Part of the "How to Have a WP theme Designed" series:
When having a new theme designed, there are a few basic items to cover in order to ensure that the transaction goes as smoothly as possible. Consider each of the following items to organize your project with any designer, or if you’d like to have us design your theme, use the theme request form and read about our theme design practices below.
Project overview
If you decide to work with another designer/coder, some things your project overview should include are:
- WordPress theme – this may be obvious, but tell the designer if you need a theme designed from scratch or if you already have a design but need it coded, etc. Will you install it yourself, or do you want the designer to install it?
- Logo – will you need a logo designed, or will your theme use the site’s title as text for the headlines?
- Copyright – Decide if you need informal (email/verbal) agreement or if you want to have a formal contract to cover intellectual rights for the theme that is created.
- Testing – ask the designer if they will provide you with a test site / working prototype that you can try out before accepting the final work.
You can use the theme request form to start the design process. We will discuss general terms via email. When general terms are agreed, design begins. Once a design is finalized the theme is coded, hosted on a test site, then installed or delivered to you for you to install yourself (you choose).
Prototype (style) before Coding
Unless you already have PSD files showing the style and layout of your theme, the first step is to develop a design prototype. These are usually delivered in image format so that you can give feedback toward design revisions. Revisions are made until the overall style and layout is decided. There are inner elements (such as web graphics) and specifics that can be ironed out when the design goes live on the test site, but for the most part, design should be covered in this initial prototype stage.
There are many good theme designers out there. If you choose to have your theme designed by us, we’ll walk you through the design process until you’re 100% satisfied with the results. Use the theme request form to upload any files and tell us the specifics about your theme. We’ll put together some image prototypes for you to give feedback about. Once we narrow things down to a final design, we’ll temporarily host your theme on our test site so that you can take it for a spin and make final feedback before going live with the new theme on your site.
Payment and delivery terms
Payment and delivery terms should be decided before any work takes place. The entire transaction from beginning to end can be as informal as email agreement or as formal as including a contract covering your (the client) rights to the intellectual property. If you select ‘formal contract’ in the theme request form you will be emailed a basic contract including intellectual rights and payment terms. If you choose this option be sure to include a physical address to make the contract legitimate. This will need to be signed and emailed back to us -keep the original for your records.
Working with Us -agreement type
If you choose ‘informal agreement’ you will be emailed a proposal, bid, and time estimate. Once the terms are agreed on, work begins (design> testing> delivery). If you choose ‘formal contract’ you will be emailed a proposal just like above, but once the outline, price and time frame are agreed, you will also receive a formal contract that you can print and sign for your records. To make it legitimate you must provide a physical address that we will insert into the contract, and you must email a signed copy back to us.
Working with Us -payment and delivery terms
For new clients we ask for a 50% payment upon first design prototype, or upon agreement for editing existing themes. For existing clients payment is not due until completion (except for larger projects). Individual payment and delivery terms will be worked out via email before design begins.