Comments on: What Do You Want To See In A WordPress Theme?

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:22:17 +0000

Thanks James. I checked out the thread and downloaded the theme to take a look.

A lot of what you’re suggesting are things I want to incorporate. I’m not sure how many I’ll get in when I first release the theme, but everything you mention is something I’ve considered adding at some point.

Thanks again for pointing me to Royale. It looks interesting.

By: James Lewitzke

James Lewitzke — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:06:24 +0000

Hey Steve, just noticed this post. I saw a thread like this over at WT awhile ago here:
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/blog-themes/116765-elements-of-great-themes.html

I’ll say the same things here. What I like about my theme (Royale) is the fact that it gives you so many options to choose from, for example:
* 2 or 3 columns on the left or right side
* Variety of backgrounds to pick from
* Built in SEO options
* Special HTML inserts
* A custom Theme Menu to configure all the settings
* And many more options to choose from

I’d highly recommend checking it out to see what exactly it offers.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:32:09 +0000

Thanks Andy. Valid code is definitely something I plan on including. I tend to use transitional, but it’s about time I updated to strict anyway.

Good idea about microformats. My knowledge of them is still limited, but they seem easy enough to understand and I think using them will just take some practice on my part.

The fixed/fluid thing is something I always think about. I like aspects of both, but have leaned lately toward a more fixed overall layout. I do code fonts in relative measurements as a rule, but haven’t always been happy with completely fluid layouts. I’ll have to look for a good compromise or a good way to allow others to easily make my semi-fluid design completely fluid.

Thanks for the suggestions.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:28:16 +0000

I’ve thought about the idea of moving sidebars to either side. I think it’s possible to include something like that the way I want to set the theme up, though it’ll take a little experimentation to see how easy it is.

Thanks for the suggestion.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:27:10 +0000

Sorry Kristine, you’re getting pink monster trucks.

That makes sense. Graphics and colors. Some basic things. Given that you’re not all that technically savvy would you also appreciate an extensive help section or tutorials about installing the them, making changes to files when necessary, and other useful things you can do?

By: andymurd

andymurd — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:58:14 +0000

As you say, we all have different aesthetic values, and different sites require different design approaches. Under the skin is a different matter…

I’d like to see:
Valid XHTML(strict), valid CSS2 and valid RSS
Fluid layout, measured in ems
Extensive use of microformats

As you can probably tell, I like to tinker.

By: WebChicklet

WebChicklet — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:25:41 +0000

Ability to flip sides (sidebar(s) on right or left).
Color schemes to choose from.

That’s pretty much all I can think of. I play with themes a lot, and yet my mind draws a blank after just two suggestions. Weird.

By: Kristine Shreve

Kristine Shreve — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:20:46 +0000

No pink monster trucks, wrestlers or Stooges, please.

As you already know, I can read HTML but I’m not all that technically savvy. A theme that separates out the stuff that I might want to change and makes it easy to make those changes would be great for me. You’re right, I’m not going to try to add a third column to a two column theme. I might, however, want to change a graphic or the colors. So being able to do that easily would be a plus.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:33:10 +0000

Thanks mihai. I agree about simplicity. I’m working on a design now and keeping it clean and simple.

I have an area in the theme I’m working on for people to run ads or something like AdSense. I’m looking to code things in a way so that those people who don’t want to run ads can easily remove that section, but it will be there for the people who do want it there.

Do you think something like that would work?

Thanks for the suggestions.

By: mihai andrei

mihai andrei — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:26:12 +0000

I’m not really sure; while not everybody has the same sense of aesthetics, I’d say that probably simplicity is really important.
Also, if you know how (if) you are going to monetize, it has to blend in with the ads you are going to use; if you’re not sure, it has to be versatile, in order to support a variety of ads; anyway, good question, I’d love to hear what others have to say