I having been designing exclusively for WordPress for 5 years, before that, I designed both in WordPress, static sites, and with other content management systems. I am not the best in visual efforts, but I like to try to work with my clients and make sure they have a more than satisfactory product that they can use.
The problem is that I keep hearing from clients about past encounters with other WordPress designers and developers who will not go that extra step to make sure their client can efficiently use their website. In fact, they are turning to premium themes because they cannot find someone to make their project idea a reality.
Remember, WordPress is no longer a blog platform. It is a full fledged content management system that with coding and imagination, a site can become extraordinary!
Here are a few tips when stepping into designing WordPress themes:
- Know the code. If you are not familiar with HTML or PHP, you should not be designing as frankly, it makes other designer’s job a pain when they have to step in a correct your errors.
- Know WordPress. This goes for the coding, and how to use it.
- Design with the client’s experience in mind. Be prepared to offer them ways to use their WordPress in the easiest and more understandable way. You may need to walk them through it. Not all of your clients will be as WordPress savvy – some may not be as Internet savvy.
- Design logically. If you are designing for someone else and they have some coding experience, they might be a bit ticked off if your code looks terrible or you took the roundabout way to get to a solution. Streamline it. There will always be a better way to code a site. (Also, make hidden notations in the theme files case your client is familiar enough to make edits, but might not know where exactly to make them.)
- Be knowledgeable on site tools that will enhance the website. Whether it be an actual design or for search engine optimization, it is important to keep up-to-date on this type of news.
- If you do not know something, then ask around or do some research. The WordPress community is really friendly. You can either use the WordPress support forums or go to various WordPress related sites to find out.
- Whether it be WordPress, another CMS or static HTML, check your site in most browsers before handing it off to the client. Not everyone browses the same way as you.
Even if you are not designing for a client, you can take a lot of these suggestions with you.
What other tips can you suggest?
I must confess. while I’ve been improving at most aspects of building and running various sites. my lack of PHP knowledge is most definitely stunting my growth and preventing me from offering my services professionally. I’ve got the books. I need to stop being lazy and make a plan to learn to code properly to be able to grow.
I was always aware that the tentative copying and pasting I do most in WordPress isn’t really the same thing as knowing the language. So when I found a php basic course on http:// Codecademy.com, I jumped at it. Yeah, there was some stuff I already knew, but the course gave me a much better grasp of how things fit together. If you have a few spare hours, I heartily recommend it.
Also: Hey, Nile! Great post!
Hi Mary! With my knowledge, I am beyond that site… it would do nothing for me considering I’ve developed full PHP programs and have extensive knowledge in MySQL. The sites I learn from when there are new techniques are pretty hardcore.
Thanks for guidance. Useful. Generally I like how you approach the themes. Good luck!
Iam blogger and i use blogger.com for my own blogs but i never used wordpress as i think it is bit difficult to use.
WordPress is extremely easy to use. You should sign up for a free WordPress account at WordPress.com and play with the account to see how easy it really is. 🙂
dude, i am new to blogging but still would blindly say you wordpress is the best,it is not like they are a hate group against blogger.com. The community makes it even more special introducing a hell lot of useful plugins etc. switch to wordpress asap as Nile says.
First up ooh, like the new pink!
I’ve just recently made the transition from building static sites to using wordpress (move with the times Mack!) and part of my work is building simple sites for clients.
Just starting to roll out WP sites as part of this client work and I couldn’t agree more with what you say. I couldn’t claim to be anything like an expert on php or wordpress modifications so have instead gotten to know a single freemium theme very well to the point that I only use that single theme for all client sites – because I now know exactly how to modify it, where to do it – and have built up some stock modifications depending on what the client is wanting.
Maybe I’m lazy, but I think everyone’s happy…
Knowing every nook and corner where relevant wordpress code resides is very important to be an effective web designer. Starting from customizing a theme to build themes from scratch requires a good understanding about overall architecture.
I like the #6 point. I do research lot on Google and forums.
Thanks for sharing.
hello
nile
i m nt a webdesigner i my learning everyday a designning lessons according to your post i like the link #4 ……dsign logically according to the client view is one of the most important thing thnx for this nice share
Hi Nile
Serious question: I run a WordPress blog that needs upgrading (it’s Version 2.0-something & no longer works). It could also do with a minor design overhaul. Is it the sort of thing you might do? You’ve got my email address, so please let me know.
Thanks
Ainsley
It helps for designing wordpress designers.
Woov… Knowing every nook and corner where relevant wordpress code resides is very important to be an effective web designer. Starting from customizing a theme to build themes from scratch requires a good understanding about overall architecture. Thanks
I think coding is base for better performance. Design according to the needs of your client. Designn logically according to the client view is very important. And WordPress is really very easy CMS.
Very nice contain..it is very helpful to meThe community makes it even more special introducing a hell lot of useful plugins…Thank you for sharing
It helps for designing wordpress designers..
that’s a great article nile., i’ve been in bloggin for 1 year and got some knowledge of , css and some others things., but not yet satisfy with my wordpress theme.., its graphene and i customized a lot but seems like something is missing.., could you tell me the best theme ,framework to design my blog
that’s a great article nile