I decided in December that it was time for a new look at Confident Writing. I kept on falling over smart, clean, crisp blogs with beautiful typography and recognising the inner voice that was whispering ‘you know you’re going to have to try out Thesis…’
(Thesis is a new-ish WordPress theme by Chris Pearson. It has some very obviously recognisable feature like white space and easy to read text which you start to recognise after a while, however much the site has been customised.)
As well as the clean look there are lots of smart features to Thesis that go pretty much over my head (and I won’t try and explain here – plenty of information on the Thesis site if you’re interested). Although I found it easy enough to get going for some ‘quiet’ sites there were some things I found it hard to get my head round – and others where I knew I needed some design help to get the most of the investment in the new look.
Fortunately I stumbled across Tara Joyce at the Thesis Support Forums who a) seemed to be able to talk knowledgeably about scary code questions in plain English and b) had a Thesis based site that I loved the look and feel of – you can see it for yourself at the Rise of the Innerpreneur.
So off we went, and in a very short period of time she’s got the new look up and ready for me. I’d like to say a big thank you to Tara for being so well organised, professional and friendly in her approach as well as the first class job she’s done on the design. Thanks for making it so easy for me Tara.
As well as looking good… and perhaps just a little audacious… I hope you’ll find it a more pleasurable reading experience so please do pop over from your feed reader and have a look!
I’ve got a feeling the commenting experience might just turn out to be better too… why not test that out too, and let me know what you think of the new design?
PS Still got a few tweaks to sort, and please do let me know if you notice anything a bit wonky so we can fix it
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{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Joanna – It looks great! Feels just like home, probably because we use Thesis, too. Love the colored pencils and the subscription icons. Nice job!
Betsy Wuebkers last blog post..FINDING VALUE IN UNCERTAINTY
Joanna,
Congratulations – your site looks wonderful and very, very inviting. I love the coloured pencils as well…
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The Blogger as an Artist?
Great new look
David | beplayfuls last blog post..Miniguide #2: How to Doodle
Hi Joanna, What a surprise! The new theme definitely has a cleaner, more professional look. I like it! Did you select a serif font for a reason? Some say it’s easier to read.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..The Home Page – How to Write a Website, Chapter 1
Lovely, I’ve poked around and like what I see.
Bos last blog post..Waiting…
Thanks for the education on Theses. I love the clean lines of your site and have been looking for a new site style so I may be next!
Susans last blog post..A Moment of Courage – Part I
Congrats!
Thesis does have a clean look and crisp topography. Makes your reading all the more enjoyable.
Carey Suantes last blog post..Pu Gin Za Thang: Zo Suan Pasalpha
Hey, this is wonderful, Joanna! Very clean, lots of white space, nice graphical touches everywhere. Nice place you have here! (And I’m glad there’s lots of
stiffstuff you can format with, too!)Robert Hruzeks last blog post..What I Learned From 2008 – Chris Garrett
Except strikethroughs. I sure miss those.
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..What I Learned From 2008 – Chris Garrett
The box at the bottom says you can
crossstrike things out.Aha! I found the
crossoutstrike through! Cool!Robert Hruzeks last blog post..What I Learned From 2008 – Chris Garrett
Joanna, the new design is beautiful! I’ve installed Thesis for clients and I too like the nice clean design. The site has a a fresh look and I love the coloured pencils and the bit you’d done with the multimedia box. I’m attracted to space and this feels inviting. It’s funny how with each design we love it and think it can’t get any better and then you change it and it does get even better. I love this, perfect way to kick off an audacious year!
Karen Swims last blog post..The Lens of Possibility
That’s a lot of work just to get a few comments! (hee hee)
I love the new look. I’ve always been one for the more simple, clean look. Very nice.
Debbie Yosts last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Captain Diva
Hi Joanna, Since Karen announced your “audacious” new theme on Twitter, I just had to check it out. Looks great. I would describe it as sleek… smooth and sleek.
Robyn McMasters last blog post..No Holding Back Ella Mae Johnson from Inauguration
It’s beautiful, Joanna! Very . . . confident! It’s a wonderful container for your words.
Sonia Simone | Remarkable Communications last blog post..Where Are Your Blind Spots?
Nice fresh look!
I think you do a good job keeping things clean, organized and useful. You pick a few scenarios that matter, and you make them work well.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Avoid Mental Burnout
Love the new look, Joanna.
Lillie Ammanns last blog post..James Doughty Coming to Visit
Joanna, great new look! The new theme does indeed make the site easy to read, and still bring style into the mix. Like Betsy mentioned above, it feels like home – the Confident Writing home.
Rick Mahns last blog post..Happiness CCXCVIII
I like the new look! Crisp, clean, inviting, professional, and playful!
Great new look Joanna – as the others have said it is an inviting clean look that is easy on the eye and doesn’t get in the way of you outstanding writing.
Joanna, it looks great! I love the “handwritten” accents from your pencil collection, too. Love the logo. Love it. The design is worthy of your wonderful blog!
–Debs last blog post..Curse-Breaking
Nice new look. Change is good. I’m a big fan of color-accent photographs…so the umbrella image caught my eye. I’ve used it to shoot Buddhist monks. Orange is perfect for the feature.
Gennaros last blog post..A Travel Picnic To Die For
Lovely, well done Joanna.
Andy Hayess last blog post..Pour a Glass of Vino with Nat
I love the new look – I’ve been exploring and it’s a great site. Looking forward to reading more.
Joely Black (@TheCharmQuark on Twitter)s last blog post..Processing out loud: The unheard thoughts that stop me working
absolutely love the crisp new site – very clean, clear – lovely
Very nice design. I’m re-designing a couple of my own sites, and am getting some good ideas from your site. That’s a cool widget that recognizes & inserts the commenter’s most recent blog post. Where’d you find that?
Laura Christianson
Co-Founder, http://HeBlogsSheBlogs.com
Business & Corporate Blogging Services
Twitter: @heblogssheblogs
Laura Christiansons last blog post..Speling and Grammer Do Count
Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look everyone! It means so much to have you all stopping by on the first day of the new look. I know that Tara has enjoyed reading the comments and feedback too… as well she should.
Betsy, there is something about the Theme that’s really special isn’t there? Including making us feel at home
Ulla, thanks – I hope the pencils will encourage you to greater and greater audacity!
David, thank you
Brad, yes, it is supposed to be good for legibility. It’s one of Chris Pearson’s big things.
“Savvy Webmasters know that their success is tied to how well they are able to communicate their message to their audience. While language is the foundation of communication, typography is the primary means by which communication occurs online.
Typography is what language looks like.
— Ellen Lupton, Thinking with Type
How does your language look right now? Are you communicating as effectively as possible, or have poor typography and visual clutter got you down?”
http://www.pearsonified.com/themes
Bo, it’s the same stuff… hopefully easy for people to find their way round.
Susan, it does have a huge amount to offer. Good luck in your own redesign plans!
Carey, hello, and thank you.
Robert, glad we sorted out that strange stuff conversation… and found how to do strike outs
Debbie, you spotted my cunning plan! Thanks for coming over to check it out
Robyn, thanks. I like the sound of sleek.
Sonia, well it was inspired in no small part by the oomph of your own site. Leaving a comment there one day I was drooling over the layout and look and knew I was going to have to see what Thesis could do for me…
J.D., thanks. Working to a theme helps me to (try and) do that. I think it helps me to stay roughly on topic.
Lillie, thank you
Rick, hi, and thanks. It’s a strange thing doing a redesign – it’s very personal for the blogger but you want to get something your readers will like too. Glad it seems to have hit the right note with you all.
Lori, I love those adjectives… I’d like my writing to be like that too!
Leah, great feedback from one who knows… thanks.
Hi Joanna – I’m glad you mentioned the change on Twitter, otherwise I would have landed here and thought I was on the wrong blog.
It’s a beauty. Well done!
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Celebrating NBOTW One Year Annivarsary With A Free E-Book
–Deb, thanks for the feedback. All the beautiful visual elements are Tara’s work – I think she’s done a great job.
Gennaro – I love changing my site around! Seem to be doing it every 6 months or so. Think this will last a while though… plus the idea of Thesis is that you can customise without changing the theme. But I’m not doing any renovations for a while yet…
Andy, thanks
Joely, hi, good to meet you and thank you for taking the time to stop and say hello. Hope to see you again soon.
Karen, isn’t crisp a wonderful word… something I hope my writing can do too, of course. You know me…
Laura, hi, glad you’re finding some ideas here. The plug in is the CommentLuv http://www.fiddyp.co.uk/commentluv-wordpress-plugin/ – it’s a great way to give something back to your readers
Joanna
Wow! Terrific new look! Lots of great little touches to tie it all together. Very nice.
Becky McCrays last blog post..Dial2Do lets you call in emails or text messages
Beautiful Joanna! I do love the white space, so inviting. This is not just audaciousness; you continue to lead as you keep your blog ever fresh.
Rosa Says last blog post..Welcome to a Brexy Presidency
Oh Joanna
Fresh and cool like a crisp linen dress on a hot day, and just enough colour for prettiness and just enough structure so you can admire the clean lines
But you know in the end it wouldn’t matter because we come here for the writing! If it was on the back of a grubby napkin you’d still get us all reading you!
Well done and congrats for finding and choosing tara
Chriss last blog post..Secrets of Staying Together: Sex and Pregnancy
Becky, thanks – getting the help of a designer made all the difference to get the ‘little touches that tie it together’ – I’d never have spotted the opportunity. I think she’s done a great job.
Rosa, I love the white space too… room for aloha
Chris, it’s funny, the feedback I’ve loved the most is that which I feel matches the aspirations for my writing. Yours does just that – I love the image of a crisp linen dress on a hot day (though struggling a bit with the concept of a hot day!). Thanks for the comment about my writing too – much appreciated.
I see I’m very late to the party, but just had to tell you how lovely your new theme is. Lovely clean lines, the right amount of space, just lovely
Amy
xx
amypalkos last blog post..The Deserted Gardens
Not as late as I am, Amy
Love the new look Joanna – it is clean, elegant yet still welcoming and inviting with the playful graphics & icons. It suits you
Lea Woodwards last blog post..A Recession Is The Worst Time To Start A Location Independent Business. Right? Wrong.
Amy, no-one is ever late round here, esp not you! Thanks for taking the time to give me that feedback, I’m so glad you like it
Lea, feedback from someone who knows about such things is much appreciated. Thanks. I’m looking forward to seeing what you decide to do with LIP now.
Love the new look!
Amis last blog post..The Tale of the Coke Guy
Ami, hi, and thanks for stopping by to say you like the new look!
Hey!! I love your new thesis look! I have just installed mine on my site, even though I bought it last year. So far I have not done any designing but your site has just inspired me to!! Thanks!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..My Makeover
Evelyn, hi, and thanks – it looks lovely on your site. I think it looks lovely everywhere! So easy to read and pleasant to look at.
I did find customising tricky which is why I enlisted Tara’s help… good luck either doing it yourself or getting some help at your place… or leaving it just as it is
I loved the vibrant red-in-color umbrella, Joanna.
RED = Brave!
Wilson, glad you liked it. I was a bit worried you might pop over and think you were in the wrong place!
Another new design? Sigh…
With WordPress, it’s hard to stop at just the one. Yes?
Looking good Joanna!
Catherines last blog post..scottberkun.com: How to be a free thinker
Cat, so maybe you were right that I needed to move to Wordrpress… See how much fun I’m having now I’m here
Glad you like it. You know you’ll always be the #1 Confident Writing designer