My talk from WordCamp Providence 2014

1. Content Aware
WordPress Theming
Ryan Kanner
@CodeProKid

2. Who am I?
+ +

3. Content Aware
What?

4. { Templates that can automatically
make adjustments based on the
}
content being displayed.

5. We aren’t
launching this
service until next
year, can we
remove it?
Can we add a
newsletter
signup here?
We don’t have
anything to put
here...

7. The Problem
● Rigid grid systems
● WordPress gives non technical people total
control of their content.
● Content changes, as it should.
● Clients needs change over time.

8. Current Solutions...

14. Issue with this solution
● Limitless layout possibilities to account for
● Fragmented User Experience
● Overwhelming amount of options
● Too much control for clients
● Good luck moving that content ever.

15. My Solution
● Decisions, not options.
● Identify layout modules that can be broken
by content.
● Fallbacks for empty content.
● A little bit of math + grid system = a whole lot
of awesome.

16. What to look out for
Changing Content
● More
● Less
● Longer
● Shorter
● NULL
Trouble Spots
● Filtered Content
● Sidebars
● Widgets
● Content Buckets
● Inline lists

17. Examples
woo, code.

18. What happens
when this is
empty?

19. “No Posts Found...”

21. Empty Queries
Is this content the main focus of this page?
Yes No
Display Similar
content, or another way
to find what they are
looking for
Display an alternate
set of content
instead
Don’t display
anything

25. Establish what you
were looking for in
the first place
State there
was nothing
found
Offer a way to
find something
else

26. Empty Sidebars

27. Content Conditional
Sidebar Conditional

28. Let’s Count

32. Flexible Widgets

35. Widgets
● Horizontal widgets are a nightmare
● Fixed classes on widgets goes against the
entire concept of widgets
● My solution
https://github.com/CodeProKid/Flexible-
Widget-Widths

37. But why?
● Saves you time in the end
● Eliminates jobs you don’t want
● Establishes trust between you and your
clients
● Provides a better user experience

38. Thanks!