Ian Landsman is Starting From Scratch, January 6, 2007:
The “UN” Blog Template
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I’ve had enough of blog templates. I hate the one I have and I hate all the free ones out there and the paid ones too for that matter. Plus, they’re always a huge pain to implement. So I’ve moved to an un-template. Just text H tags and a few simple classes, that’s it. I’ll probably do a bit more styling, but I really like this simple look. It’s much more readable and I think puts the focus back on the blog posts and away from all the colors and craziness.
Discussion
Ack! It's 1995 again!
Created by ack! on 01.06.2007 6:12 am
Sorry Ian. I didn't like the last one but the current one just sucks. If you're looking for simplicity look for example at Miguel de Icaza: http://tirania.org/blog/. Anyway, of the three templates I've seen the first one you had was the best.
Created by fbm on 01.06.2007 7:20 am
This just looks so bad to the eyes and no one would like it.
Created by Raza on 01.06.2007 8:44 am
Heh. So this is like a bad 80's song or something eh?
Created by Ian on 01.06.2007 9:09 am
I think making base xhtml look good is a very useful challenge for any web app developer. Stripping the visual styling is a nice thing occasionally, and arguably (and it is a long argument, I've participated many times) one of the best places to start assembling a visual style from.
I tend to like it.
Created by Rob Drimmie on 01.06.2007 11:32 am
Nope, don't like it. fbm is right on: this template is *too* simple. Miguel's template is visually simple, but far more pleasant and (imho) readable.
Created by Kevin Dangoor on 01.06.2007 9:57 pm
It's better than the last one.
Created by saberworks on 01.07.2007 4:33 am
Why don't you commission Mike Rohde to design something for you, if you don't want to do it yourself?
Created by John Topley on 01.07.2007 6:22 am
I thought about that John, but he's really busy right now (including a new UserScape site), plus it seems like too much work for a stinking blog template.
What do you guys think about doing a design contest? Maybe I could offer up an ipod or something like that and a HelpSpot License? Think there's enough design talent who read this blog that it would work?
Created by Ian on 01.07.2007 9:13 am
Hi Ian,
I was going to suggest a couple of simple WordPress themes but it appears you're using different software. Perhaps you could still look at these for inspiration:
http://www.plaintxt.org/
http://ifelse.co.uk/simpla
And you can browse many additional WordPress themes here (again, as potential inspiration):
http://themes.wordpress.net/
BTW, WordPress is very nice. 
Created by Beanbrain on 01.08.2007 10:05 am
P.S.: I don't mind the new (un)design so much, but fans of simple design seem to be in the minority.
I do find the size and width of the text and the font itself a bit difficult to read; however I personally don't mind the lack of graphics (which is also a great way to conserve bandwidth).
Created by Beanbrain on 01.08.2007 10:13 am
A design contest is a good idea, or I wouldn't have thought it would be too much work to lift the heading styles, fonts etc. from Mike's redesign once it's finished if you want to keep the house style.
Created by John Topley on 01.08.2007 4:27 pm
Good link Bean, I thought about moving back to WP, but no time right now for all the work it would take since there's no importer.
John, I don't want to share a design with the main site. I want it to be clear that the visitor is someplace else and that this is not the corporate blog of UserScape, Inc or anything like that.
Created by Ian on 01.08.2007 4:31 pm
Sorry Ian I've got to agree with the other posters this template is a little too bland. In fact when it first opened I refreshed a few times because I thought the styles hadn't loaded.
However - I hear you too well about the pain and suffering to customise blog templates.
I have used the veryplaintxt template (same developer as recommended by BeanBrain) for my business blog. I did make style changes - hence my empathy for your decision 
.
http://www.plaintxt.org/themes/veryplaintxt/
Created by Scott Carpenter on 01.08.2007 9:53 pm
Finally a blog that uses 100% of my screen.
Created by Doug on 01.08.2007 11:20 pm
I like your previous design, I think it looks nice. The only problem is the blog width is too small and "Justified", otherwise it's good eye candy.
Tell you the truth, this one really sucks. You might as well go back to the previous one. Or use the default templates come from "Wordpress"
Created by HL on 01.09.2007 12:12 pm
Ian, fair enough. That means I've been labouring under the mistaken impression that this was the corporate blog for all this time!
Created by John Topley on 01.10.2007 4:58 am
Ian, I feel your pain 3X! Three thoughts:
- the current layout burns my eyes out of my head.
- hopefully some micro-ISV will see the pain, go for the opportunity and create either a service or app that generates a clean, up-to-date blog template on demand.
- If you find a solution, please let me/us know!
Created by Bob Walsh on 01.10.2007 2:36 pm
Well it is from a certain perspective John, but it's not "official" per se.
Don't worry all I'm going to get a better design up here in the next month or two. Just needed a reset. All of you read the RSS feed anyway 
Created by Ian on 01.11.2007 2:14 pm