General: Template or Create?

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      CommentAuthorSpode
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2008
     

    Karl and I are currently working on launching a new website, thinkabouttech.com. This is going to be somewhat replacing Spode's Abode as my dumping ground for technical blog posts, and Spode's Abode is perhaps going to become more personal and non-technology related. I'll explain more about the site when it's launched in the next couple of weeks. Karl and Ben have been working on the logo, with a little input from me and have come up with the following:

    I really like it, very professional and fits the image of the site nicely. So the next question is that of design. At the moment, we're thinking of using Vanilla, but I want it to look different to Spode's Abode. So do I design and tweak something myself, or consider a website template? The worry with using templates is that you'll end up with a website that looks like someone elses, but dream template offers 300 high quality templates free of charge, and thousands for a nominal fee. I'm seriously considering it, and I'd love to hear anyone else's opinions on this :)

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      CommentAuthorKrazyIvan
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2008
     

    If you want to save time, and hit the ground running, go with the template. They do have some nice looking designs. I guess it depends on how much you value your time. :)

    • CommentAuthorBeanz
    • CommentTimeAug 23rd 2008
     

    Most websites that are user-friendly are based on a few core templates that they find from such template sites, or from major sites. To be perfectly honest, although designing your own and building your own from scratch is a refreshing task at times; it is a) time consuming and b) nearly always ends up looking like a template someone else has up available anyway.

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      CommentAuthorSpode
    • CommentTimeAug 23rd 2008
     

    I think Karl fancies trying to tackle this himself and is going to give it a go on Sunday. If we don't end up with it being most of the way there, we'll probably consider a template.

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      CommentAuthorKrazyIvan
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008
     

    I watched Johnny Mnemonic last night and for some reason your logo came to mind. :D

    • CommentAuthorNaffanDroo
    • CommentTimeAug 27th 2008
     

    Have you guys thought about using WordPress and making your own theme? Gives you the back end and user control plus plug-ins if you need them, can have moderation on posts and comments too if needed... I've used it for my site, though admittedly I haven't made my own themes or looked around and what else is out there.

    One of my friends used to use it a fair bit on web sites that he was tasked to build that required content management.

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      CommentAuthorSpode
    • CommentTimeAug 27th 2008
     

    The problem with WordPress is I want to promote proper forum activity. WordPress is blogging software and the best you'll get is comments on your posts.

    • CommentAuthorNaffanDroo
    • CommentTimeAug 27th 2008
     

    Looks like a few people have thought the same: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=97107 Maybe try em out on your desktop see if they're actually any good or just way too complicated to bother with.

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      CommentAuthorSpode
    • CommentTimeAug 27th 2008
     

    All the WordPress integrations I've seen are complicated and tedious. What I have here is a nice balance, and as a number of people are using the BlogThis extension, I do feel a certain amount of duty to keep the project alive!

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Copyright Andrew Miller (Spode), 2008