WPDesigner.com

Below is the design I’ve been working on. (See previous versions.) Today was the first time I created and integrated original graphics. Although it might seem amateurish to the trained eyes, the INCOMPLETE piece below is significant (for me) because I’m an XHTML and CSS coder, not a graphic designer.

The header is HUGE at this point because I’m not finished with the illustration. Once it’s finished, I’ll shorten the header or green area to a more… reasonable height.

What I have in mind for the illustration is a car driving toward the top right corner of the layout with smoke floating toward the top left corner, which leads to the big cloud or logo. The background below the car layer would be some roads, hills, maybe the HOLLYWOOD sign, and some buildings.

As if graphic design isn’t enough frustration, trying to convincingly mix several styles into one design during my first crack at graphics design isn’t helping. Usually, graphics designers, like web designers and coders, have collected resources like brushes, textures, vectors, and etcetera to speed up the graphic design process. Me, I’m trying to do all of it the first time around and mix several styles at the same time, which are definitely not… smart practices.

After throwing away countless concepts (I’ve been frustrated with this theme for weeks), here’s what I have and what I’m going to stick with:

(The left sidebar is for style points only. I might create a separate version with no left sidebar.)

Right now, what you see is the basic style, layout, menu, photos area, main content, and sidebars. I still have to create, style, and finalize the following elements: logo, blog description, search form, sub menu, header, comments template, alphabetical celebrity name listing template, footer, etc., and etc.

There’s a lot more to this theme than what you see in the preview. I wanted to post the complete design. However, I’m not finished and I haven’t updated this blog for about a week so I’ll have to leave you with only a preview until I have time to come back to designing and blogging.

I’ll be back next week. Happy holidays. By the way, my birthday is on Sunday, December 23 .

Hi Small Potatoes… Good… late Sunday! The image below is what I’ve been up to.

Photos within that design were used for artistic purposes only. Don’t sue me . It’s a throwaway concept with no graphics. I actually got a little further down the road before deciding to restart with a new direction. I’m working on something more graphic intensive (experimenting and trying to find my own style).

Nathan Rice recently published a post titled, Respect Requires Altruism, in which he points to me as an example of a selfless theme author.

To that, I have to say, “Thank you, but I’m not completely selfless.” Although I did start Wpdesigner because I simply enjoyed creating themes and giving them away, right now, I continue to release free themes to attempt to dominate the free WordPress themes niche, which is where I believe the biggest potential lies.

If you meet me in real life, I probably come off as a jerk with a mild case of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

• I say what’s on my mind and I don’t care about burning bridges.
• Sometimes, I make idiotic assumptions and later on would have to swallow my words.

Overall, I’m not that nice of a person and I make lots of mistakes. For example, if you sound lazy in your email asking for WordPress help, I’ll ignore and delete it.

(How can I tell if you’re lazy? There’s a huge message on my contact page that says you shouldn’t email me WordPress themes questions because I give support through the forums. Duh.)

For another example, a while ago, I stepped out of the premium themes race and decided to release free premium themes, but now I’m bored. Why am I bored? Although I believe the biggest money-making potential actually lies in free WordPress themes, working alone with no short-term gains is really discouraging.

Right now, I’m thinking about going with my second choice, which is running a themes club:

• to make some short term money
• to make myself happy with the extra money for the holidays (some new tech toys from Think Geek would be nice) and not to mention my family and girlfriend would appreciate better gifts
• to compete with everyone currently selling WordPress themes.

(That’s not to say I won’t be releasing more free WordPress themes. I will.)

The one thing you should remember from this post is that I’m a competitive jerk with a mild case of OCD, who often contradicts himself. That’s all I have to rant about. Have a nice weekend… Oops, today’s only Thursday.

Design Concept

Lately, I’ve been working on a blog design for gossip blogs. You can click on the thumbnail to the left for a larger view. The preview image is only a rough layout.

It’s supposed to be a grid-based four column theme, perfectly sized for BlogAds advertisements. But, I guess I’m experiencing designer’s block and can’t seem to move on from what you see in the preview. Its style is a mix of Subtraction, Virb, Apple, and the previous 5thirtyOne design.

Ramblings

• As theme authors strive to turn WordPress into a CMS, WordPress themes get more and more complicated. Are theme authors thinking about the users? How easy is it for someone to use and modify your theme? Can their established blogs, with many different types of content, adopt your theme?
• Although I prefer to read content from a three column layout with the main column centered because my eyes naturally gravitate toward the center of the monitor, I’m starting to see the usability advantage of a left-aligned main column.
• Justin Tadlock recently released one impressive Structure.

Last Monday, I held the first Wpdesigner.com contest to give away a copy of Showcase. Saturday was your last day to enter.

Here’s a picture of drawing for the winner.

(That’s not my hand in the picture above.)

After one week and 161 comments, congrats to PJ (#59)! PJ, the download has been sent to your email.

WP Remix is the second theme to join the Wpdesigner’s marketplace and the first to get approved for a full feature and review.

(This is a sponsored review. However, this theme had to go through inspection first.)

Unlike several premium themes already in the market, WP Remix is easy to set up by novice users. However, packaged with well over 20 layout variations, it’s safe to say Bhavesh made WP Remix for the developers to remix until their hearts’ content.

Preview this theme.

While it’s easy for novice users to set up, it isn’t so easy for the same group to realize the potential of WP Remix. Visit the WP Remix home page for several examples of remixes or skins of this theme.

Speaking of layout variations and the potential this theme gives you, below are some examples of the layout variations: (more…)

I’m giving away a copy of Showcase, a theme built for CSS / web galleries and portfolios. It comes with multiple layout variations and five different skins. Check out the full list of features. To enter, simply post a comment under this blog post.

The deadline to enter this contest is Saturday, December 8, 2007. Your name will be entered into a drawing on Sunday, December 09. The winner will be announced on the following Monday. Note: Your copy of Showcase will be a single-domain license that comes with one year of free updates.

Update: Contest’s closed for new entries.

To recap Project H for new readers, Project H is Wpdesigner.com’s hosting service for high traffic WordPress-powered blogs.

Want to survive the Digg effect and consistent high traffic? Then, Project H is the home you’ve been waiting for. Along with free migration or server transfer and a 30-day money back gaurantee, Wpdesigner.com hosting service also comes with WordPress support and bonuses like free blog consultation, free plugin installations, and free paid WordPress themes.

The free consultation will be done by me. You cannot hire me for this service from anywhere else. Along with the one-time consultation, you’ll receive one paid WordPress theme, every two months, for free. So while your friend has to spend money on paid or premium themes, I’ll thank you for hosting with Wpdesigner.com by giving them to you.

Head over to the features page for details. And Here’s how to order. By the way, there are 116 spots left. If you don’t order now, don’t ask me to let you in later.

Continue reading:

• How This Project Started

Note: I strongly believe in my products and services. If they can’t survive by word of mouth then it’s proof they’re not worth the money. Therefore, you will not see any advertisement for Wpdesigner’s hosting service across the blogosphere. If I get in the mood for it, I might even publish 100 reasons why you should NOT use this service

It’s a new world out there for WordPress theme authors. They (including me) don’t mean to harm the theme users (you), but they’re simply new at this premium themes game. Luckily, Small Potato (yours truly) is here to help.

Before we get to it, first of all, not all premium themes are actually top notch themes. They’re basically called premium because you have to pay for them. Also, I’m personally responsible for spreading the “free premium themes” virus (which I regret). Theme authors are using that term so liberally that it has lost its meaning.

Second, assuming that someone great at creating and releasing free themes will be or is great at creating and releasing premium themes is a very dangerous assumption. This isn’t about not trusting your favorite free-theme author to do the right thing; it’s about protecting yourself and making sure your money will be well spent. (more…)

This is a beta release for Gluttony. Gluttony is a two-column, widget-ready, rounded-corners WordPress theme. It’s the sixth theme of the Seven Deadly Sins series to be released. Preview This Theme.

Orignally, I wanted to integrate Javascript in order to create an expandable and collapsible food menu layout. But after several tries with several different scripts, it didn’t work out that way. Therefore, this beta-release (version 0.1) does not include any Javascript. In the future, the official version 1 will include the Javascript to add the expandable and collapsible posts feature.

If you can help me make that happen, please leave a comment or contact me. Overall, this theme is work in progress and there’s a lot left to do.

Making of Gluttony

• Original Preview
• Revision
• Colors Poll

Download

• Gluttony version 0.1.1

Disclosure

The author and Wpdesigner.com is credited for this theme through a link in the footer.php file linking back to the original page where this is available for downloads. If you like, you may remove that link.

Known Issues

• The sidebar styles are not compatible with the sidebar Tag Cloud widget.

License and Credits

To prepare for unknown add-ons and external features, Gluttony is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, not the GPL license.

How do you separate your blog from the rest of the pack? Writing style, voice, and blog topics make you different, but those factors don’t matter to first time visitors. To them, yours is like every other blog.

So, how you do separate yourself from the pack? This fifth post, of a series called Wpdesigner Weekend Must Do (WWMD), will help you rise above the rest to make a more memorable first impression.

No Feedburner Chicklet – The Feedburner Chicklet, used to display your number of blog subscribers, is useful for attracting more readers, but browse enough blogs and you’ll begin to see why you really should remove it. Instead of an ugly little button to display your number of subscribers, opt for a text-based display of that number or completely do away with displaying your subscribers count. Try harder, don’t just slap a Feedburner Chicklet on your blog.

No Right Sidebars – I should practice what I preach, but I’m perfectly fine with my own right sidebar at this moment. But for you, if you have a small sidebar, consider moving it to the left. Someone should really run a test to find out the average number of blogs that use right sidebars.

Fluid / Elastic Width – Currently, only the unusually diligent developers have the patience to create a fluid or elastic design for their blogs – designs that fit in any resolution. Typically, if you take this route, you will instantly improve your readers’ browsing experience.

Irregular Advertisement Formats – Just because they’re advertisments, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with them. Don’t go for the boring 125×125 button banners like everyone else is doing. Using irregular ads sizes or formats will help you look unique. It’ll also help your sponsors get more clicks because irregular formats tend to yield better results.

Now you’re armed with four new ideas. Have fun tweaking your blog this weekend.