Not just another Wordpress blog

My presentation for Wordcamp Greece 2011 @ Thessaloniki.

Transcript

1. Not just another
   Wordpress blog
   Wordcamp 2011, Thessaloniki
   

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2. Not just another
   Wordpress blog
   Wordcamp 2011, Thessaloniki
   

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3. Some stuff about me
   (I’m interesting. I think.)
   

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4. My name is Zaharenia
   http://sugarenia.com – @sugarenia
   

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5. My name is Zaharenia
   http://sugarenia.com – @sugarenia
   ≠
   

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6. My name is Zaharenia
   http://sugarenia.com – @sugarenia
   ≠
   

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7. ...and this is Gadget, my cat
   (he doesn’t like walking on a leash)
   

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8. I think I want to be
   a freelancer...
   – Me, circa 2009
   

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10. The problem
    

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11. terrainnova.gr/αν-το-περιεχόµενο-είναι-
    βασιλιάς-το-design-τ/
    

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12. Αν εποµένως το πιο σηµαντικό είναι
    το περιεχόµενο σε µια παρουσία
    online (...) µήπως το αντίπαλο δέος
    το οποίο για χάρη συντοµίας θα το
    πω design πρέπει να είναι αυτό
    που θα ‘θυσιαστεί’;
    “
    „
    

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13. Πλέον η ουσία βρίσκεται (...) να
    βρεθείς µέσω των social media
    µπροστά στους χρήστες ή τους
    καταναλωτές σου (...) Και κανένα
    design όσο και να λειτουργήσει ως
    ‘κράχτης’ και όσο καλό και να είναι
    δεν πρόκειται να βοηθήσει
    σηµαντικά επ’ αυτού – ειδικά
    µακροπρόθεσµα.
    “
    „
    

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14. Arras (arrastheme.com)
    

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15. Everyone.
    Whom is this presentation for?
    

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16. This.
    So what’s your problem anyway?
    

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17. Bueno by WooThemes
    

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18. Aurora Borealis by Themeforest
    

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19. Topzglow by simplyWP
    

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20. MyWordpress by Themeforest
    

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21. Fresh News by WooThemes
    

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22. Header
    

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23. Header
    Fat Footer
    

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24. Header
    Fat Footer
    Most popular
    

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25. Header
    Fat Footer
    Carousel
    Most popular
    

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26. Header
    Fat Footer
    Carousel
    Featured
    Most popular
    

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27. Header
    Fat Footer
    Carousel
    Featured
    Most popular
    Tag clouds
    

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28. Pffffft...
    Wait, tag clouds?
    

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29. Whut?
    

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30. Hey, I’ve seen it before...
    The dreaded Wordpress look
    

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31. Tight deadlines.
    Why do we do this?
    

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32. Tight budgets.
    Why do we do this?
    

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33. Laziness.
    Why do we do this?
    

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34. Let’s change this.
    

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35. Art Direction
    The elephant in the room
    

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36. alistapart.com/articles/art-direction-and-design
    

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37. Art direction brings clarity and
    definition to our work; it helps our
    work convey a specific message
    to a particular group of people.
    “
    „
    

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38. This is not your aunt’s travel blog...
    

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39. ...and this is not a pharmacy website.
    

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40. Design Research
    You. Need. It.
    

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41. Moodboards
    Capture the mood of the website
    

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42. viget.com/inspire/perspectives-on-mood-boards
    

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43. The purpose of a mood board is
    to set the tone & style of a design
    effort, without the distraction of
    flow and architecture.
    “
    „
    

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47. Use whatever suits you
    OneNote, Curio, Photoshop, LittleSnapper...
    

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48. Best-sellers? Stay away.
    So generic it hurts
    

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49. (Plus they all look alike)
    

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50. Striking by ThemeForest
    

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51. inFocus by ThemeForest
    

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52. Display by ThemeForest
    

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53. Go stylish minimal
    But only if you have to
    

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54. Dandelion by Themeforest
    

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55. Briefed by WooThemes
    

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56. Modest by ElegantThemes
    

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57. Penelope by cssigniter
    

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58. Practical by WPBundle
    

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59. Don’t copy.
    Not too much anyway
    

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60. Almost 89,2% of tutorial
    sites looks like PsdTuts
    or Smashing Magazine.
    – Me
    

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61. Frankly, it gets boring.
    

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65. No more magazines.
    Especially when you don’t have content
    

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66. It will show.
    

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67. Macalicious.com (design from 45Royale)
    

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68. Delicious Magazine by WooThemes
    

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69. Diverse by WPBundle
    

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70. Vetee by Themeforest
    

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71. Hipstr Tumblr
    It is popular for a reason
    

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72. Slanted by WooThemes
    

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73. Nimble by WPBundle
    

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74. Auld by WooThemes
    

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75. Shelf by The Theme Foundry
    

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77. Recap time!
    (This is what you should write down)
    

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78. Don’t
    Wordpress look
    Marketplace best-sellers
    Magazine themes without content
    

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79. Do
    Design research
    Minimalism & personality
    Lean ’n’ mean original themes
    

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80. No more of this.
    Don’t make me spank you.
    

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81. Thank you! You’re cool.
    Zaharenia Atzitzikaki
    UI designer
    http://sugarenia.com
    @sugarenia
    

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