Comments on: Thoughts on the re-design of my blog’s theme? http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/ The personal blog of a Vancouver-based educator in environmental issues Wed, 23 May 2012 06:23:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Matt http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1247 Matt Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:18:40 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1247 I like the page buttons at the top, but preferred the old colour scheme. Could the blog roll go on its own page maybe? RSS would be better higher but isn't too hard to find. I have visited a # of blogs lately with no visible rss button. WTF? I like the page buttons at the top, but preferred the old colour scheme. Could the blog roll go on its own page maybe? RSS would be better higher but isn’t too hard to find. I have visited a # of blogs lately with no visible rss button. WTF?

]]> By: Raul http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1246 Raul Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:57:19 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1246 @ Rebecca and @ Karen - I don't think I can alter the color scheme for text colour and background. That was one of the things I couldn't modify. I tried with "Green" and all it changed was the color of the tabs. @ Rebecca and @ Karen – I don’t think I can alter the color scheme for text colour and background. That was one of the things I couldn’t modify. I tried with “Green” and all it changed was the color of the tabs.

]]> By: Karen http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1245 Karen Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:39:47 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1245 Like the redesign, Raul and Rebecca! Text is easier to read in this format (though I echo Luc's suggestion to increase contrast between the text colour and bg colours). While we haven't had the chance to meet in person, you certainly are more vibrant than "cool blue" =) Like the redesign, Raul and Rebecca! Text is easier to read in this format (though I echo Luc’s suggestion to increase contrast between the text colour and bg colours).

While we haven’t had the chance to meet in person, you certainly are more vibrant than “cool blue” =)

]]> By: Rebecca http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1244 Rebecca Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:12:10 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1244 Raul, there were a few standard colour change options for this theme in a drop-down menu... remember you chose "cool blue"? Maybe there's another colour that might fit for now? Raul, there were a few standard colour change options for this theme in a drop-down menu… remember you chose “cool blue”? Maybe there’s another colour that might fit for now?

]]> By: Raul http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1249 Raul Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:18:12 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1249 @ Erika - Thanks! I need to move to WordPress.org to be able to modify the CSS. Unfortunately, I am not sure I am ready to do that just yet. @ Erika – Thanks! I need to move to WordPress.org to be able to modify the CSS. Unfortunately, I am not sure I am ready to do that just yet.

]]> By: Erika Rathje http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1248 Erika Rathje Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:36:01 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1248 Hi Raul, Much easier to read for sure, as far as line length goes! Looks good. Kudos to Rebecca for taking on the task. I do have to say though (and I *am* a designer) that it lacks personality. It feels too generic, especially for someone with so strong a character as yourself! I second the thoughts on colours; that's definitely a big part of it. As I've spent little time in WordPress (.com no less) I'm not familiar with the restrictions imposed but any knowledgeable designer will tell you what a professional design will do for business. A blog is all about personality and while many people use RSS and I'm one of them, you might start thinking about giving yourself the freedom to experiment. After all, we wouldn't have wacky looking and unique blogs if it were 100% about content, right? ;) "The medium is the message!" Best of luck. Hi Raul,

Much easier to read for sure, as far as line length goes! Looks good. Kudos to Rebecca for taking on the task. I do have to say though (and I *am* a designer) that it lacks personality. It feels too generic, especially for someone with so strong a character as yourself! I second the thoughts on colours; that’s definitely a big part of it.

As I’ve spent little time in WordPress (.com no less) I’m not familiar with the restrictions imposed but any knowledgeable designer will tell you what a professional design will do for business. A blog is all about personality and while many people use RSS and I’m one of them, you might start thinking about giving yourself the freedom to experiment. After all, we wouldn’t have wacky looking and unique blogs if it were 100% about content, right? ;) “The medium is the message!” Best of luck.

]]> By: Raul http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1251 Raul Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:53:40 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1251 @ Newmark - I didn't know you didn't get the actual redesign. But you can read it directly now ;) @ Luc - thanks for the feedback. I'm going to be playing with the color scheme - will be playing with RSS buttons too @ TeflonJedi - you probably should ;) @ Newmark – I didn’t know you didn’t get the actual redesign. But you can read it directly now ;)

@ Luc – thanks for the feedback. I’m going to be playing with the color scheme – will be playing with RSS buttons too

@ TeflonJedi – you probably should ;)

]]> By: teflonjedi http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1250 teflonjedi Sun, 22 Jun 2008 01:44:22 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1250 Looks very clean...I wonder if I should be redesigning mine? If I only had the time... Looks very clean…I wonder if I should be redesigning mine? If I only had the time…

]]> By: luc http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1255 luc Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:23:14 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1255 Te felicito! I like it that the site is still light and uncluttered so that it loads fast. I normally read the feeds and visit the site only to submit comments. My suggestions, and I'm no designer by any means: - colors: they seem too bland for a cheerfull hummingbird, <i><a href="http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/hummingbird_color.htm" rel="nofollow">No other bird possesses such a wide spectrum of breathtaking colors as the hummingbird.</a></i> - the text color scheme doesn't have enough contrast and makes it harder on the eye: the light greyish text on the light purple background in the comments; the light purple text for the tags. - suggest to move RSS buttons to the top because you probably want to encourage people to subscribe w/o scanning for "how do I do that" on the page, all the way down. - same for Recent Posts - Blogroll: I've always wondered what's the value of it because I think that people visit other fine blogs thanks to being mentioned in an interesting post, or a comment, not due to a "shopping list". IMHO, a blogroll is as fascinating as a book's index. Te felicito!
I like it that the site is still light and uncluttered so that it loads fast. I normally read the feeds and visit the site only to submit comments.
My suggestions, and I’m no designer by any means:
- colors: they seem too bland for a cheerfull hummingbird, No other bird possesses such a wide spectrum of breathtaking colors as the hummingbird.
- the text color scheme doesn’t have enough contrast and makes it harder on the eye: the light greyish text on the light purple background in the comments; the light purple text for the tags.
- suggest to move RSS buttons to the top because you probably want to encourage people to subscribe w/o scanning for “how do I do that” on the page, all the way down.
- same for Recent Posts
- Blogroll: I’ve always wondered what’s the value of it because I think that people visit other fine blogs thanks to being mentioned in an interesting post, or a comment, not due to a “shopping list”. IMHO, a blogroll is as fascinating as a book’s index.

]]> By: Newmark http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1254 Newmark Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:20:47 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1254 Well, I subscribe to it through bloglines. The new format doesn't appear any differently there. Well, I subscribe to it through bloglines. The new format doesn’t appear any differently there.

]]> By: Raul http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1253 Raul Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:02:11 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1253 @ Andy - Thanks! I agree, the design looks much tighter. @ Rebecca - True. Since you didn't actually write the theme and you couldn't modify its CSS (given the fact that I am on WordPress.com, just with clean URLs), it might have made it hard. But still, I am very grateful for the improvements you did on my site! @ Andy – Thanks! I agree, the design looks much tighter.

@ Rebecca – True. Since you didn’t actually write the theme and you couldn’t modify its CSS (given the fact that I am on WordPress.com, just with clean URLs), it might have made it hard. But still, I am very grateful for the improvements you did on my site!

]]> By: Rebecca http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1252 Rebecca Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:59:11 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1252 I think that given how we're limited ie. not able to touch the php or css or any design elements other than what WP.com gives you... yeah it's still better :-P I think that given how we’re limited ie. not able to touch the php or css or any design elements other than what WP.com gives you… yeah it’s still better :-P

]]> By: Andy Peatling http://hummingbird604.com/2008/06/21/thoughts-on-the-re-design-of-my-blogs-theme/comment-page-1/#comment-1256 Andy Peatling Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:49:48 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1028#comment-1256 I think this is a big improvement Raul. The design is a lot tighter than your old one and it brings everything together better. I think this is a big improvement Raul. The design is a lot tighter than your old one and it brings everything together better.

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