Hi All,

 

I'm pretty much a rookie when it come to web design / development. I've been asked to build a site around WordPress so my client can login and control content as well as have a blog. I can build the site with respect to HTML / CSS but I have no experience of PHP or Wordpress.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for me as to how I should approach this project?

 

Do I build the site fully and then look to alter in to a Wordpress site or is there a better workflow?

 

Thanks

 

Luke

Best suggestion: outsource this first WP job, then keep a copy of the files to study.

You'll not learn WordPress quick enough to take the job on. As Renaissance said above, outsource this job and start learning it now for future use.

Best suggestion: outsource this first WP job, then keep a copy of the files to study.

 

You'll not learn WordPress quick enough to take the job on. As Renaissance said above, outsource this job and start learning it now for future use.

 

OK Thanks for your help guys. Do either of you know anyone good to put this out to?

 

Would it work for me to design and build the website ready for the 'Wordpress' guys to convert etc?

 

Also what do you think would be the best way to start to learn Wordpress? Would I need to learn PHP in full?

 

Luke

Learning PHP is definitely a good career move - while building out WP themes only requires a basic level of knowledge, you'll soon want to dig deeper and do more.

 

As far as finding someone goes, have a look around the forums - most members have a link to their portfolios in their signatures; see whose work you like and drop them a line.

Edited March 1, 201214 yr by Renaissance-Design

OK Thanks for your help guys. Do either of you know anyone good to put this out to?

 

Would it work for me to design and build the website ready for the 'Wordpress' guys to convert etc?

 

Also what do you think would be the best way to start to learn Wordpress? Would I need to learn PHP in full?

 

Luke

 

I think PSD's will be enough for any wordpress dev to build the site. Wordpress is pretty easy to pick up, I learnt it simply by hacking apart premium themes that I'd bought to figure out what made it ticked and learnt through breaking stuff and fixing it again.

 

Currently trying to teach myself all the shortcode and functions for the admin front end as it's probably the most important part besides the actual design of the site.

Also what do you think would be the best way to start to learn Wordpress? Would I need to learn PHP in full?

 

I don't know if its the best way but there are millions of designing Wordpress tuts out there. I've been sifting through them for the past month or so I'm happy to compare notes. A smattering of PHP certainly doesn't hurt but you don't have to be an expert. I agree with pp to outsource this first project. Its hard to learn something new when you have a client breathing down your neck.

Its exciting times for you, moving from static site to wordpress is so much fun. You will loose your hair and your first build will take long and sometimes feel impossible. If you can get in some help for this build since it is for your client and you wouldnt want to hurt the relationship due to the time it will take to set up and work out the bugs.

 

I dont know much PHP and I am doing fine with Wordpress, but because I want to do more and get the most from it I am starting a PHP course soon.

 

I think the best place to start is to learn the structure of a theme. I would suggest getting digging into wordpress

 

Once you have gone through the book you can go to sites like

wpengineer.com

justintadlock.com/

catswhocode.com

wpbeginner.com

OK Thanks for your help guys. Do either of you know anyone good to put this out to?

 

Luke

 

Renaissance-Design is being modest - give him a PM, he is the daddy of Wordpress! Definitely get him to have a look first, he is the best person I know at WP. Just sayin'

Renaissance-Design is being modest - give him a PM, he is the daddy of Wordpress! Definitely get him to have a look first, he is the best person I know at WP. Just sayin'

 

Ditto

Fellas, you're making me blush.

Hi All,

 

I'm pretty much a rookie when it come to web design / development. I've been asked to build a site around WordPress so my client can login and control content as well as have a blog. I can build the site with respect to HTML / CSS but I have no experience of PHP or Wordpress.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for me as to how I should approach this project?

 

Do I build the site fully and then look to alter in to a Wordpress site or is there a better workflow?

 

Thanks

 

Luke

 

 

Hi Luke,

 

I learnt A LOT by watching this video (as well as parts two and three of the same video):

 

http://css-tricks.com/video-screencasts/25-designing-for-wordpress-part-one/

 

It might be a bit out of date now, and I don't remember the exact content, but might be worth a look to help you get started.

 

Cheers,

 

Chris

I highly recommend Chris coyier's book and screencast too, he's an awesome dude.

 

I'll also agree with the hair pulling out too, just finished my first go at a wp site, just got a little bit balder..

 

Good luck,

~evu.

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for all your help on this. I'll watch those videos a little later. I've decided to do the design and then assess. Maybe see if I can learn a little more over the design period about WordPress so that I'm making a more informed decision. But like you guys say, probably a good idea to outsource.

 

Thanks Again!