PowWow1

Learn (X)HTML and CSS

1. HTML Dog Tutorials
2. W3 Schools

Work on your Design Skills

1. Design a Beautiful Website From Scratch – Nettuts
2. 8 Great Web Design Tutorials – Powerusers

Design in a 960px Grid

1. 960 Grid System – Download suppording PSD files, etc.
2. [Use the 960 Grid System to] Design a Beautiful Website From Scratch – Nettuts (same tut linked above)
3. FLUID 960 Grid System – for those wanting a fluid design (stretch your browser wider and narrower)

Background information and perspective:

1. Original Post by the Author, Nathan Smith – SonSpring
2. Gridding the 960 – with reference to the concept behind it – Cameron Moll
3. Shorter overview of the concept – WebResourceDepot

Begin with a Basic HTML/CSS Layout

1. Layout Gala

Convert your Design into a XHTML/CSS Website

1. How to Convert a PSD to XHTML – Screencast – Jeffrey Way @ Nettuts+
2. Converting a Design From PSD to HTML – Screencast – Jeffrey Way @ Nettuts+

Turn it into a WordPress Theme

This step enables you to integrate your design with the powerful WordPress content management system. It’s a bit more complicated, and so the best resources tend to cost a few bucks. But here are two good options, well worth the price:

1. How to Be a Rockstar WordPress Designer – Downloadable PDF Book – $29
2. The Best PSD to HTML to WordPress Video Series Available – Nettuts+ "Plus" Tutorial – $9/month subscription

Looking for a free option? Try this:

• Designing for Wordpress: Part One – CSS Tricks
• Part Two
• Part Three

See also this extensive textual tutorial on creating a WordPress Theme:

• So you want to create WordPress themes huh?

Leverage a WordPress Theme Framework

Basic Blank Theme Frameworks

1. Whiteboard – a basic blank theme framework
2. Carrington – a more developed option
3. Thematic – the most developed, most popular

Basic overviews of several options, including others!

1. 20 Wordpress Theme Frameworks And Starting Resources – 1stWebdesigner
2. Blank Themes, Frameworks and Templates – Designm.ag

What if I get Stuck, Frustrated, or Confused?

1. Drop me a line. (Use the form below!)
2. Sign up for my Introduction to Web Design course this fall at Oklahoma Wesleyan, where we’ll tackle these things and more.

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