A Bugged Life 2008 Live Test

Posted in Cool on 14/08/2008

So the philosophy behind the new design was that I wanted ABL 2008 to be more personality driven than content driven. That sort of required me to think about what I wanted to communicate to my readers. Eventually I had decided to stick to the vectors rather than have my face plastered all over my blog.

I really enjoyed the previous Copyblogger theme and asked Gisele to take on a similar primary palette of blacks, white and shades of reds (A Bugged Life really used whites and reds since 2006 with the old layout). I purchased the vectors of the bugs from iStockPhoto because I also plan to use them within some of my posts as lasting “characters” in this website for purposes of illustration, fun and highlight.

We added a page list on a secondary headline for more information about the author (me!). That too, is unfinished as I’m drafting a few more references and a short tutorial on “how to use this blog.”

Four Sidebars

A Bugged Life 2008 has four sets of sidebar widgets to play with. I was a believer in the two column layout but then decided to go three not because I had a lot to place in my sidebars, but because I wanted to push most of my site information up and be seen in the first 2 or 3 scrolls of the mouse. The 300×250 AdSense widget is really a placeholder. I’m planning to add a few more things for branding purposes.

The other two sidebars are, you guessed it, the two wide sidebars on top and below the columns.

Gisele Jaquenod

Gisele is a fantastic designer. For those unfamiliar, she’s famous for her Birdie themes and merchandise. She was the one responsible for Phoebe’s Pass the Sauce, and that’s how I discovered her. Gisele is friendly, young and talented, and she’s much fun to chat with while she applies your site’s finishing touches.

The new theme has been up for about less than 10 hours. We’ve been testing this offline for the past 24 and there seems to be very little errors showing up, especially on Internet Explorer. The true beauty of the color scheme actually hits you when you’re viewing this blog on Safari.

Comments? Leave one here or in Plurk. For those who’ve left comments already, thank you very much! Thank you also to Gisele for this fabulous Wordpress theme!

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You have 23 Responses

  1. I think this is a HUGE improvement from what was before. Not because the former template was bad (it was simple and functional) but because it lacked warmth. This has more personality!

  2. Em Dy on August 14th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
  3. i like!

  4. sabs on August 14th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
  5. Great New Theme..

  6. Dexter | Tech At Hand Dot Net on August 14th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
  7. So cute! And yes, this one has more personality :D

  8. nina on August 14th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
  9. I’ve said it while talking to you in YM Jayvs, and I’ll say it again…

    OMFG it’s totally AWESOME!!!

  10. Rico on August 14th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
  11. Dude. The new design is full of win.

  12. Tania on August 14th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
  13. OMG, I am SOOOO in love with your blog right now!!

  14. Juice on August 14th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
  15. Much much better Jayvee. :)

  16. Carlo Ople on August 15th, 2008 at 12:35 am
  17. As bugged as it should be! Nice. =)

  18. markku on August 15th, 2008 at 1:54 am
  19. nice new theme. bugs so cute =)

  20. dhonjason on August 15th, 2008 at 4:24 am
  21. Super, Jayvee! I love it.

  22. Mindanao Bob on August 15th, 2008 at 8:51 am
  23. It’s definitely bugging me! Cool!

  24. Luis Cruz on August 15th, 2008 at 10:03 am
  25. Love love love the theme Jayvee! Fits your persona well.

    Giselle did a great work here (took a peek at the source code) and I’m viewing it in safari :P

  26. Ferdz on August 15th, 2008 at 11:09 am
  27. Natawa ako sa “hello ladies” lmaoooo. I love it!

  28. Helga on August 15th, 2008 at 11:55 am
  29. This is so cool! I’m viewing it on Safari! Fantasic lay out!

  30. Poyt on August 15th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
  31. @elber - where have you been all this time dude?? you didn’t show for knox’s bday.

    @everyone - thanks for the complements - im sure gisele would love to see this! gisele, please say something! :D

  32. Jayvee on August 15th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
  33. Ahlaveet! Very you :) I see the difference when it’s viewed using Safari. Coolness :p

  34. nikki verzo on August 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
  35. Thanks everyoneeeeeeeee :D
    I am really happy you all liked it :D
    Sorry I didn’t write before, last 2 days of the week are usually killer days for me at work!!
    Thanks everyone!!! Thanks Jayvee for the beautiful wordsss!!

  36. Gisele on August 16th, 2008 at 3:20 am
  37. Panalo! :)

  38. egarayblas on August 17th, 2008 at 10:05 am
  39. cool blog! :)

  40. Gracie on August 17th, 2008 at 11:28 am
  41. wow! aylavet!!!!

  42. venice on August 18th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
  43. Lovely theme!!!!

  44. kenna on August 19th, 2008 at 9:06 am
  45. cute little bugs ;-)

  46. cyberbaguioboy on August 23rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm

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