The WordPress themes, Theseus and MNML have both been updated to take advantage of WordPress 2.5’s class-based image-alignment. Plus, all of the weird little CSS bugs in MNML appear to be corrected. The new versions of Theseus and MNML are versions 1.1 and 1.2, respectively. Check your WordPress admin Theme page to make sure you’re using the latest version.
Since I know a few of you are using heavily modified versions of MNML and a simple upgrade of the theme won’t cut it, I recommend you check out the comments section of the MNML theme post. All the bugs/changes have been discussed there.
There are more features available to WordPress theme designers in 2.5 than just class-based image alignment. I’ll be trying to think of some clever ways to use them in my upcoming themes. Hopefully I can come up with a few ideas.
10 Comments
Nice themes both of them!
I especially like the minimalistic nature and styling of Theseus!
On the MNML post, you mention WP.com’s “slogan” of “Blogging is too hard” and obviously that mantra influenced both of these releases… Do you think that blog designs have simply become too complex and verbose? And maybe they’re veering away from their purpose i.e. the written content?
Thanks, Adii.
I don’t think theme design has become to complex (except when incorporating functions better left to plugins) but I do think that some of the most popular WordPress themes are moving too far away from the blog as blog idea. Lately, I’ve been thinking about how to make something more like “a bulletin board for ideas, in a sense, rather than a sort of a periodical”. That’s an idea with almost endless inspiration and excitement for me, as a designer.
A lot of my ideas about simplicity in design have sprung from my own failures. On Upper Fort Stewart I rapidly moved to an article-based magazine-like design—and rapidly lost interest in writing articles! What I originally liked about blogging was the ability to throw up ideas in almost any form. Not just articles.
And no, I don’t think a sideblog always cuts it.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, I like the idea of leaving room for the formal and informal to work together. I don’t see a lot of themes doing that. And maybe that’s something I’ve tried to do with my themes so far.
That totally doesn’t answer your question though, does it? Did I mention I still really like complex CMS-like theme design?
You’re not really sure what you like, are you?
I agree with a lot you have said and think it raises a very valid point about where blogs are at, where they’re going and where the original concept of blogging came from… I look forward to some great posts about this topic on your blog (if you can muster the inspiration)! :)
Only sure what I don’t like: everything I designed before today. The curse of the designer. ;)
Any ETA on gravatar support in these themes?
I haven’t considered it yet. It’s a definitely maybe sort of thing right now.
Thank you very much. After spending 3 days sifting through the WP viewer and finding nothing i liked, a further search on the web provided me with Theseus. Perfectly suited for showcasing my work. Your work is an asset to WP. Well done.
I’m using your Theseus theme at my site: it’s got great layout and functionality. I’m not wild about the colors, though: is it okay if I change them? Leaving the credits intact, of course.
There’s nothing in the license about it and I figured it would be better to ask first.
Hey Lucy, Feel free to change the colors or anything you like—including the accreditation—if it suits the feel of your site. :)
I really like your themes as well as your ideas. Thanks, and keep up the good work.