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Themes to look forward to in Q1 2009
07. Jan, 2009 by Adii Rockstar in Theme Concepts
If you follow us loyally, you’ll know that we’re pretty good at teasing you with new theme concepts, before we end up releasing them.
So with that in mind, here’s some of the themes that we’re working on at the moment. All of these themes will be released in the next 3 months – we might change this slightly – depending on whether something comes up and we replace one of these with another concept – and in no specific order. All of these themes are currently in various stages of development and we’ll probably schedule their release as soon as they near completion (we’re not like those corporates with 1 / 3 / 6 & 12 month plans…). Here they are (click on the thumbnails for larger previews):
Geometric by Adii
This will be our first theme release for 2009 and it has been scheduled for tomorrow (if all pans out as planned). The theme is actually already completed (see demo here) and I’m just working on adding a few different colour schemes and styles (go here for more previews).
The theme is a blog & portfolio hybrid and I’ve tried to take everything we’ve learned from you about our previous portfolio themes (Fresh Folio & Proudfolio). So this is a new take on an older idea, whilst the custom, widgetized (!!) homepage is also something new for Woo. Check back tomorrow for a more complete demo & run-down of Geometric’s features…
Newsport from the WooContest
Since our magazine themes are still wildly popular, we expect that this one will be a hit with you as well. Another theme from the WooContest last year, Newsport sports an elegant and structured interface, which is very different to some of the other content-heavy designs we’ve done in the past.
Coupled with a few alternative colour schemes and inner page templates, this one is going to be a beauty. Promise. 
Plus – we might just try out a few new functionalities for this one… Got suggestions? Hit us up…
Cushy by Liam McKay
We really love working with Liam and this will be his fourth theme on WooThemes. Cushy is a business-minded theme with a difference, since it incorporates some of the current corporate-design trends, whilst also following some of the tried and tested principles of yesteryear.
The additional colour schemes for Cushy also looks yummy and we’re sure you’re gonna be woo’ed when you play around with a live demo of the theme. Expect this release sooner rather than later.
Irresistible from the WooContest
To say that this theme is unique, is an understatement I think. Irresistible is definitely something different to what we’ve done until now and I think the theme shows a lot of promise in general.
From a functionality perspective, I also think that the theme will be very much multi-purposed and will serve a wide variety of your needs (instead of focusing on a niche purpose). The style is also a nice change from what we’ve done previously – so I expect this will freshen up our overall theme options.
Groovy Video from the WooContest (1st Prize!!)
Groovy Video is the first theme we’re developing from the Groovy series (consisting of 3 different themes), which won our WooContest last year. I think a video theme is much overdue on WooThemes – because even though we support nifty video integration in most of our themes, we don’t have a niche-video theme yet.
With Groovy Video, we’ll definitely be covering our bases in that regard. Plus I think the design is pretty cool and along with Irresistible and the 2 other Groovy themes (all by the same designer), I believe it’s gonna give our theme offerings a nice, fresh feel.
Groovy Photo from the WooContest (1st Prize!!)
Another niche that we haven’t entirely explored yet, is that of photoblogs… So after numerous requests and months of procrastination, we’ll be releasing our first photo-orientated theme in Groovy Photo. The layout as it is at this moment, isn’t totally representative of the functionality we envision for it, but we’ll be adding some alternative layouts and cool features as we develop the theme.
The success of Groovy Photo (and Groovy Video for that matter), will also influence our decision with regards to developing more multimedia themes in future greatly – so we kinda look forward to experimenting in this regard.
Groovy Blog from the WooContest (1st Prize!!)
The last theme in the Groovy Series, is a more blog-orientated theme, but as with Irresistible I think it’ll proof to be multi-purposed enough to be wildly used and extremely popular among our users.
I think a custom, widgetized homepage is definitely a possibility here as well, which means that the homepage acts as more of an aggregation space – instead of a straight-forward (and stale) blog homepage. Blogs are so over-rated anyway… (We didn’t really say that…)
myweblog form the WooContest (designed by Spencer over at wefunction)
I know this post and these concepts are all about “new approaches”, but I don’t necessarily think that it’s a bad thing to diversify and try reinventing the wheel slighty. So myweblog is another, unique approach to the more “traditional” blog layouts around and again, I find the value of this theme and the way that it “shakes up” and adds diversity to our themes showcase.
As with all of our themes, the built-in backend options and alternative colour schemes will definitely make this a theme that is ideal for some you or for one of your next projects. Maybe we’ll even include a nice little colour picker, so you can colour-code all of your categories… Who knows!?
The Station by Adii
I know, I know… I don’t design a theme on WooThemes for ages and now suddenly I’ve done two… The main reason is that I want to challenge Magnus’ dominance (in terms of individual themes’ popularity) and I’m totally planning on designing the next Fresh News-killer!
The Station is a business / corporate theme and I hope to included all of the stuff that’ll increase the flexibility of the theme. Stuff like stronger secondary navigation, breadcrumb navigation and different inner page templates (all with its own widgetized spaces) is a must in my mind. You can probably expect this release mid-February if all goes well!
But wait, there’s even more…
Along with these previews posted here, Mark is also working on two brand-spanking new concepts, which I’m sure you’ll love as well. Like me, Mark hasn’t designed a theme himself for WooThemes in a while and we’re both pretty keen to knock Magnus from his thrown!
We’re also finalizing the details of a collaboration with Bryan Veloso and Elliot Jay Stocks have penned us in for another theme in April. And maybe we’ll go knock on Jason Santa Maria’s door (my favourite designer by far) now that he has left Happy Cog.
We’re starting off 2009 more amped than ever before and we hope that you’ll find the value in our new themes… Kindly leave us some feedback, thoughts and nice, little warm fuzzies. Please.
7 January 2009 at 6:58 am #
Ownage. Looking forward to see more epic theme releases coming from the WooFactory. Keep up the incredibly good work. See you soon. M
7 January 2009 at 7:10 am #
Cushy looks very interesting. I’m glad you do so many niche-themes, makes it easy to get a starting point that fits the project at hand. Great business model it seems;-) More power to you!
7 January 2009 at 7:28 am #
Regarding photo blogs…. the only thing more difficult to find than a decent photo blog theme, would have to be a theme for a collection of photographers, like a photo club with members…. where, for instance, every member have their own gallery…. just a suggestion if you want to take this further than the competition
7 January 2009 at 7:44 am #
Time to upgrade to club membership! Seriously you guys really do me no favours in my 2009 goal of trying NOT to start even MORE new sites.
7 January 2009 at 9:26 am #
Thanks
I’ve been waiting for Irresistible! Yay!
I’ve been subscribing themes from other premium themes makers as well. But, I’ve found that woothemes offers more flexibility and superb admin page.
IMO, create multiple niche at same design is good. As some people doesn’t like the layout structure but loves the design. Thank god, it has been implemented at Geometric as a widget. If can, please make all your themes like that as it will add the premium “looks” into it.
7 January 2009 at 10:35 am #
1st prize of WooContest really deserve it
I also like myweblog, Cushy and the station
7 January 2009 at 12:58 pm #
I really love Irresistible. The Myweblog too may be very useful
7 January 2009 at 3:17 pm #
The more amazing themes you guys produce – the more I am in business. Very excited to do a review on these upcoming themes!
7 January 2009 at 5:20 pm #
Really excited you got Bryan Veloso on board. Is Dan Rubin still working on one as well?
7 January 2009 at 7:13 pm #
Loving the Irresistible theme! Also really looking forward to see how groovy video turns out.
7 January 2009 at 7:40 pm #
Lots of interesting themes coming out, but I was wondering, are you guys gonna consider designing a “shopping cart” type blog??
7 January 2009 at 10:20 pm #
Looking forward to myweblog. I purchased BlogTheme, and got a refund when they made it free. Looking forward to purchasing a new one!
7 January 2009 at 11:50 pm #
A few of these have gotten me quite excited! I can’t wait!
8 January 2009 at 12:38 am #
@Oliver – Yup, we are trying to incorporate a nice balance of multi-purpose and niche-focused theme to increase the overall value to our community and especially our club subscribers.
@Torb – Honestly I don’t think there’s a market for that… Specific requirements like those tend to be best served going with some custom design + development; not a template.
@Izuddin – Don’t you worry… We’ll do your themes justice in the coding department and they’ll work just as great as they look!
@Jared – Yup, Dan Rubin’s concepts should be complete by the end of January.
@shadoukat – Yes definitely… We just need to find the time to fit it into our schedule.
@Chris Becker – Would be great to have you back as a Woo member.
8 January 2009 at 2:07 pm #
The Station looks awesome – cant wait to see some more of the great business themes similar to Over Easy and Vibrant CMS. Keep it up!
8 January 2009 at 4:25 pm #
Looking forward to
the themes seem great
9 January 2009 at 1:26 am #
Groovy photo – Bring it on. One big pic, overlay arrow navigation, exif, slide out/hideable comments/info and thumbnail archives please!
9 January 2009 at 1:47 am #
The Station drew some inspiration from ExpressionEngine.com I see!
9 January 2009 at 6:24 am #
Hi there,
may I know when Newsport will be released?
I am planning to buy a template from woothemes and I just want to know whether I should wait because I do not want to buy one now and you release newsport next week ><
Hope someone from woothemes can help me out.
thanks
9 January 2009 at 6:30 am #
@James – Yup, ExpressionEngine is definitely on the list of sources that inspired The Station.
@Jacqui – Newsport will probably be available in the first week of February. Why not grab a Single User subscription instead now?
9 January 2009 at 1:21 pm #
I think geometric is pretty dang cool! Being able to move your widgets to anywhere on the page let’s you set it up how ever you want. Can’t get much better than that.
11 January 2009 at 3:58 am #
please release newsport and the station soon. both look great!
11 January 2009 at 9:19 am #
Groovy Video looks awesome, when can we expect this theme?
12 January 2009 at 8:03 am #
Looking forward to all these new themes. Looking good guys, well done, great work.
24 January 2009 at 6:47 am #
Really like the new look of “newsport”. I am currently working on a news site and may change look once “newsport” is finished – cidanews.com. Anyway, already use one of your templates at watchinglasvegas.com and I must say – I am really pleased with it. Keep up the good work!
Is “Newsport” going to be easy to add Google Ads and ads the size of 125×125 or 300×250 easily?
When will you come up with a design similar to CNN? Especially the part when they have a “special news bulletin”, “live update”, it drops down between the header menu and main content and then can be turned off after the news bulletin. That would be really cool. Like a button in the admin design area where you can click it on and then type your live update message, give two or three one line, eye catching descriptive lines, a url to the main article, video or photo; then just turn it off when you are done.
Well, those are my thoughts – I am not a programmer so I don’t know the difficulty in creating something like that – I just look at things from an aesthetic eye and what I like to see.
Thanks again for your creative work – it is great!
27 January 2009 at 9:22 am #
Oh beautiful designs guys. Was planning to buy a couple of themes this week but quite tempted to wait till Feb and get Newsport. I’l loving it!
29 January 2009 at 1:27 pm #
Only Geometric is out for now. When can we expect the others?
Btw, Geometric is really user friendly and I currently modify it for my project. Well done!
30 January 2009 at 12:06 am #
Please release Newsport soon!! I love this themes design
30 January 2009 at 2:44 am #
Wating for “myweblog”… looks awesome.
31 January 2009 at 6:05 am #
first of all thx for the newsletter, its filled with good news.
looking at the themes and your plans in 2009 i have to sit down, it blows me off. to see all those great themes i have to take a deep breath!
looks amazing and my fav is irresistible since the contest, cant wait to see it in action.
and geometric is pretty dang cool, wonderful work and userfriendly.
i have to update my membership soon
31 January 2009 at 7:51 am #
Thanks
31 January 2009 at 1:23 pm #
I am so looking forward to Groovy Photo
31 January 2009 at 8:12 pm #
Love the Groovy Video.. I’m waiting for this theme since Snapshot theme released.. hope you guys can release it in recent time..
2 February 2009 at 3:14 am #
The Station –
Can’t see ‘The Station’ mentioned in the ‘End of month catch-up’ e-mail…. When can we expect the theme to be released?
5 February 2009 at 7:10 am #
when is Irresistible coming out?
5 February 2009 at 2:33 pm #
What’s the timeline on the Irresistible theme release?
11 February 2009 at 10:24 am #
Really want to get hold of the ‘Station’ theme, any news on a release date?
12 February 2009 at 9:21 am #
myweblog.. myweblog .. please release it!
24 February 2009 at 11:28 pm #
Any clue when newsport will be released? Last word was 1st week of Feb… Status update, por favor…
28 May 2009 at 4:28 am #
Действительно интересно было почитать
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