Jumpstart into Themes

Links and resources to go along with a Jumpstart session called Find the Perfect Theme at WordCamp Phoenix 2013.

Download full slides with notes: Find the Perfect Theme [PDF 25 MB]

Watch the full video of the 2013 WordCamp Phoenix talk on wordpress.tv [34 minutes]

What is a theme?

• Codex: Themes
• woothemes.com/frequently-asked-questions
• Graph Paper Press beginner’s guide to WordPress (PDF)
• ithemes.com/start-here

Glossary and terms

• Codex: Theme Glossary
• Codex: WordPress Semantics
• Ultimate WP Theme Development Glossary
• Themesorter Glossary
• Codex: Blog design

Child themes, frameworks, marketplaces

• Codex: Child Themes
• WordPress.tv videos on child themes
• Theme marketplace comparison (WPCandy)
• Frameworks comparison (WPCandy)
• Genesis on “frameworks” (PDF)

Finding, choosing, and installing themes

Read

• WordPress.org Extend directory of free themes
• WordPress.org Extend commercial theme listing
• Discussion on finding great themes
• Personalize Your Site’s Appearance (WordPress.com)
• How to find WordPress themes, quickly and easily (WPCandy)
• Stop! Do Not Buy That Commercial WordPress Theme
• Free Themes vs. Premium Themes – The Big Debate (wplift)
• iThemes — Premium WordPress Theme Guide
• How to Install Genesis or a Child Theme (StudioPress)
• ThemeSorter — list of sellers
• WooVille — fun map of commercial theme companies
• Now Let’s Talk Themes, Shall We? (great article about choosing themes — and that it’s OK to switch themes

Watch

• Choosing a theme for your blog (WordPress.tv)
• Previewing and activating themes (WordPress.tv)
• How to install a WooTheme
• Designing Success for WordPress (WordPress.tv)
• Sam Cooke: How to Pick a Theme (WordPress.tv)

Listen

• Weekly Theme Show podcast on WPCandy

Modify and customize your theme

Read

• Customize my site (WordPress.com)
• Using Themes (WordPress.com)
• Customize your theme on WordPress.com: Widgets, Custom Header Image, Custom Menus, Featured Images, Editing CSS with Custom Design upgrade.

Watch

• Customizing your site’s appearance (WordPress.tv)

Twenty Twelve examples

• Twenty Twelve default look
• John James Jacoby — JJJ’s blog is a nice example of small customization touches to make it a personal blog
• Adventures of Lance and Erin — Custom background, title font, small tweaks with CSS
• JennaBethDay.com — Fully changed into a beautiful custom design

Twenty Eleven examples

• Default Twenty Eleven look
• baramphotography.net — Beautiful photography by Aimee Bar-am, based in the Phoenix area
• Men in Black III — Feature film site using Twenty Eleven
• More Twenty Eleven customization examples: here and here

Twenty Ten examples

• Default look of Twenty Ten
• George Orwell’s Diary — Posted 70 years to the day after they were written
• Friends of Urban Wildlife — Erin Willett’s non-profit group in Tucson
• Bake Love Not War — Neat customization, blogger from South Africa
• The Blonde Coyote Mary Caperton Morton’s site, which uses a child theme of Twenty Ten called Vostok

Where to find a theme pro

• WordCamps
• Local WordPress meetups
• CodePoet Directory
• WPCandy Pros
• jobs.wordpress.net

Other Sites and Links From Slides

Here are the themes, sites, and links I mentioned in my talk that are not listed somewhere above.

Themes mentioned

• Twenty Twelve by the WordPress team
• Mystique by Milenko Popovič (aka “Mile” or Digital Nature)
• AutoFocus by Allan Cole
• Twenty Eleven by the WordPress team
• Sandbox from Scott Wallick—oldie but solidly goodie
• Starkers by Elliot Jay Stocks
• Underscores (aka _s) is a starter theme by Automattic
• Genesis from StudioPress
• Hybrid by Justin Tadlock
• Oulipo by Andrea Mignolo
• Quintus by Automattic
• Standard theme by 8BIT
• Twenty Ten by the WordPress team
• Vostok — a Twenty Ten child theme

Stories and examples

• Interview With Brad Potter (WPTavern)
• Ian Stewarts On WordPress Themes For 2012 (WPTavern)
• Themes are “new shiny toys” (Pete VanWest on Twitter)
• Make an impression (like a business card design) (Brian Gardner on Twitter)
• A Theme With 70 Different Widget Spots (WPTavern)
• Demo of actual theme with the 70 widget locations