Web Design Trends 2012

The upcoming first Ycademy Seminar 2012 will focus on Web Design Trends 2012 in terms of what they mean for our brand-new WordPress based Semiomantics XO 2012.

Web Design Trends 2012

In order to follow and implement Web Design Trends 2012, learning new languages like CSS3 and html5 has become crucial – especially also due to the unfortunate conflicts around Flash which cannot be seen on the exploding mobile market. Accordingly, this weekend’s fully online YCADEMY Seminar will need focused attention and strong nerves! That’s the price to pay to be and remain a qualified Semiomantics expert!

MadMax is ready – are YOU?!

Jordan Spizike University Blue/Orange – Detailed Look

The Jordan Spizike lineup will continue to release new and exciting colorways for 2012. One of the anticipated colorways set to drop is the University Blue/Orange. This particular Spizike will come equipped in a combination of plush nubuck, smooth leather, and the iconic elephant print throughout the shoe. The translucent orange outsole add contrast to the blue upper. The release date is unconfirmed, but stay tuned to Global Sports for the latest info we should have them in by the end of January 2012.

Monkey Valley Resort on Mobile

I just got some screenshots directly from the iPhone in Europe to demonstrate how the new Monkey Valley Resort Website actually looks on the Mobile web – and I’m absolutely thrilled! The quality and resolution are just outstanding and I left the image big so you can appreciate it here even though the picture may take a moment to load. This is soooo sexy!

Above, you see the Frontpage of the Monkey Valley Resort Website, which features a large elegant slider displaying the various chapters and attractions of the hotel resort 30 kms out of Cape Town, South Africa. What is remarkable here is how beautifully the slider displays – all based on new technology as, sadly, Flash does not display on mobile phones and this forced us to adapt in our Semiomantics Website Development, learning new languages like CSS3 and HTML5.

Monkey Valley Resort on Mobile

Much if not most of today’s business on the Internet is piped in one way or another through the mobile web… a reason why Monkey Valley Resort had to be visible on mobile.

Here is a horizontal version (probably 1 : 1) … and of course you can zoom up text or whatever you are interested in… and get to where you want to go in a fast and user-friendly way, eg. Click and BOOK!

The Importance of Functionality

The Importance of Functionality in terms of Website Design has a lot to do with the ease and user-friendly interaction between the website and the website visitor: the website has to communicate to the visitor what it is all about in an attractive way, guiding through what it has to offer and fulfilling almost intuitively what the visitor is looking for and making it easy to follow through with the desired action – say to book a room in a hotel…, to buy, pay and even download say an ebook… or to simply offer various sights of a specific area or place that shows the visitor what he can expect, eg. in a holiday resort or when researching a new home in real estate.

Today, being visible on the mobile web is crucial to the success of any website or Internet business – and therefore one of the most important functionalities of a website or blog.

Nowhere more than on the Internet do we see such rapid and continuous change and do we have to adapt, learn new languages and keep developing our knowledge and skills on an ongoing basis as in the virtual arena. A website or blog is not built to last forever and it needs a regular allocation of funds (budget) – it’s a project in constant development, adapting to the changes, changing with the trends and always trying to offer readers and visitors something new, something modern and going the extra mile to capture the traffic that leads to business and success.

Responsive Websites become a must in 2012. This tutorial demonstrates how to make your WordPress Theme Responsive.

In very simple terms: Responsive Web Design aims to display content adapted to the visitors screen size. This means namely that the layout width must be fluid, i.e. expressed as a percentage of the width of the screen, typefaces expressed in em and images must be scalable.

Responsive WordPress Theme XO by Semiomantics

Practically speaking: a responsive designs can be viewed on a smart-phone or on a large PC screen, the display will always be the same and adapted to the size of the screen or browser window. n stead of using multiple style-sheets for different screen sizes, designers use Media Queries which allow to create multiple layouts using the same content. To achieve scalability, CSS media queries, such as min-width or orientation are used.

A quick and easy way consists in creating a child theme; this allows you to upgrade your theme as the case may be without altering your customizations.

1. Create a new folder in your wp-content/themes folder and name it anything you like; for the purpose of this exercise I call it “responsive”

2. Create a style sheet in your new Child Theme folder (call it styles.css).

3. Suppose your main theme is called “wptheme”; paste the following into style.css

 /*
 Theme Name: wptheme Child
 Theme URI: http://www.yourdomain.com/
 Description: Child theme for wptheme
 Author: Your Name
 Author URI: http://www.yourdomain.com
 Template: wptheme
 Version:1.0
 */

The only line you really need to respect is Template:wptheme; this line refers to the parent theme folder.

4. Import the parent themes style-sheet by adding now the following line to your new style.css:

@import url(“../wptheme/style.css”);

5. Define the screen sizes you design for. (Smart-phones, tablets, PC) To test the result we just create different h1 color values for the different screen sizes:

@media screen and (max-width:320px)
{
h1 {
color: #ff0000;
}
}
@media screen and (min-width:321px) and (max-width:768px)
{
h1 {
color:#00FF00;
}
}
@media screen and (min-width:769px)
{
h1 {
color: #0000FF;
}
}

Having set these basic parameters, you can now apply styles and layout values to taste, such as vertical navigation display on small screens.

To make images responsive we will need to take some WordPress specifics into account and there fore we will intervene with CSS3 and Media Queries and modify styles.css and functions.php of our theme.

Add the following to your style-sheet to make images scalable:

img{max-width: 100%;}
img{ -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; }

Now the images will be re-sized to fit horizontally, while the vertical scaling is still defined by WordPress. We need to remove WordPress image height and width values to scale our images proportionally.

In WP, image classes come with a with and height properties; we delete these properties like so:

change in your WP editor:

<img class=”imgclass” src=”../images/imagethumb.jpg” alt=”” width=”100″ height=”100″ />

to this:

< img class=”imgclass” src=”../images/imagethumb.jpg” alt=”” />

This will work for your post and page images, however not for the images created by WP dynamically, such as post thumbnails. We need to delete with and height properties dynamically with a function.

Add to functions.php:

function remove_wp_width_height($string){
return preg_replace(‘/\/i’, ”,$string);
}

Now you need to make a final modification in your template and replace:

the_post_thumbnail();

with the following:

echo remove_wp_width_height(get_the_post_thumbnail(get_the_ID(),’large’));

That’s all!

Hopefully the above will help you to do additional customization wok and as the case may be, to adapt your great themes to the requirements of 2012 Web Design.

• how to make existing wordpress themes responsive
• tutorial responsive wordpress theme

Related posts:

1. WordPress Christmas Themes
2. WordPress Themes and Development
3. Best WordPress Business Themes
4. How to Style the WordPress Menu
5. New XO53 Theme for WordPress

Herolds Bay Accommodation

Herolds Bay Self Catering Accommodation

The Herolds Bay 714 a double storey penthouse apartment on the 7th and 8th floor of The Herolds Bay is located in the popular seaside village of Herolds Bay and offers self catering accommodation.  Distance to sandy beach with two tidal pools is only 250. meters away.

Accommodation in Herolds Bay in Penthouse

This penthouse in Herolds Bay offers guests an open plan lounge, dining room area leading to the fully equipped kitchen and balcony with uninterrupted views of the ocean. The lounge offers a flat screen TV with DSTV (Selected channels).  The kitchen is equipped with modern amenities; here you can cook with a sea view! A guest toilet is also available for your convenience.

The Bedroom Herolds Bay 714 are on the 8th Floor

Upstairs this luxury apartment offers accommodation 3 bedrooms all with en-suite bathrooms. Two of the bedrooms also offer sea views. Sleep with the sound of the ocean and the fresh air of Herolds Bay.

Under Cover Parking for Two Vehicles at The Herolds Bay

Under cover parking is available for two vehicles and a lift will take you to the apartment on the 7th floor where the comforts of this luxurious apartment in The Herolds Bay awaits you. Guests are also welcome to make use of the swimming pool as well as the designate braai area in the complex.

George Caravan Park Accommodation Special for Old Car Show in George

The Old Car Show in George takes place on the 11th and 12th of February 2012. The George Caravan Park offers an accommodation special for participants and visitors to this event.

Special Rate on Camping Sites

The George Caravan Park offers a special rate on camping sites for the duration of the Old Car Show held in George over the weekend of the 11th and 12th of February 2012.

Private blocks at George Caravan Park

The George Caravan park offers 16 Private blocks each with own kitchen and ablution facilities are available at only R200 per site for 4 persons. Additional persons charged at R60 per person. Maximum of 8 persons per site.

Caravan Park in George

126 shaded sites with communal ablution facilities as well as two self-catering bachelors units are also available at this caravan park in George.

Address: S33.99631 E22.51931

George Caravan Park Accommodation Special for Old Car Show in George

The Old Car Show in George takes place on the 11th and 12th of February 2012. The George Caravan Park offers an accommodation special for participants and visitors to this event.

Special Rate on Camping Sites

The George Caravan Park offers a special rate on camping sites for the duration of the Old Car Show held in George over the weekend of the 11th and 12th of February 2012.

Private blocks at George Caravan Park

The George Caravan park offers 16 Private blocks each with own kitchen and ablution facilities are available at only R200 per site for 4 persons. Additional persons charged at R60 per person. Maximum of 8 persons per site.

Caravan Park in George

126 shaded sites with communal ablution facilities as well as two self-catering bachelors units are also available at this caravan park in George.

Address: S33.99631 E22.51931

 Midas George Old Car Show 11 & 12 February 2012

The Southern Cape Old Car Club is proud to host the 16th George Old Car Show on 11 & 12 February 2012 at the PW Botha College, York Street, George.  For the second consecutive year, the Midas Group has come on board as the name giving sponsor and the show will once again be known as the Midas George Old Car Show.

Theme for 2012 Midas George Old Car Show

The theme for the 2012 Midas George Old Car Show is Convertibles and once again the public. All exhibitors are invited to take part in the “fancy dress” competition hosted on Saturday 11 February.

Pre-registration for Old Car Show Exhibitors

Old Car Show exhibitors should take note that pre-registration of vehicles is required before or on 31 January 2012 as no late entries to this event will be accepted at the gates.  Vehicles younger than 1975 should also pre-register as they will need special approval to be exhibited at the show.

Classic Car Auction at the Midas George Old Car Show

In February 2011, Protea Hotel, in collaboration with Aucor, arranged the first every Classic Car Auction at the Midas George Old Car Show. Between 10 – 15 vehicles was auctioned in 30 minutes. This year, even more excitement can be expected as the auction will now be an hour long and double the amount of cars will be on auction. This will take place on Saturday 11 February from 13h00.

Midas George Old Cars Show – Event for the Whole Family

With more than 900 cars expected at the Midas George Old Cars Show, the Castle beer garden, model cars and a variety of food stalls, the show promises to be an event for the whole family to enjoy.

Entry fees at Midas George Old Car Show  are as follows

• Saturday Adults: R35, Scholars: R15
• Sunday: Adults: R15, Scholars: R5

For more information on the show, visit http://www.scocc.co.za or contact Chris van Staden on 082 491 5254 or Marlene Quinot on 084 415 7987

 Midas George Old Car Show 11 & 12 February 2012

The Southern Cape Old Car Club is proud to host the 16th George Old Car Show on 11 & 12 February 2012 at the PW Botha College, York Street, George.  For the second consecutive year, the Midas Group has come on board as the name giving sponsor and the show will once again be known as the Midas George Old Car Show.

Theme for 2012 Midas George Old Car Show

The theme for the 2012 Midas George Old Car Show is Convertibles and once again the public. All exhibitors are invited to take part in the “fancy dress” competition hosted on Saturday 11 February.

Pre-registration for Old Car Show Exhibitors

Old Car Show exhibitors should take note that pre-registration of vehicles is required before or on 31 January 2012 as no late entries to this event will be accepted at the gates.  Vehicles younger than 1975 should also pre-register as they will need special approval to be exhibited at the show.

Classic Car Auction at the Midas George Old Car Show

In February 2011, Protea Hotel, in collaboration with Aucor, arranged the first every Classic Car Auction at the Midas George Old Car Show. Between 10 – 15 vehicles was auctioned in 30 minutes. This year, even more excitement can be expected as the auction will now be an hour long and double the amount of cars will be on auction. This will take place on Saturday 11 February from 13h00.

Midas George Old Cars Show – Event for the Whole Family

With more than 900 cars expected at the Midas George Old Cars Show, the Castle beer garden, model cars and a variety of food stalls, the show promises to be an event for the whole family to enjoy.

Entry fees at Midas George Old Car Show  are as follows

• Saturday Adults: R35, Scholars: R15
• Sunday: Adults: R15, Scholars: R5

For more information on the show, visit http://www.scocc.co.za or contact Chris van Staden on 082 491 5254 or Marlene Quinot on 084 415 7987

Semiomantics XO 2012 for WordPress

The brand-new Semiomantics XO 2012 for WordPress – soon to be released – will be the central topic of the first Ycademy Seminar 2012, to be held this coming weekend.

As “Publishing for Excellence” at “Web Design with Passion” demands consistent learning, experimenting, an adaptation to trends and almost daily reassurance of the script’s leading SEO performance, the global Semiomantics Team is currently testing the new script and exploring different ways of presenting themselves or their products and services online.

Semiomantics XO 2012 for WordPress

I am very pleased with the more adventurous ways we can explore with the new Semiomantics XO 2012 for WordPress… and I know we haven’t even started! I am looking forward to creating the Wedding Website on this extraordinary WordPress based script.

Sliders are the Trend 2012

With sliders being an important part of the Trend 2012 as Website Design and “the Look” are concerned, I am currently experimenting with a fading slider – although extremely frustrating with often failing Internet connections and extremely slow lines down here… it feels like the sun flare is targeting us specifically and knocking us out completely!

Besides using sliders in the header or sidebar widgets or even blog posts and pages, we can now use them even in the background – which opens a lot more creative options and perspective.

At the Ycademy Seminar, we will work on becoming familiar with the new features of the XO 2012 and improve our knowledge of CSS3, HTML5 and jQuery so we are in a position to ‘play’ with the script, explore new avenues and, last but not least, adapt XO to our customers’ needs.

To be continued. . .