What does your web site say about you when you’re not around?
Smashing Theme
August 28, 2008 on 10:50 am | In fixed width, gray, light, pastel, pink, three columns, warm colors, white | No comments
Smashing Theme was designed by Elena Gafita from the DesignDisease team. Here’s what Elena had to say about her design when she talked to Smashing Magazine:
“Creating a WordPress Theme isn’t easy but I can’t call it yet a NASA Job. The theme I created for Smashing Magazine was a special task for me because I read this magazine every time they have something new so I wanted to give something back.
After I found out what Smashing Magazine team expects from this theme I got started by selecting the color palette. After this point I created the layout style and placed the background straps modular along with the layout areas. This choice was motivated by the fact that Smashing Magazine is a feed, a flux of information represented by the size and colors of the straps. Colors are — of course — inspired by the Smashing Magazine logo.
Every designer who creates a free theme must know the importance of the AdSense integration in the layout; therefore I’ve divided the content area in 3 sections (columns). Each of them for a specific AdSense unit (468 x 60), (180×150), (160×600).
In my themes I always try to make a clear visual separation between the Posting area and the Widget zone (2nd and the 3rd column). In this case I achieved this effect by creating a strong visual contrast: white for the written post (to ensure the optical silence for readers) and colorful/darker areas (active vibrant content motivates users to click on those surfaces) for the numerous categories, links etc.
Another fact which I care about is the space around the main content (posting area). The flux of information must breathe, so a 20/30px white space between information units is necessary. The space left between the different areas must be used as a module, repeating the spaces in key zones of the layout.
One of the most difficult tasks in designing a theme is to find a style for it. A unique style helps a blog to stand out from simplistic and minimalistic designs. I don’t have anything against minimalist style, but as a designer I feel I can express myself in a more colorful way.”
We love the gelato colors, and see them being used by cafés, confectioners, hospitality, ice-cream shops, interior designers, opticians, quilters, quirky, restaurants, sweet shops – choose ‘smashingtheme’ from Themeleon – our lickerty split theme shifter.
Entries and comments feeds. Valid XHTML and CSS. ^Top^ Theme based on John Doe's beautiful jd-nebula-3c.