1.
Not just another
Wordpress blog
WordCamp 2011, Thessaloniki

2.
Not just another
Wordpress blog
WordCamp 2011, Thessaloniki

3.
Some stuff about me
(I’m interesting. I think.)

4.
My name is Zaharenia
http://sugarenia.com – @sugarenia

5.
≠
My name is Zaharenia
http://sugarenia.com – @sugarenia

6.
≠
My name is Zaharenia
http://sugarenia.com – @sugarenia

7.
...and this is Gadget, my cat
(he doesn’t like walking on a leash)

8.
I think I want to be
a freelancer...
– Me, circa 2009

9.
The problem

10.
terrainnova.gr/αν-το-περιεχόµενο-είναι-
βασιλιάς-το-design-τ/

11.
“ Αν εποµένως το πιο σηµαντικό είναι
το περιεχόµενο σε µια παρουσία
online (...) µήπως το αντίπαλο δέος
το οποίο για χάρη συντοµίας θα το
„
πω design πρέπει να είναι αυτό
που θα ‘θυσιαστεί’;

12.
“ Πλέον η ουσία βρίσκεται (...) να
βρεθείς µέσω των social media
µπροστά στους χρήστες ή τους
καταναλωτές σου (...) Και κανένα
design όσο και να λειτουργήσει ως
‘κράχτης’ και όσο καλό και να είναι
δεν πρόκειται να βοηθήσει
„
σηµαντικά επ’ αυτού – ειδικά
µακροπρόθεσµα.

13.
Arras (arrastheme.com)

14.
Whom is this presentation for?
Everyone.

15.
So what’s your problem anyway?
This.

16.
Bueno by WooThemes

17.
Aurora Borealis by Themeforest

18.
Topzglow by simplyWP

19.
MyWordpress by Themeforest

20.
Fresh News by WooThemes

21.
Header

22.
Fat Footer
Header

23.
Fat Footer
Header
Most popular

24.
Fat Footer
Header
Most popular
Carousel

25.
Fat Footer
Header
Most popular
Carousel
Featured

26.
Fat Footer
Header
Most popular
Carousel
Featured
Tag clouds

27.
Wait, tag clouds?
Pffffft...

28.
Whut?

29.
The dreaded Wordpress look
Hey, I’ve seen it before...

30.
Why do we do this?
Tight deadlines.

31.
Why do we do this?
Tight budgets.

32.
Why do we do this?
Laziness.

33.
Let’s change this.

34.
Art Direction
The elephant in the room

35.
alistapart.com/articles/art-direction-and-design

36.
“ Art direction brings clarity and
definition to our work; it helps our
work convey a specific message
to a particular group of people. „

37.
This is not your aunt’s travel blog...

38.
...and this is not a pharmacy website.

39.
Design Research
You. Need. It.

40.
Moodboards
Capture the mood of the website

41.
viget.com/inspire/perspectives-on-mood-boards

42.
“ The purpose of a mood board is
to set the tone & style of a design
effort, without the distraction of
flow and architecture. „

43.
Use whatever suits you
OneNote, Curio, Photoshop, LittleSnapper...

44.
Best-sellers? Stay away.
So generic it hurts

45.
(Plus they all look alike)

46.
Striking by ThemeForest

47.
inFocus by ThemeForest

48.
Display by ThemeForest

49.
Go stylish minimal
But only if you have to

50.
Dandelion by Themeforest

51.
Briefed by WooThemes

52.
Modest by ElegantThemes

53.
Penelope by cssigniter

54.
Practical by WPBundle

55.
Don’t copy.
Not too much anyway

56.
Almost 89,2% of tutorial
sites looks like PsdTuts
or Smashing Magazine.
– Me

57.
Frankly, it gets boring.

58.
No more magazines.
Especially when you don’t have content

59.
It will show.

60.
Macalicious.com (design from 45Royale)

61.
Delicious Magazine by WooThemes

62.
Diverse by WPBundle

63.
Vetee by Themeforest

64.
Hipstr Tumblr
It is popular for a reason

65.
Slanted by WooThemes

66.
Nimble by WPBundle

67.
Auld by WooThemes

68.
Shelf by The Theme Foundry

69.
Recap time!
(This is what you should write down)

70.
Don’t
Wordpress look
Marketplace best-sellers
Magazine themes without content

71.
Do
Design research
Minimalism & personality
Lean ’n’ mean original themes

72.
No more of this.
Don’t make me spank you.

73.
Thank you! You’re cool.
Zaharenia Atzitzikaki
UI designer
http://sugarenia.com
@sugarenia