My presentation for Wordcamp Greece 2011 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

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

10. The problem

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

12. “ 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’;

13. “ 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.

14. Arras (arrastheme.com)

15. Whom is this presentation for?
Everyone.

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

17. Bueno by WooThemes

18. Aurora Borealis by Themeforest

19. Topzglow by simplyWP

20. MyWordpress by Themeforest

21. Fresh News by WooThemes

22. Header

23. Fat Footer
Header

24. Fat Footer
Header
Most popular

25. Fat Footer
Header
Most popular
Carousel

26. Fat Footer
Header
Most popular
Carousel
Featured

27. Fat Footer
Header
Most popular
Carousel
Featured
Tag clouds

28. Wait, tag clouds?
Pffffft...

29. Whut?

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

31. Why do we do this?
Tight deadlines.

32. Why do we do this?
Tight budgets.

33. Why do we do this?
Laziness.

34. Let’s change this.

35. Art Direction
The elephant in the room

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

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

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

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

40. Design Research
You. Need. It.

41. Moodboards
Capture the mood of the website

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

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

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

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

49. (Plus they all look alike)

50. Striking by ThemeForest

51. inFocus by ThemeForest

52. Display by ThemeForest

53. Go stylish minimal
But only if you have to

54. Dandelion by Themeforest

55. Briefed by WooThemes

56. Modest by ElegantThemes

57. Penelope by cssigniter

58. Practical by WPBundle

59. Don’t copy.
Not too much anyway

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

61. Frankly, it gets boring.

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

66. It will show.

67. Macalicious.com (design from 45Royale)

68. Delicious Magazine by WooThemes

69. Diverse by WPBundle

70. Vetee by Themeforest

71. Hipstr Tumblr
It is popular for a reason

72. Slanted by WooThemes

73. Nimble by WPBundle

74. Auld by WooThemes

75. Shelf by The Theme Foundry

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

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

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

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

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