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WordPress

Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points
Posted by Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points

WordPress Design Feedback

Hi Everyone,

I am making a simple WordPress site for a grad student. I was just looking for any design feedback for the site. I have an art degree but 'design' has never been my strong suit. This is a simple project I found on Craigslist so I can start building a portfolio (doing it for free). She said she wants it simple black and white and not graphic heavy. It's so faculty, students and family can view her progress as she starts grad school.

She wants to share links to publications she is in, post essays she writes so they are each a unique page, list resources for her students and have general contact info. I have essays set as a submenu with each individual essay but I need feedback from her on how she wants it. She may just want a single page with the links.

Any feedback is appreciated!

http://adamevansdesigns.com/nicole/

4 Answers

Bob Sutherton
Bob Sutherton
20,160 Points
Bob Sutherton
Bob Sutherton
20,160 Points

I would consider changing the navigation link hover color to a different color than the "current page" link color. The "current page" will be highlighted blue so I would change the hover color to something different and lighter. Maybe a lighter shade of the same blue.

I would also make the page header "Nicole Garey on literature and theory" bigger than any other text that will be shown. Some of your headings are larger than that main header so I would change that personally.

You seem to be on the right track of trying to be as dusty and musty as any academics website should be. It should look very boring! Hehe.

I would consider matching the footer colors to the school color theme as well. Maybe some different shades of the same blue color you are focusing on. These are just my opinions.

Is the header picture a picture of the University she is going to, or are you planning to put a picture of it there? That's probably a good idea.

I think you are doing a great job.

Are you using the Vantage theme?

Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points
Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points

Thanks James! This is the dazzling theme.

Bob Sutherton
Bob Sutherton
20,160 Points
Bob Sutherton
Bob Sutherton
20,160 Points

No prob, Adam. Hope you were able to get something useful out of my babbling. I would like to know how you uploaded her WordPress site to a place on your personal website. Is it difficult to do? Do you do it in c-panel?

Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points
Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points

Yep just went into cPanel and did the install and chose /dev or /nicole for the destination. I just build it there then migrate it over when complete.

Bob Sutherton
Bob Sutherton
20,160 Points
Bob Sutherton
Bob Sutherton
20,160 Points

That's cool. If you don't mind elaborating, where in c-panel do you go? I'm dumb.

Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points
Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points

No worries! It might depend on the host. For HostGator, it's at the top under Special Offers 'Get Started with WordPress' and that takes you to the quick install. With GoDaddy, it was under Web Applications: WordPress.

Bob Sutherton
Bob Sutherton
20,160 Points
Bob Sutherton
Bob Sutherton
20,160 Points

Thanks. I just don't want it to override the current version that I already have installed!

Joey L.
Joey L.
4,601 Points
Joey L.
Joey L.
4,601 Points

The design colors are nice and gentle. I have a suggestion for the layout though: both the publications and about section have very long line lengths. This makes it hard to read because you need to make a lot of eye movements from left to right and then the next line. The line lengths need to be shortened. You may recall this tip from the typography section of CSS foundations, if you watched it. I initially thought of skipping it cause it looked so boring but it was full of so much useful information.

Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points
Adam Evans
Adam Evans
6,975 Points

Thanks Joey - it is her school's color. I wanted to incorporate them but not be overbearing. I'll need to figure out what divs to target to limit the line length. I was just playing with it but the one I was targeting is used on every page - so when I set the max-width to a certain amount it limited the width of my contact page elements which I didn't like. I can adjust it on a page by page basis within WordPress as a temporary fix but this not helpful when I hand it over to her to maintain.

Joey L.
Joey L.
4,601 Points
Joey L.
Joey L.
4,601 Points

Not sure how to handle wordpress files just yet buddy, just started php. Good luck with it though!