked ever so good and would fit their needs perfectly. Of course they bought it thinking it was the solution to all their website design problems. No need for a profession developer now, just install and get on with the important jobs of filing the site with content.
Fair dues, that’s why people buy a theme isn’t it? And why one goes to the effort of designing one, to make it into a saleable commodity.
So what happens? It’s all installed, no problems, but it ends up as just a blank page. Where’s all the pretty layout and pictures that were on the sales page? To the technically minded this makes sense, the images are probably copyright anyway. But the average buyer surely isn’t technically minded?
Problem two: so with the best will in the world they set about filling the site with the navigation and content they think they need. Sadly this isn’t the navigation the theme designer thought they’d need. And you bought the theme ‘cos you liked their layout, not yours. Subtle point.
So they’re back to talking to a developer, the step they were trying to avoid by buying the theme in the first place (though I’m sure it was nothing personal). It makes you wonder why go to all the trouble and be out of pocket too. At least all is not lost.
Lessons learnt
Choose the theme you like but remember to look closely at it, the navigation and its layout, the structure of the content. Do you have suitable artwork where required?
It might be an idea to involve a developer early on to avoid these pit falls: one session of advice now could be cheaper than later; many themes aren’t cheap, and once invested you are (often mostly) committed.
You will (very likely) need to fit your content to their arrangement, maybe more rigidly than you had in mind.
Note the demo page that caught your eye is likely to be the front page too, not the content page the rest of the site is made up of.
WordPress theme designer?
Tell me what you are thinking ..
More help
If you’d like some books on WordPress try here, and specifically on themes, here. WordPress Web Design For Dummies might be a good start
found on a recent design-led article
There are 2 types of designs.
1- User enters the page, thinks how cool the page looks, plays with jquery functions, slides up, down etc. BUT (a very big but) doesn’t or can’t focus on the content. Which we all want eventually is the content.
2- User enters the page, thinks a normal page, therefore focuses on the content.
All my life I tried to balance those 2 in my designs and its quite hard.
In which I never understood people who liked pinterest style. I’m afraid to tell my opinions about modern designs because supporters & fanboys of those design patterns are worse than hitler. They tend to linch you everywhere with capslock.
Finally my subconscious is free. Thanks for this post. You made me feel relieved.
[anonymous for their own protection]
What’s interesting here is not whether one should predominate over the other, but which is MOST SUITABLE for the site and its message. For example photos look great on a wall (ala Pinterest or Flickr) yet mixed media is presented in a linear fashion on Tumblr.
The question always exists in design, are you designing to the fashion, or applying new ideas creatively?
Your choice: choose.