Choose the Right Theme

“TRULY ELEGANT DESIGN INCORPORATES TOP-NOTCH FUNCTIONALITY INTO A SIMPLE, UNCLUTTERED FORM.”

—DAVID LEWIS

BAD DESIGN =

NOT INTERESTED!

Download Approved Themes Here:

http://bitly.com/bundles/erikabarkerfs/d

You have the option to use a theme of your choice, but it must meet the criteria of the program. Remember, if you stray, you pay. Make sure the theme you are choosing looks professional, and meets the criteria outlined in this lesson.

Program Theme CriteriaThe Standards of a Professional Branded Capstone Project

Navigation Bar, or Menu must be Horizontal

and at the top of the site.

Logo must be professional,

small, and not obnoxiously

large.

Uses a two column layout.

Home Page must not be

static. It must be Dynamic. In

other words we should see the

latest and greatest on the

home page.

No centered text or imagery.

Text must align to the left, along

with media elements.

Text must be legible from 6

feet away. Stick to themes with

white backgrounds.

Simple, small logo

Simple Navigation

Latest, and Greatest on home page

Easy-to-Read text

No scrolling required.Two Column

layout

Simple, small logo

Simple Navigation

Latest, and Greatest on home page

Easy-to-Read text

No scrolling required.

Two Column layout

Don’t Make These Mistakes:

Use themes with pointless

imagery, or large image headers.

Get the audience to the

information without the

need to scroll.

Don’t choose themes that don’t utilize

space properly. AVOID GAPS. BIG EMPTY SPACES ARE

YOUR ENEMY.

This is not a church hymn.

Text must be left justified.

Don’t use default WordPress

Themes. If it begins with

“Twenty”, that’s a default

WordPress Theme.

Avoid Tiled, or Image Backgrounds. Background should be a simple color that is not distracting the

reader’s eye from the content.

Text

Don’t Make IT about YOU

Installing Theme

Download the theme you wish to use.

The File you will need to upload needs to be a .zip file. If you are using Safari, it may unzip the file and you will see a folder instead. If this happens, click the folder, and

select the “compress” option.

Click on the Appearance Panel in Your WordPress Dashboard

Select the Themes option

Click on the “Install Themes” tab.

Click the “Upload” link

Click on the “Choose File” option.

Select the Zip File you downloaded.

Click the “Install Now” button.

Once your theme finishes installing, click on the “Activate” link.

Your theme should now be applied to your website.

“WHEN YOU FIRST START OFF TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM, THE FIRST SOLUTIONS YOU COME

UP WITH ARE VERY COMPLEX, AND MOST PEOPLE STOP THERE. BUT IF YOU KEEP GOING, AND LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM AND PEEL MORE LAYERS OF THE ONION OFF, YOU CAN OFTEN TIMES ARRIVE AT SOME VERY ELEGANT AND

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS. MOST PEOPLE JUST DON'T PUT IN THE TIME OR ENERGY TO GET THERE. WE

BELIEVE THAT CUSTOMERS ARE SMART, AND WANT OBJECTS WHICH ARE WELL THOUGHT

THROUGH.”

—STEVE JOBS