Creating A Successful Design

I am quickly learning that it is harder than it looks to develop a successful Wordpress theme design for public release. You can spend hours designing the best damn theme ever to be released in the history of web design, but if the users cannot “use it”, it won’t be successful.

For example, I would absolutely LOVE to have the best Wordpress theme ever designed, but I would hate to see it on 100,000 other websites who also use it. It’s tough to build a brand around a site that isn’t unique. This is why truly great designs are robust - they can be easily customized to integrate into a specific brand.

When I design free themes, I often ask myself “Could someone take this design, make some minor changes, and have a unique look different than the next guy?” If the answer is yes, then I consider the theme a success.

If your goal is to create truly successful themes, keep the user in mind and design something that is both robust and customizable.

Here is a list of what I consider to be truly successful themes:

Cutline by Chris Pearson
Vertigo by Brian Gardner

There are more, but I cannot think of them at the moment. I will revise this list at later date.

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Posted on May 19th, 2007 by Dan in Web Design | 3 Comments


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3 Responses to “Creating A Successful Design”

  • Jake

    Sorry about the footer on JamaalCharles.net, what info do I need to restore back into there?

    On May 20th, 2007 at 11:44 am

  • Citan

    Hello.
    I am a user of your Wordpress blog theme “Bare Bones 1.0″. I’m sure you get this a lot, but I really love your work on it. I edited some of the CSS and PHP and what not to add a few incredibly minor changes to the overall look and feel of the theme, but it is still very much your own work.

    I am very much impressed by the look and feel of the theme. Don’t let yourself be put out, no amount of special coding can make something universally usable. If someone wants to use it, they will learn how. I really do not think you could ever code anything to work for all people, since we all have different levels of understanding.

    Don’t be discouraged with your work. I would donate for this wonderful theme, but I have not yet found donation information. Most of all, I just want to say “Thanks!” for giving people like my a slick theme to use. I doubt I will ever use another theme again, unless you make it. Brand loyalty… Yea I think I am hooked on Dan Engler.

    I tried adding widget support to the theme, but I have not yet gotten it working. I really hope you keep making these themes, they really are something to behold.

    Thanks from a simple fan:
    Citan

    You can view my blog with your theme at http://www.icitan.net/blog

    On May 27th, 2007 at 10:07 pm

  • Dan

    Citan, that is crazy man. I really appreciate the support. I am going to do my best to create new themes and keep this site updated. Thanks again man.

    On June 5th, 2007 at 2:12 pm

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