Wordpress Theme Design: Less Is Often More
Just some ramblings of a guy riddled with ADHD…
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Oh dear, maybe it’s just that this came out a day after I launched and I’m unquestionably paranoid, but all the examples you gave of a distracting Wordpress theme could have been describing mine! I know mine is a bit like Thesis on speed, but I like a bit of warmth and colour; it gives me a lift whenever I log on. Maybe it’s a girl thing!
I do understand what you’re saying though. I had to think long and hard about whether I wanted to use stock illustrations for every post. Common wisdom says we should. I decided not to for now. That solved the problem of photos clashing with my header. I decided to keep the main writing clean, and border it on either side with the busier sidebars.
But to be honest, there’s a balance to be had here. I know content is key, but when I go to sites by Big Hitters that look like someone just downloaded and posted, it affects me the same as great content that is riddled with unedited typos. I wonder how much they really care about the whole reader experience.
Maybe super simplified sites are a Twitter throwback; people are getting used to high speed communication and everything being pared down to its absolute minimum. I think there’s a place for everything and everyone in Blogopolis – flowers and giraffes included!
Content apart, I want my site to be a swan – lovely to look at but paddling and working very hard under the surface!
No Janice, your theme is not at all what I’m talking about here. I’m referring to some sites that immediately distract from their content, not enhance it. I’m not at all saying that you have to have a bare bones, white all the the way around kind of theme to accomplish this. Look at zenhabits for Motivate Thyself and you’ll see two examples of clean, but not plain. These themes in not way distract, but enhance the content.
So don’t misunderstand my point. I’m not saying your theme has to look like Twitip.com, but that your theme DOESN’T have to be all fancy and slick looking to properly frame the content you supply your readers. Eric
Sorry, Eric. I got so carried away, I forgot to say great thought-provoking post!
You must have replied just as I posted my PS. My last comment wasn’t a reply to yours!
Thanks for explaining further – I was worried I’d shot myself in the foot! I think your site and Sean’s are great examples of themes growing more clean and functional as they evolve, yet still staying pleasant to be in. You’re on a roll!
I haven’t been able to watch this video yet (or Sean’s from yesterday) – but I just wanted to add the point that your theme should cater to your style of content. Blogs with short entries generally have larger fonts and more styling give it an extra punch. Blogs with longer posts generally have a a much wider column and normal sized text so that reader doesn’t have to scroll so much.
Those are just examples – obviously, but I think it’s a point that some people miss when approaching their theme. Your blog theme shouldn’t just show who you are as a person, it should also cater to your content.
I agree Eric, one thing I’ve had to do is pull myself from spending too much time tweaking my theme. I love playing with it, and giving my site mini facelifts – but is it *really* necessary for me to constantly be tweaking my sidebar?
So I have a new rule: I only get to play with it when there is either a theme upgrade or wordpress upgrade. Otherwise, I leave the plugins and theme alone.
… Unless I find something SUPER AWESOME.
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Sid, that’s a fantastic rule! I should adopt that myself. Upgrading lends a natural opportunity for tweaking. I love it when someone gives me an obvious idea that I know will be of great benefit. Thanks.
Eric, content is KING. Themes are pretty. Both are important.
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