Guide for Theme Designers: Consistency

“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” Oscar Wilde

Is such true for web design?

Well, if by consistency Wilde means lack of experimentation and variation, then I’d agree. But, consistency is not necessarily unimaginative. Every designer worth his salt knows that you cannot leave design up to chance.

Design is all about communication, and web design is an area which takes that point to its limit.

Although pages may have different layouts, and focus might vary from page to page, the central theme should be unified. Web design should never send mixed signals, it should always communicate to the user with laser-focused consistency!

Here are four points of consistency, which should be observed by all theme designers…

iThemes theme iNews, fails on almost every point!

1. Consistent Layout

Never just start putting elements on a page. Think about each element you want in the design, and place each element carefully.

Why are you putting the subscription box there? Why are putting the search box there? If your answers to these questions is, ‘Just because’, go home!

Wireframes and grids can be extremely helpful in achieving a consistent layout.

2. Consistent Negative space

There appears to be a disease in most theme designers, which hampers them from giving elements room to breathe. Contrary to popular belief, space isn’t nothing.

In fact, in a real sense, it’s the vehicle which carries all the other elements of design.

Make sure the space between elements is consistent. For our sanity, learn to use grids, and construct your design around them. If you can’t use a basic horizontal grid to align your elements, what on earth are people paying you for?

When it comes to text, remember this. For you to speak, you need air. The same goes for text. It can’t be read properly unless it has air (negative space).

3. Consistent Font Selection

Use at the most, three fonts on a website. There’s no need for anymore. In fact, many effective designs make use of only one font type (although used in different ways).

Make sure that similar elements use the same font type, font size, and font colour.

Don’t mix ‘n match. It’s a recipe for disaster, and sadly, many premium themes are disastrous in this area.

4. Consistent Colour Selection

Choose a complimentary colour palate, which runs with the message you want to convey with your theme.

Colour isn’t something to trifle with, and it is imperative that it’s used consistently across your design. If it’s not, you’ll ensure utter confusion for users.

Generally, it’s good to stick to a small handful of colours. The more you use, the more difficult you make your job.

Remember…
Inconsistencies show incompetence. It’s not the message you want to portray to your potential customers. Even designers who are not gifted in the use of graphics, can create effective designs, simply because they are consistent.

Theme designers…practice consistency!