Default Theme Idea Contest

ThemeShaper.com is holding a contest where the winner will be able to win up to four iThemes WordPress Themes. How do you win?

It’s easy to win. Just let the community know what you think the next WordPress default theme should be like. All you have to do is leave a comment here with your great idea or ideas. Any idea is fine. You don’t need to be a theme developer, all you need is an opinion. Not enough room? Write a post on your own blog outlining your ideas (and to make sure I find it, leave a comment here with a link to your post). The three best ideas/proposals, as judged by iThemes and ThemeShaper, will be awarded the prizes. If we think they’re good ideas, you win! Simple.

Grand Prize: Your choice of 4 single-use license iThemes themes.

First Runner-up: Your choice of 2 single-use license iThemes themes.

Second Runner-up: Your choice of 1 single-use license iThemes theme.

Please note: Revolution will not be included in this offer.

With that being said, it’s time I contribute to the discussion that Theme Shaper has started by offering up some of my own ideas. I’m looking forward to a new default theme which contains 110% of inline documentation. For instance, wherever there is a WP function that is coded into the theme, I would like to see a commented line which explains what that function does. I would also like to see an abundant amount of inline documentation within the default themes stylesheet. If that doesn’t seem feasible, I would like to see a screenshot or two of the theme with the various CSS classes and DIV elements labeled so folks would be able to get the gist of how the theme was developed, both from a code and visual perspective
The new default theme should be an excellent example of how design, semantics, and web standards can come together to work in unity along side WordPress. I would also like to see a default theme that really showcases what WordPress has to offer OUT OF THE BOX. However, I realize this would be somewhat difficult to do without adding a boatload of functions and parameters which might be too difficult to learn or navigate through for beginners.

The new default theme should be a modernized stepping stone for new users. We have already witnessed the number of people who simply stay with the K2 theme or modify it SLIGHTLY for their own needs. I believe this trend will continue, so the default theme should be coded in such a way that it’s main elements can be easily changed through an admin menu and not by modifying the actual code by hand. For instance, build on the already existing example of how K2 has a way for users to modify the header image and color.

These are my ideas for what should be included in a new default theme for WordPress if one were to be created and this is also my entry into the contest.