Wordpress template

Jewlz · 08-09-2008, 09:04 AM

A simple and clean web 2.0 wordpress theme:

View Photoshop mockup

Please comment

Justin · 08-09-2008, 09:51 AM

Overall, I think it's a good start though needs some working on.

Point #1
* Font Selection
+ Are these anti-alias fonts on display?
- The only way to display anti-alias fonts is to embed them in the site with the use of flash / css script.
+ I personally dislike the font atlest how it is displayed on this mockup.

Point #2
* Header Image
+ Name - Blog is repeated twice.
- Aesthetics?
- Wasted Space?
- Navagation Breakdown (Blog >> Cat >> Post)? Still makes no sense not as it would be hard to navagate out of that one.

Point#3
+Site Map
- Buried in the site sidebar. Do you want people to navagate the site?

Point#4
+ Background + Border on headings.
- I am uncertain to conclude if it's good aesthetics or not.

Jewlz · 08-09-2008, 10:20 AM

Thanks for your feedback I will try to include some of your thoughts.

Concerning the font selection: its all Arial and should therefor work with all browser from what I know.

Justin · 08-09-2008, 10:26 AM

My point about the font was just that it seemed anti-aliased in the wip and really didn't know if you were expecting this on the final coded version or not.

leftover_color · 08-09-2008, 04:06 PM

I agree with justin for most of the things. I think if you un-italicised the font it would look a lot better. Also, the dead space to the right of your side bar is distracting. Either shorten the header or move the sidebar. Good start though!

Jewlz · 08-10-2008, 11:50 AM

Version 1.2

note:
- due to a lag of time I havent applied any changes to the sidebar yet
- changed the font to Georgia/Helvetica (how do you like it?)
- made some slight color adjustments so the mockup looks more like what I see on my screen at home (I was using some colors which are not web safe)
- added a real navigation intead of the non-sens nav, its not finished yet
- changed the spacing in the header and added a site discription (if anybody has a better idea for a "site-slogan" please go ahead and post it

)

I hope I will get some more feedback because it does help me a lot to improve my mockups espacilly since I am still new to "designing". Thank you.

leftover_color · 08-10-2008, 06:34 PM

The text is much better, it looks like it fits now. Also the nav is better as well. Keep it up!

Jewlz · 08-11-2008, 06:53 AM

Version 1.3 with an updated sidebar and some other changes.

How do you like the new font? I found it on the web, fell in love with it and had to try and use it...I know I am going to have to use sIFS or another workaround if I stick with it...

I also played with some diferent colors for the header

Version 1.3 in light green

Version 1.3 in light blue

I like the green but I dont know...

Please comment.

alyCe · 08-11-2008, 08:40 AM

I think "clean" is overrated, because "clean" in most cases means uninspiring, boring, generic. For my sake this, at best is a decent free wordpress-template that people can customize. There is nothing new here, there is nothing that says anything about you as a person... This is design started in the wrong end, this is "I can design this in photoshop". What you can design in photoshop, a thousand million other can design in photoshop. Because - don't let me drag you down into the mud, you can do this, you know the basic design principles and can make a decent design. Good. Now, you got one out of two. You still need a vision or a idea about WHAT you want to design. I see it has been a bit improbed in v3 with the headerfont, but it still lacks something to distinguish it from everything else. (bytheway, how do you plan to display the font? flash-overlay? pictures?)

I think this is a good start, a foundation, but you still need something to tell it apart from everything else. I'm not saying it has to be groundbreaking new design that no-one has ever seen. I've seen several good "clean" or "minimalistic" designs, but this just falls between the two chairs, because it's NOT minimalistic, but not exhiting enough to not be minimalistic.

And, sorry for the harsh critique, hope it'll turn out constructive

Jewlz · 08-11-2008, 08:56 AM

Thank you, I can handle critique pretty good so please dont be sorry. I like this kind of critique.

I will try and give it a little bit more of a personal note but its hard really when you are not even quite sure what your favorite color is and the audience for the blog is going to be very wide.

I know this is not an extremely unique design and thats not what my intention was when I started working on it. I am just looking for a functional design though a personal note - since its a personal blog - would be nice which doesnt look like a million others.

Since I just started with webdesign this is basically just practice and I tried to learn more about colors, spacing, fonts by trial and error.

Again I will try and think of something to make it a bit different from whats out there already.

I will probably use flash to include the font.

08-10-2008, 11:50 AM	#6
Jewlz Designer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 25	Version 1.2 note: - due to a lag of time I havent applied any changes to the sidebar yet - changed the font to Georgia/Helvetica (how do you like it?) - made some slight color adjustments so the mockup looks more like what I see on my screen at home (I was using some colors which are not web safe) - added a real navigation intead of the non-sens nav, its not finished yet - changed the spacing in the header and added a site discription (if anybody has a better idea for a "site-slogan" please go ahead and post it ) I hope I will get some more feedback because it does help me a lot to improve my mockups espacilly since I am still new to "designing". Thank you. Last edited by Jewlz : 08-10-2008 at 11:59 AM.

08-11-2008, 08:40 AM	#9
alyCe Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Posts: 709	I think "clean" is overrated, because "clean" in most cases means uninspiring, boring, generic. For my sake this, at best is a decent free wordpress-template that people can customize. There is nothing new here, there is nothing that says anything about you as a person... This is design started in the wrong end, this is "I can design this in photoshop". What you can design in photoshop, a thousand million other can design in photoshop. Because - don't let me drag you down into the mud, you can do this, you know the basic design principles and can make a decent design. Good. Now, you got one out of two. You still need a vision or a idea about WHAT you want to design. I see it has been a bit improbed in v3 with the headerfont, but it still lacks something to distinguish it from everything else. (bytheway, how do you plan to display the font? flash-overlay? pictures?) I think this is a good start, a foundation, but you still need something to tell it apart from everything else. I'm not saying it has to be groundbreaking new design that no-one has ever seen. I've seen several good "clean" or "minimalistic" designs, but this just falls between the two chairs, because it's NOT minimalistic, but not exhiting enough to not be minimalistic. And, sorry for the harsh critique, hope it'll turn out constructive __________________ everyone runs, nobody hides

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08-09-2008, 09:04 AM	#1
Jewlz Designer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 25	Wordpress template A simple and clean web 2.0 wordpress theme: View Photoshop mockup Please comment

08-09-2008, 09:51 AM	#2
Justin Designer Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 31	Overall, I think it's a good start though needs some working on. Point #1 * Font Selection + Are these anti-alias fonts on display? - The only way to display anti-alias fonts is to embed them in the site with the use of flash / css script. + I personally dislike the font atlest how it is displayed on this mockup. Point #2 * Header Image + Name - Blog is repeated twice. - Aesthetics? - Wasted Space? - Navagation Breakdown (Blog >> Cat >> Post)? Still makes no sense not as it would be hard to navagate out of that one. Point#3 +Site Map - Buried in the site sidebar. Do you want people to navagate the site? Point#4 + Background + Border on headings. - I am uncertain to conclude if it's good aesthetics or not. __________________ Torched Blog Camera Gear: D2xs / D70; Nikkor: 18-200mm, 12-24mm, 70-200mm, 18-70mm, 70-300mm, & 50mm.

08-09-2008, 10:20 AM	#3
Jewlz Designer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 25	Thanks for your feedback I will try to include some of your thoughts. Concerning the font selection: its all Arial and should therefor work with all browser from what I know.

08-09-2008, 10:26 AM	#4
Justin Designer Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 31	My point about the font was just that it seemed anti-aliased in the wip and really didn't know if you were expecting this on the final coded version or not. __________________ Torched Blog Camera Gear: D2xs / D70; Nikkor: 18-200mm, 12-24mm, 70-200mm, 18-70mm, 70-300mm, & 50mm.

08-09-2008, 04:06 PM	#5
leftover_color Senior Designer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 360	I agree with justin for most of the things. I think if you un-italicised the font it would look a lot better. Also, the dead space to the right of your side bar is distracting. Either shorten the header or move the sidebar. Good start though!

08-10-2008, 06:34 PM	#7
leftover_color Senior Designer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 360	The text is much better, it looks like it fits now. Also the nav is better as well. Keep it up!

08-11-2008, 06:53 AM	#8
Jewlz Designer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 25	Version 1.3 with an updated sidebar and some other changes. How do you like the new font? I found it on the web, fell in love with it and had to try and use it...I know I am going to have to use sIFS or another workaround if I stick with it... I also played with some diferent colors for the header Version 1.3 in light green Version 1.3 in light blue I like the green but I dont know... Please comment.

08-11-2008, 08:56 AM	#10
Jewlz Designer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 25	Thank you, I can handle critique pretty good so please dont be sorry. I like this kind of critique. I will try and give it a little bit more of a personal note but its hard really when you are not even quite sure what your favorite color is and the audience for the blog is going to be very wide. I know this is not an extremely unique design and thats not what my intention was when I started working on it. I am just looking for a functional design though a personal note - since its a personal blog - would be nice which doesnt look like a million others. Since I just started with webdesign this is basically just practice and I tried to learn more about colors, spacing, fonts by trial and error. Again I will try and think of something to make it a bit different from whats out there already. I will probably use flash to include the font.