The next step after initiating a public blog, is to make the blog attractive.
Now, I had my hands dirty with html codes before, so I went straight into it. Not long after, I felt completely at lost. It’s been more than 5 years since I properly toggle around with decorating websites, and my days of myspace profile editing was long gone. I’m stuck. But I’m pretty sure I didn’t want to get stuck with this ready-available blog template by blogger.
Acknowledging the fact that I’m awkwardly a noob now, I embrace the suffering.
So I went to blogskins.com for some inspiration, and maybe try to revise their codes whatever their designs, probably steal things here and there and voila – ultimately end up with my own beast skin. Doesn’t make that legitimate, but thought it would give me a head start.
It isn’t as simple as it looked. First of all, you don’t have much freedom because some of the codes are set up this way, which doesn’t necessarily agree with the other bunch of codes. In other words, you’re left with a mud pie. There’s also another factor that made this attempt hopeless. I came upon the conclusion that users who post on blogskins in majority are teenage/young adult girls. Not that I have any problem with them, but there were too much social dilemmas and identity searching quotes, a bit too many flowers for my taste too. It’s too stylized and that makes me depressed because I like simple. ):
Simplicity. It’s the only thing that tells the reader that your blog is completely harmless. So that’s an advice for you. With just the right, clean, and slick design, any reader would welcome it like a book. Too many pictures, colours, unfamiliar font types would do nothing but cloud it – and ultimately scare your reader. Would you really expect to read a book on ‘Impact’ font style without struggling?
I am left with one option - to shake hands with blogger’s ready-made template and then add a little bit of my own personal touch. It took me as long as a day and a half to play around with the advanced settings to suit my personal taste. After a few attempts of subconsciously making it too complicated, I’ve made a list to meet design requirements (It’s purely for my own benefit. Hopefully I will refer to this in the future).
1. Simple, easy to read design (as I mentioned before)
2. Maximum of 3 colours that complements each other.
3. Light colours, preferably white for the blog entries
(I really tried to push black into it, but it looks constricted and solid. It’s better to read a blog with an open mind right?)
4. Not too many gadgets – it is after all, a blog. It should serve its purpose.
5. Encourage use of pictures, but with a good balance in mind.
6. (Finally) Avoid declaring openly to a specific interest – eg) a musical band. Obviously, if you put ‘Radiohead’ as your header, you’re going to be looked upon as that Radiohead-fan user who blogs. Keep yourself free from labels, unless you want to dedicate your blog to that interest!
With a few touches from photoshop for the background and the title, I can officially say that this is my design. It isn’t much, and it probably looks standard than unique (and very easily achievable) but I’m happy with it. I pride myself that I figured it all out.
Here’s a couple of blog/websites that I would give a two thumbs up for design. It’s purely coincidence that they’re blue. Here it is!
'Til next post! Mission accomplished.
Now, I had my hands dirty with html codes before, so I went straight into it. Not long after, I felt completely at lost. It’s been more than 5 years since I properly toggle around with decorating websites, and my days of myspace profile editing was long gone. I’m stuck. But I’m pretty sure I didn’t want to get stuck with this ready-available blog template by blogger.
Acknowledging the fact that I’m awkwardly a noob now, I embrace the suffering.
So I went to blogskins.com for some inspiration, and maybe try to revise their codes whatever their designs, probably steal things here and there and voila – ultimately end up with my own beast skin. Doesn’t make that legitimate, but thought it would give me a head start.
It isn’t as simple as it looked. First of all, you don’t have much freedom because some of the codes are set up this way, which doesn’t necessarily agree with the other bunch of codes. In other words, you’re left with a mud pie. There’s also another factor that made this attempt hopeless. I came upon the conclusion that users who post on blogskins in majority are teenage/young adult girls. Not that I have any problem with them, but there were too much social dilemmas and identity searching quotes, a bit too many flowers for my taste too. It’s too stylized and that makes me depressed because I like simple. ):
Simplicity. It’s the only thing that tells the reader that your blog is completely harmless. So that’s an advice for you. With just the right, clean, and slick design, any reader would welcome it like a book. Too many pictures, colours, unfamiliar font types would do nothing but cloud it – and ultimately scare your reader. Would you really expect to read a book on ‘Impact’ font style without struggling?
I am left with one option - to shake hands with blogger’s ready-made template and then add a little bit of my own personal touch. It took me as long as a day and a half to play around with the advanced settings to suit my personal taste. After a few attempts of subconsciously making it too complicated, I’ve made a list to meet design requirements (It’s purely for my own benefit. Hopefully I will refer to this in the future).
So Really, What Makes A Good Blog Design?!
1. Simple, easy to read design (as I mentioned before)
2. Maximum of 3 colours that complements each other.
3. Light colours, preferably white for the blog entries
(I really tried to push black into it, but it looks constricted and solid. It’s better to read a blog with an open mind right?)
4. Not too many gadgets – it is after all, a blog. It should serve its purpose.
5. Encourage use of pictures, but with a good balance in mind.
6. (Finally) Avoid declaring openly to a specific interest – eg) a musical band. Obviously, if you put ‘Radiohead’ as your header, you’re going to be looked upon as that Radiohead-fan user who blogs. Keep yourself free from labels, unless you want to dedicate your blog to that interest!
With a few touches from photoshop for the background and the title, I can officially say that this is my design. It isn’t much, and it probably looks standard than unique (and very easily achievable) but I’m happy with it. I pride myself that I figured it all out.
Here’s a couple of blog/websites that I would give a two thumbs up for design. It’s purely coincidence that they’re blue. Here it is!
'Til next post! Mission accomplished.
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