Since this is essentially a review, I decided to use the TwentyFourteen theme used in the WP Essentials course rather than the Builder themes I had previously installed.
I actually like some of the functionality of the the TwentyFourteen theme. It has a lot more features that can be optimized from the theme customizer than the Builder theme I was using before.
I added the AddThis Share widget which is very handy. It was pretty easy to set up. The only thing I don’t like or couldn’t figure out is how to add the widget to the actual blog page. The widget only shows on the individual post page.
There are a few aspects of the layout that I wish could be edited from the customizer, such as header image location. It would be nice if you could choose whether the image can appear above or below the main menu.
I will continue to play with different themes and will likely go into the css to experiment with layout and design.
My Individual Theory of Aesthetics and Design (ITAD) has been influenced by my childhood, education, work experience, conferences I’ve attended, research from design books and magazines I’ve collected and searching on the internet.
Childhood
I come from a creative family on both sides but I would have to say that my mom was a huge influence creatively speaking. Being an extremely creative person herself, she was a jack-of-all-creative-trades from macramé to needle point, she tried it all and I loved to learn. As a result I loved to make things; needle point, basket weaving, making latch hook rugs, knitting and macramé. This love of making things included designing and producing my own activity books, which my mom sewed together.
[Creativity lies within but needs to be nurtured to flourish.]
Education
Drawing From The Right Side of the Brain
My eye for composition really began to take shape when I took photography my sophomore year of high school. Choosing the subject, setting up shots and playing with lighting all helped me develop a flair for design. “Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain,” was the book my teacher art teacher, Mr. McConnell used. The best advice he ever gave us was, “Draw what you see not what you know.”
The clothing design program [in Spain] was tough but I never considered myself a great artist. Drawing especially, stylized illustrations did not come second nature to me. In the process I learned tenacity and that if you practice enough, even if a talent doesn’t come second nature, you can perfect it. This mentality led me down the path to graphic design. I enrolled at the community college for a few computer-drawing classes and ended up with a degree in Graphic Communications. The rest is history. I had a graphic design job at a small agency before I graduated. I continue to educate myself by reading books, taking classes and now of course going back to school to get my masters.
[A designer’s education is never over.]
Work Experience
In looking at work I’ve done in the past, it is amazing how much I have evolved as a designer.
[Design is an evolutionary process.]
Conferences
I love going to design conferences because they are the mecca for designers. Being around so many creative people has a way of getting my creative juices flowing. Conferences, like HOW, are a great place to learn about new trends in design, material, programs and people watch.
How Design Live
[Trends are everywhere. You have to train your eye to spot them.]
Research
One of the most important thing a designer must make a habit of doing is research. Design books, graphic design magazines and the internet are great sources of information. Although some of my best designs seem like I’ve pulled them out of the air, the truth is I do a great deal of research before I start a project. Even if a project seems easy I do my homework.
[Behind every great design is research.]
All of these truisms have made me the designer that I am today.
A designers, we use our past experiences and education whether consciously or subconsciously to create. We breathe life into a project. Like a baby, we nourish it by putting our time and energy into it. Slowly, we see it develop and evolve until it flourishes and is completed. Once finished, we can look at it with pride and satisfaction. To me this is what design is all about.
