FROM PIXEL TO USER

Creating WordPress themes that satisfy the design and work for the end user

WordCamp Chicago 2013 Becky Davis - @beckyddesign

ABOUT BECKY

Designer/Dev from Chicago 1st WordPress site in 2009 1st WordCamp – Chicago 2010 1st WordCamp site design – Chicago 2011

Number of WordPress custom themes built – 30+

Mom – both kids in college

WHY DO WE WORK IN WORDPRESS?

Easier for developers? (sure, there’s a plugin for that)

Easier for designers? (not really, unless they understand the structure)

Because the end client wants editing control!

http://wpmu.org/why-you-hate-the-wordpress-text-editor/

WE BUILD 2 SITES

One for the designer and publico The other is how we structure the Dashboard

and pages/posts for the end admin user

WEB DESIGN IS NOT PRINT

We usually don’t have all the content ahead of time

Web design needs to be flexible Height changes based on content Width changes responsively based on device

HOW MANY TEMPLATE PAGES NEEDED?

Every time layout changes Label them well so user

knows

/** * Template name: Full width, no sidebar*/page-full.php

LET TEMPLATES DO THE WORK

This part gets edited by the user.

This part gets populated “automagically” by adding a query loop for this particular post type.

WHERE DO I EDIT THIS?

Keep the content area in mind

Gets edited in Widgets, not the page.

DON’T EXPECT THE USER TO KNOW HTML

DON’T code HTML <div> into the content area.

No matter how well you train, the user will break it.

o DO give the user special font and other styles they may need.

DON’T RESTRICT THE TEXT

<div class=“entry-content”><?php the_content();?></div>

If ‘the_content’ is in the main area how do we get this layout to work and allow the editing to happen on the page and not a widget?

A custom template page with a custom field is one solution.

Using plugins is another.

Design should allow for content to breathe and change.

The client should be allowed to update without restrictions!

A BUNCH OF PAGES THAT NEED TO LOOK THE SAME

Product, real estate listings, chamber members etc.

Setup Custom Post (Content) Types so it’s very clear where that kind of content goes. Plugins:

Custom Post Type UI Custom Content Types Several other good ones available as well

Or roll you own

WHAT ABOUT WIDGETS?

Great if what’s in them is static If they need to change for some pages…

Dynamic Widgets is a good There are several other plugins that do similar things

If sidebar content needs to change on every page.. Graceful sidebar is great – sadly has no

WYSIWYG editor A custom template page with ACF is another way

TRAINING

All of your customizations are no good if you don’t show the end user admin how to use them

Where does what content go? Make it as simple as possible

Where do slideshows go and how do I change them?

How do I use [shortcodes] for tables, forms, slideshows?

If you hate training, find someone who doesn’t

Do more than train – have the client actually add content while developing, best way to learn

PLUGINS Advanced Custom fields

A real rockstar and has many add-ons to increase it’s versatility. http://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/, http://www.advancedcustomfields.com/add-ons

Graceful Sidebar Custom content in every page http://wordpress.org/plugins/graceful-sidebar-plugin/

Custom Post Type UI Easy to add custom taxonomies as well

http://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-post-type-ui/

Custom Content Type Manager Can add custom taxonomies, gives you a basic template to start with to show the

fields and you can pick the menu icon http://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-content-type-manager/

Needs Custom Permalinks with it to give you pretty links. http://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-permalinks/

Dynamic Widgets Assign different widget areas to different pages

http://wordpress.org/plugins/dynamic-widgets/

TablePress If you need to have tables, this is the best, easy to insert shortcode, easy to style

http://wordpress.org/plugins/tablepress/

Underscores (_s) theme Not a plugin, but a terrific starter theme that allows you complete flexibility to

customize! http://underscores.me/

CONTACT INFO

Beckydavisdesign.com @beckyddesign Slides on slideshare.net/bdgardengirl