New Theme WTF?

by Chris Hall on May 24, 2009 · Comments

Image representing WordPress as depicted in Cr...

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I noticed something the other day about the free/premium wordpress theme TYPEBASED that I had installed for the better part of the month. The font size was extremely small.  After checking around the internets as well as reading this small design study from Smashing Magazine, I decided that I would require a blog that utilized the Verdana font in at least 12 points. 13 point would be better, in my opinion, but its really hard to find themes based on the font and font size they utilize.

The blogs that I have come to really enjoy reading seem to have adopted this type of format, and I am really starting to appreciate it.  I  have had an affinity with small fonts and small design over the years, but my taste for small in blogs is now the opposite. When I’m reading, I want things to be easy.

So I pulled the trigger with the Fontella WordPress theme, after scouring the web for two plus hours.

Pros

What I really like about this theme, for the time being, is that it is totally focused on the last post.  Let’s face it, any kind of traffic I’m able to draw to this site is only coming for that one post anyway.  Nobody cares to peruse the blogs of people they’ve never heard of before… and until I make enough noise for people to start hearing about me this theme represents that fact.

I’m pumped about it and am anxious to start designing my posts to look hawt in this new format. :)

Feedback

Love it? Hate it? Don’t care? Let me know what you think about it in the comments below.

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  • Tricia
    And what is even more funny is that I am not typically a commenter but rather just a reader. But be very glad I didn't comment on you posting regarding online friendships -- I had practically an essay composed in my head that never made it to word. HA!
  • Chris Hall
    I love that you're a main contributor to this blog, Tricia. That really cracks me up for some reason. :) Thank you for the heartfelt comment.

    I have heeded your credentials and agree with your assessment. During my copious WordPress theme research time, I have found blog themes to be the inverse of basketball defense, to make a sports analogy:

    Each theme gives you something, while also taking something away.

    I'm not totally in love with this theme and will more than likely change it after a month. :)

    As for categories, they're now in the footer, along with a list of the last few posts.
  • Tricia
    Dear Little Brother,

    As an avid blog reader from the beginning of blogs, I feel compelled to give my opinion (heck, I'd probably feel compelled to give my opinion anyway but I thought I'd state my credentials for the record). I actually preferred the other layout. I do agree with your concerns regarding font size but I didn't think the other layout had too small a font (and I do have aged eyes!!). However, what I did like is the fact that you can peruse multiple entries on a page. If I happen on a new to me blogger, I will look at multiple entires after I read the one that I managed to find the page with as that way I know if I want to come back. Also and especially for new to me blogs, I use the old school method of just bookmarking the page and checking back in every few days so it is especially nice to just scroll down reading entires until I get to the one I've already read.

    That being said, I think a 'previous/next' link at the bottom would handle that issue just fine.

    Oh and make sure you can catagorize the entries. Again, when I visit a new to me blog sometime I only want to see a certain topic from that author so those category links are helpful (I didn't notice if there were any and there aren't any on this comments page).

    My two cents...

    Ever the wiser,

    Your Big Sister
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