Content Aware WordPress Theming
Ryan Kanner
@CodeProKid
+ +
Who am I?
Content Aware What?
Templates that can
automatically make adjustments
based on the content being
displayed.
{ }
We aren’t launching this service until next year, can we remove it?
Can we add a newsletter signup here?
We don’t have anything to put here...
The Problem
● Rigid grid systems
● WordPress gives non technical people
total control of their content.
● Content changes, as it should.
● Clients needs change over time.
Current Solutions...
Issue with this solution
● Limitless layout possibilities to account
for
● Fragmented User Experience
● Overwhelming amount of options
● Too much control for clients
● Good luck moving that content ever.
My Solution
● Decisions, not options.
● Identify layout modules that can be
broken by content.
● Fallbacks for empty content.
● A little bit of math + grid system = a
whole lot of awesome.
What to look out for
Changing Content
● More
● Less
● Longer
● Shorter
● NULL
Trouble Spots● Filtered Content
● Sidebars
● Widgets
● Content Buckets
● Inline lists
Examples
woo, code.
What happens when this is empty?
“No Posts Found...”
Empty Queries
Yes No
Is this content the main focus of this page?
Display Similar content, or another
way to find what they are looking for
Display an alternate set of content instead
Don’t display anything
Establish what you were looking for in the first place
State there was nothing found
Offer a way to find something else
Empty Sidebars
Content Conditional
Sidebar Conditional
Let’s Count
Flexible Widgets
Widgets
● Horizontal widgets are a nightmare
● Fixed classes on widgets goes against
the entire concept of widgets
● My solution
https://github.com/CodeProKid/Flexible-
Widget-Widths
But why?
● Saves you time in the end
● Eliminates jobs you don’t want
● Establishes trust between you and your
clients
● Provides a better user experience
Thanks!