EricdMunoz.com » Design

Less is more

eric — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:54:08 +0000

With the launching of http://mr-munoz.com/, and a few other websites that I contribute to, I don’t feel I’m doing justice to my personal site.

Expect a redesign… with a lot less updating.

Sorry… I just don’t have time for the upkeep.

Also, for those who like the 8th grade quotes, I’ll move those to my Mr. Munoz.

Those posts will Twitter updates, too, via Mr. Munoz’s Twitter page.

Top 10 WordPress-powered sites

eric — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:10:45 +0000

In my short time in design and programming sites, I’ve had the opportunity to search FOR HOURS for great examples of WordPress and how people are using the CMS for their benefit. Now that I have a decent amount of experience with it, here are my TOP TEN.

10. It’s a tie!! – All Things Digital and WordPress Jedi

So I had trouble deciding which to pick for last place. WordPress Jedi is a beautiful site that has administrators that are entirely focused on communication. WordPress IS an amazing source and medium for communication in a CMS that asks users to stay involved and contribute. Also its organization is worthy of taking note (something I feel is difficult for designers to deal with). As for All Things Digital, the site is a branch of The Wall Street Journal gives an abundant amount of information in the tech industry and web culture. The only thing the site lacks is a more Web 2.5 design.

One last bit of indulging with WordPress Jedi… TOOLBAR! It reminds me of FB’s toolbar and gives the user the opportunity to take what WPJedi has to offer and share it with others. Little items like this really make a website take it to that next level and showcases the real WP usability.

9. WordPress.com (WTF?!)

Well I’ll tell you WTF I chose .COM (just calm down!). WordPress.com’s old site lacked any type of REAL interactivity and understanding of the Web 3.0 purpose…. until they did a redesign about 6 months ago. Their front page is FULL of new and popular posts. The activity is ENDLESS for .com and gives the less knowledgeable blogger an awesome visual to what exactly what .com has to offer.

WordPress.com obviously uses WordPress MU, but I think that they’ve really hit on a really important note: centralizing content for users. WP.com gives bloggers (from beginner to advanced) an outlet that can/will/should be read and commented to be a comment-ready community. Tags and searches help further this along. One last highlight of .com is that, as a user, you get the backing of WP, it’s team, their updates and promises.

8. Swampland

With me being a political nerd, I look all over the net for great resources. Obviously, the big names in news are great sources, but now, with bloggers being added as legitimate journalists, these news sources have started using WP for their op-ed sections for those who update multiple time in a week or day.

I chose Swampland for using WP exactly how it should be used. Multiple users, multiple topics, effective use of categories, feeds, and comments. Part of its effectiveness is the design. It is simple and straight forward. If you’re on a single page, they don’t hide where sharing options are which gives the spread of news and ideas to get out more quickly. The use of third party Twitter and blog writers are picking up, but the sharing features should never go away for every other moment that you’re not at your own PC.

7. WebdesignerDepot

WebdesignerDepot is a oldy and favorite of mine. WDD is known for taking open-source idea, systems and products and sharing the crap out of them. I know that this may be a shallow reason to add it to the list, but I’d like to add that they aren’t just thieves from the open-source world. They have great writers that don’t just let you design for your pleasure.

The anonymous writers give you great theoretical pieces like, “10 Writing Tips for Web Designers”, “To School or Not to School”, or “Apple vs. Microsoft – A Website Usability Study”. I (and so many designers I know) really appreciate the time that it takes to punch out an analysis of a certain design or coding topic.

One last item about WDD, is their design. I can’t tell you how much I love the full-size, integrated background image. I know this has been around for a while, but I know for sure that WDD was the first site that I had ever seen it flawlessly done. Also, WDD is built on WP and is quite possibly the CLEANEST coded site I’ve ever seen.

6. CNN-PoliticalTicker

CNN’s PoliticalTicker is another great example of a news magazine style CMS built on WordPress. Again, the idea of having a part of a news site dedicated to the use of a more commentary purpose, CNN gives their authors the ability to update… RAPIDLY! Again, their structure of posts (tags, categories, twitter) is superb and the design is beautifully clean. I find this site to be different only because it’s backing by such a large corporation, but yet they’ve chosen a basic platform that even a dummy like me to work with it.

5. CSSRemix

CSSRemix is a site that isn’t like too many others with HOW they deliver their content. They’ve taken javascript screenshots of submitted sites and reproduced them on their front page giving the user over 25 different choices to evaluate.

I will say that CSSRemix is a designer’s site, but the concept could be used in different mediums and tweaked to incorporate video clips. But the reason why it’s so high on the list, is because of the use of CSS. WordPress is useless without CSS. Any designer knows that the aesthetics DOES matter, ESPECIALLY with WordPress.

4. Six Revisions

Six Revisions is an awesome site! Wow, where do I begin!!?? The biggest reason why Six Revisions is number four is because… it’s BIG! The amount of articles that this site pumps out… is endless. The freebies and tutorials that the SR gives to the public is absolutely worth every minute spent on the site.

With designers from Vandelay Design, the site is backed by some of the most seasoned designers. The site itself isn’t too amazing, but has the usual Web 3.0 features.

Here’s some of the great articles from Six Revisions:

Color: The Next Limited Resource?
Top 20 Essential Firefox Add-ons for Web Designers
16 WordPress Sites to Help You Build a Better Blog
50 Stunning Video Game Concept Art
Announcement: UPrinting Business Card Giveaway Winners

3. ScoopDaily

ScoopDaily, formerly Scoop08 and Scoop44, was designed to cover the new Obama Administration and the political arena that surrounds them. Being comprised of almost ALL Harvard grads (just like Mark Zuckerberg) and is ran fabulously with WordPress.

It’s easy to say that this site is pretty normal and just another opinionated WP blog, but I must stop you there and disagree. Again, the nerd in me searches for sites like this. I have yet to come across such a site that has a team that is YOUNG (younger than me?) and has a successful site with countless authors. The readership is through the roof and offers a community in which discussion is non-stop.

The current/new design of the site pushes the user to be more involved (ie. allowing you to create your own WP user account!). Lastly, the new design to trash one item I loved… DISQUS!. I love Disqus and the ability to track comments all over the web, but alas, no more for ScoopDaily.

2. Smashing Magazine

Smashing Magazine is an all-encompassing community design site. Forums, freebies, tutorials, jobs, books and more!! The articles are sssooo good… chock-full of info on how to do things and where to get things to get the job done.

Here are two great examples of how Smashing using their internet tentacles to not only drive you to their network sites, but also to show case that the experience that they have working for them.

Smashing may be like other interweb design sites, but Smashing’s network pulls in information and articles from outside of its border which makes it a leader in problem/solution articles.

1. The Chris Coyier network

Ok, ok, ok… so I knew I was waiting to put this one up. I found CSS-Trick through a friend and I’ve NEVER looked back. The forum has been an amazing asset to designing… ESPECIALLY with WordPress.

Chris Coyier is a MASTER at design and functionality. I’m not 100% sure how Chris makes his money, but he deserves every penny he makes. The focal point in his network is CSS-Tricks, but he has multiple sites. But before moving to those, let’s look at CSS-Tricks first.

I can’t stress enough that the articles that Chris writes and produces are phenomenal and relevant. This is the first valuable point that I want to make.

Second, the actual design and function of CSS-Trick. The side bar has a FAQ section and the footer is Chris’s gateway to the rest of this network.

the videos

Lastly, the forum is big and the users are knowledgeable and they actually HELP!! Here’s some of my issues that I’ve gotten help with: PROBLEMS.

If we look at Chris’s network we have CSS-Tricks, Digging into WordPress, Script & Style, Quotes on Design, HTML IPSUM, and Are My Sites Up?.

Digging into Wordpress: Wordpress insight and a specific resource for a specific CMS.
Script & Style: A showcase site providing a plethora of different sites and examples of design and functionality.
Quotes on Design: Fun!
HTML IPSUM: The utlimate Lorem Ipsum resource. Don’t go anywhere else.
Are My Sites Up?: Wondering if you’re sites are down? Hate your server? AMSU is like a server “nanny cam” for you.

Summation

Don’t ever give up on WordPress. These sites should give encouragement that great things are possible with WP. There are no boundaries when incorporating functionality and design for your WP site. Also, in case the obvious isn’t so obvious for you, make sure to utilize these for your own benefit.

Some changes!

eric — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:12:26 +0000

So I’ve done some updating to the site and I’m utilizing some more functioning plugins to communicate better. These are some of the changes to the design, such as the front page’s image previews and a few small updates to my footer ↓. As for functionality, I’ve fixed my Twitter redirection, started using categories, embedding html and php in posts more effectively, and I’ve organized the back-end so that posting blogs is more streamlined and focused.

One piece of GREAT news, is that I’ve completed another project using WordPress! Deer Hill Expeditions is officially up and running. After nearly THREE months, Rick and I are finally done with the site. The site has a plethora of page templates and so many plugins it’s spinning my head. From navigation php to a distinct look and feel that is top notch and very 3.0. The functionality of the site gives the owners of the site a larger landscape in communicating with their potential clients.

Lastly, here’s a video just for kicks… (I’m writing this on a snow day )

Plugins and Beef

eric — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:56:21 +0000

So I’ve been coding (PSD to WordPress) this site (Deer Hill Expeditions), and I had a HECK-of-a time dealing with plugins. Specifically, I used MM Forms for the forms on the site. Well… let me back up even more. I started out with the Contact Form 7, a widely used form generator that failed me a great deal.

I installed Contact Form 7 and styled it to a “T” with great precision and detail. I had done this on a test WordPress install and had completed the design and implementation of the entire site. I will say that this site, as WordPress standards are concerned, isn’t an opus to me, but rather a site that sits as a standard WordPress design. The form had gone right along with the site; a great fulfilling piece.

I went on to migrate from the test site to the clients host company. Among the complications and problems, my Contact Form 7 plugin failed. I spent two weeks trying to figure out the problem. I’d like to say that up to this point in my WP endeavors, I have NEVER had a problem with any plugin. I do not assert that plugins are flawless and made by robots, but rather people who create these php tweaks for WP.

But I digress…

The fault that I kept running into was that the form was cached into the database that I was using. Not being that knowledgeable in php or databases, I gave up after 3 days of playing with it. I don’t feel like I threw my hands up in the air with the site or form. I found MM Forms, which mimics the Contact Form 7 and has worked NEAR flawlessly.

But, wait! This post wouldn’t be complete without another challenge. I installed MM Forms and, low and behold, there’s a bug!

For some reason the tag [name] is unacceptable for the plugin. It took me forever to figure this out, but I had to search for the right term on http://www.wordpress.org. I finally found it here: http://tinyurl.com/ylcgcoz. By not giving a specific name to the [name] tag, the form would go to a 404. The simple fix was take out [name] and replace it with [somethingelse-name] and then it worked fine.

The only reason why I bring up this issue is because of the human faultiness that is brought to the table when designing with a preset CMS and open source systems. All around the world, people contribute to the ever expanding to the internet and do it for free. This great, wonderful and powerful tool that we all use without thinking about it’s origins, catch up to us and delight us and frustrate the hell outta us. The contributors should never go unnoticed or overlooked. But what happens when the clustered-organization fails you?

Well, in this instance I had the opportunity to ask for help. But isn’t that the point? Along with the obscure design and implementation process of open source coding is the support behind it. I can’t think of a time where I haven’t had the opportunity to reach out to a web forum or someone I know that can help me.

This all may be the obvious, but I think that the thought of shouting out to the designers and beyond, deserve that “thank you” that you may have forgot.

So in my case…. thanks to all those who have ever contributed to my WordPress success.

My WP profile… http://wordpress.org/support/profile/225863

Changes in the air

eric — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:05:11 +0000

So I’ve decided to condense my web-posts and streamline my posts when discussing certain topics.

Right now, my twitter account has been the central place for most of my postings. I’m going to be moving away from that and dispersing my political writings towards that site , design and personal work here at Ericdmunoz.com, and finally finish Mr-Munoz.com, which will have school info and curriculum.

These changes all require more work on my part, both initially and in the long run.

I’ll keep you updated…

Being sick is not my thing

eric — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:04:37 +0000

So I’m sick. It’s the weekend after the first week of school. I think I might have a mild flu virus. But when talking about the flu, it’s never really mild. I don’t know what this means for work, but I’ll make it through the day… I’ll have to. I really don’t want to take a day off. Luckily, I’m planned up through the first part of the week.

I’ve realized that “backwards planning” for school is really the only way to go. This last week I’ve struggled with a few of my classes. The backwards design for my Lit blocks are difficult to plan for. It’s a block for SSR, but I find it be a block that is hard to find actual meaningful readings that will better the kid’s reading skills. But, I know this will change within the next few weeks.

As for designing, I’m pretty close to being done coding Deer Hill Expeditions.

The blog took forever to design (above are pictures of the blog). The functionality is great. On the blog index page I have the thumbnails which I stole from another theme. The inserting of the thumbnail is tricky and not user friendly for the user who will be using the blog. I found a few plugins, but none of them fit the thumbnail size.

My mind is up in the air… maybe it’s because of medicine.

The last day of summer

eric — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:06:51 +0000

So here it is… tomorrow is the first unofficial day of school. That’s not necessarily what’s on my mind, though.

I’ve been working on an AWESOME design by RickMesser.com.

Deer Hill Expeditions is the site. Here’s a preview:

It’s built on WordPress and I’ve been scripting and coding the crap outta this thing!

I’ve been using all kinds of different plugins and php snippets.

As you can see, I am not in the school mode.

Here’s a couple of things I’ve been using:

Early summer update

eric — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:35:26 +0000

Still workin’ at York (a very good thing!)
Designing new stuff
Gonna start The Sopranos with Jeremi
Carmelita’s switching positions at work (good thing)
Chancho’s eating carrots
Gonna apply at Scoop44.com (do they let yokels write for them?;))

Expect more later!

The New Design

eric — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:02:08 +0000

After a great deal of angst, I’ve finally got the new design done.

It’s not a drastic change (a little bird told me not do that), but one that I like, mainly because it’s built on WordPress.
Who doesn’t like WordPress!?!

Feel free to browse around… I’ll be updating this version A LOT more.

Welcome!

eric — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:36:16 +0000

Welcome to Ericdmunoz.com v3.0!

Enjoy!