Edit: Completed!
The image on Zen’s project homepage is a straight screenshot of the Zen core. That screenshot follows Drupal’s standard instructions for screenshots.
Unfortunately for Zen, that screenshot does nothing in describing why you want to use Zen. Users who are browsing the themes page on drupal.org are trying to quickly scan the "pretty pictures" and the current screenshot is super boring.
I've been thinking on this issue for a little while now. And I had originally thought of having one screenshot with slices of possible designs. But I'm actually open to any kind of "representative" image to appear on the Zen project homepage. I'll leave it up to you what you think "representative" should mean. It doesn't need to be an actual screenshot.
So I'm officially asking for submissions for a new image to appear on the project homepage. Images should be 300x188 pixels. If your graphic design skills aren't that great, design ideas are also welcome.
Thanks!
Comments
Users who are browsing the
People who want a ready-to-go theme, sure. But is that who Zen targets? I thought the whole point of Zen was to provide a starting point for those who want to build their own theme. A person wanting a clean base to start from might see the 'pretty picture' and completely pass over Zen because it looks like they'd be wasting time un-theming it.
Just something to keep in mind when coming up with a screenshot...
To clarify…
Even if we added a Zen sub-theme that was more beautiful and more customizable than Garland, I don’t think using that screenshot would be usful either.
In fact, I don’t think any one screenshot is useful to catch people’s eyes and try to convey that Zen is more than just a theme.
So to clarify, I’d like an image that:
I’ve also slightly re-worked the teaser text on the project homepage. If anyone has suggestions for that text, those would be appreciated too!
- John (JohnAlbin)
- John (JohnAlbin)
niihau
I hope you like Chinese calligraphy.
Marckee for Short
How about this:
How about something like this:
I think if you get away from showing any kind of finished theme, it helps.
Something like the above graphic clearly shows that Zen is not a finished theme, but it's something about the construction of a theme.
What do you think?
I really like the design above
I think it looks great and it will make it a bit easier for people to understand what is the purpose of the Zen theme. IMHO when someone is choosing a theme they want to know how the theme is going to look out of the box, just to know what they're dealing with. I also liked the idea in this comment: http://groups.drupal.org/node/10203#comment-34389
I thought that it would be great to combine this design with the concept from that message and this is what I came up with:
--
Nicolas
or something that depicts
or something that depicts "construction", like this for example: http://flickr.com/photos/chaspope/289257671/ (but you'd want a GPL pic of course)
peach from All Drupal Themes!
Running SooperThemes Premium Drupal Themes
Zen is the fertile soil you
Zen is the fertile soil you can grow your own beautiful flowers from.
Maybe something like this?
Inspired by cpc's design, tried to illustrate that its starts as only a framework but can go any direction, maybe the bottom 3 boxes could be actual completed site screenshots that used Zen?
ipwa/cpc
i think cpc/ipwa's design is very good! showing the transformation is a cool concept.
although, the icon will be quote small so cpc's original simplified version might come across better. both show the evolution.
+1 for cpc
+1 for cpc's design except maybe change the font color to the blue or red so it will be more readable
Craig Bertrand
Craig Bertrand
Revision
I tried to incorporate some of the ideas from other people here, but the space is so limited and it should probably be as simple as possible since people are looking through these images really fast.
I removed the "Zen" text and shifted things around a bit. I also darkened the text as Craig suggested:
I guess the whole point is to get people to actually read the project description, right?
that is much better! you
that is much better!
you know, i looked at it shrunk down... it's possible you don't need the "double quotes".
also the squiggles get lost a bit. what if you had the boxes in the background and brought one squiggly pattern forward, so it was superimposed over the 3 box diagrams?
JUST a thought.
otherwise, you guys should put it up there :)
Revision 2
Sure, we'll try with the quotes removed. I guess there's no real reason for them.
The squiggles are supposed to indicate that the layout is liquid (technically, the sidebars shouldn't have them), but yes, perhaps they just get in the way in this case.
How's this?
oh i liked the squiggles! to
oh i liked the squiggles! to me they represented a kinda of evolution of the design.
what i meant was, at a smaller size, the squiggle was "lost", or blurred. i thought you could keep the squiggle... maybe use one superimposed over the 3 boxes.
but i think your original idea to have them was good.
Hmmm
I'm not really sure what you mean by superimposed over 3 boxes. Do you mean just having 1 giant squiggle across all 3 boxes, vertically centred? I'm just imagining it looking out of place or something, but again, I'm not sure what you mean.
I just stole the idea from Dreamweaver, when you go to create a new page from a template:
To me, I don't mind it either way (squiggles or not), although without squiggles, it's more clear, but with squiggles, I think it gives a sense of a theme under construction (as opposed to Zen being a final theme).
At the end of the day, am I putting too much thought into this?
Thanks Heather for the feedback. As well, anyone else, feel free to chime in.
Under construction
Is there something else that could be used to signify under construction besides the squiggles?
I like how clean the second revision is, but I agree that it needs something to show that you aren't getting a completed theme.
I like the squiggles:)
Hey I liked the squiggles!
I think the "start your theme here" says that this is a "under construction" theme. I think the goal here is just to move the users eyes to the left to read the description. Don't know if a big arrow is necessary but that is the goal, something that catches the eye and makes it look left.
The question is who will actually use zen? I think it will be those who can understand css and xhtml and a bit of php and want a good starting point.
Your average blogger is not going to download zen even if we get their attention. So I think maybe the text in the image is the key. Here are a couple of ideas...
The Semantic Starter
Just add CSS
The Ultimate Starter
I am not opposed to "start your theme here" just thought I would through some others out.
Craig Bertrand
Craig Bertrand
I like 'Just add CSS', it
I like 'Just add CSS', it sends a clearer message of what Zen Theme is and how easy it is to use as a starting point.
what color is the bike shed?
according to the laws of triviality (see color of the bike shed), we are getting bogged down with this little image. someone should just change it already! lol.
craig does have a good suggestion The Semantic Starter is a good magnet for people who understand enough to get the most out of the theme :)
The bike shed came to my
The bike shed came to my mind as well. Everyone here has better things to be doing and any small gains in improving the design are probably not worth the extra effort.
Here are the 2 finals I've come up with:
Personally, I think "Start your theme here" is simpler and understood faster. I like "The Semantic Starter", but maybe that could go in the description...
Either way's fine by me - just pick 1 and let's move on!
Just add CSS
I like "Just add CSS" too. That is, after all, the original concept behind the Zen theme.
I don't know that people (even CSS gurus) are going to get "The Semantic Starter" or "Start Your Theme Here".
But "Just Add CSS"... I can do that!
BTW, I agree that this thread has gone on quite long enough. It'll take me about 2 seconds to back down from this stance and get behind whatever... :-)
-= Jeff Robbins | Lullabot | Drupalize.me =-
(No subject)
I know this might be me
I know this might be me being pedantic, but how about where the text is have 'Zen' or 'Zen Theme', and then have 'Just add CSS' below the graphics?
(No subject)
Done!
http://drupal.org/project/zen
</thread>
-= Jeff Robbins | Lullabot | Drupalize.me =-
Thanks cpc
Cool thanks cpc!!!
Craig Bertrand
Craig Bertrand
Yes!
Yes! Thank you so much, Dwight. Great work!
-= Jeff Robbins | Lullabot | Drupalize.me =-
Great work...
I'm a big fan of the zen theme. I've been using it for every site I build with drupal for over a year now and each time I work with it, I'm amazed by the improvements. I'm happy to see it get a "facelift" for the drupal community. I will continue to be an advocate for it whenever I find a poor lost soul trying to retheme Garland. Hopefully this nice design will help more drupal newbies discover it on their own.
Thanks!
yoroy asked me in IRC if I was actually following this thread, and the answer was “Of course!” But I never got around to commenting. :-\ oops. Anyway…
Thanks for the ideas guys and thanks, Dwight, for the image!
- John (JohnAlbin)
- John (JohnAlbin)