There are reasons people know me as a WordPress Designer - other than the fact that I’ve written the book on it. I’ve been developing/designing WordPress sites since 2003 - - and I think in blog time, that’s almost ancient. Occasionally, however, I do get requests for designs on different platforms (like Movable Type, Typepad, Blogger, etc). Rarely - - and I do mean very rarely, I get an order for an Expression Engine site. I think in the 5 years I’ve been doing this - I can count on one hand how many orders I get for Expression Engine design. I don’t think that reflects the popularity of WordPress over Expression Engine, really - I think it reflects my services, mostly. People who know me, and seek me out, get the impression that I’m a WordPress gal. Which I am, make no mistake - but let’s face it - - I’m a designer and I work within whatever platform my client needs.
Because of the lack of Expression Engine requests I’ve received, I never really got into the program all that much, if at all. There was just no need to - and, quite honestly, no time for me to really dig in. And if I wasn’t getting the requests - - then I needed to focus on the areas that required my attention.
Recently, I was kind of forced into a site design for an existing Expression Engine site. I say ‘forced’ like it’s a bad thing — and it’s not. Let’s just say that certain circumstances happened and I was pulled, kicking and screaming, into learning the guts of a program that I’d never really taken a long look at before, due to an extreme lack of time to be able to devote to really learning it as well as I know some of the other platforms out there.
I finished the site today (whew!) and had a lot of fun learning the program. If you want to visit the site I just launched using Expression Engine - her name is Jade and her site is Jaded Sunburns. It was a learning curve for me - but stands in defiance to the old adage: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.
Jade already had several templates built on her Expression Engine site, and she uses a theme switcher to let you, the reader, decide which theme you want to view. Having those other templates already built in were a nice guide and I would be totally remiss if I didn’t give credit where credit is due to Danalynn - her original coding for the previous, existing templates were a huge help and sent me off into the right direction. (*hugs* Danalynn)
Jade uses some custom features on her blog, that aren’t necessarily inherent to Expression Engine, like:
- Theme Switching
- Private Posts
- Social Bookmarking (an installed Module)
- Tagging (an installed Module)
- Polls (and installed Module)
- Static Pages (another Module)
- Plugins, such as: Twitter Timeline, Magpie, Who’s Online, and more
Things like static pages and private posts are something WordPress does on the fly - so that was a bit different for me. And on 9/24 - WordPress will release the final version of 2.3 that will do Tagging on the fly, as well.
Expression Engine is very feature rich, with built in modules for a Photo Gallery, Forums, E-Commerce, and more. I’m happy to add Expression Engine Design to my repertoire of services offered at E.Webscapes. At my core, though - I’m still a WordPress girl at heart ♥
It looks AMAZING! Fantastic job - I can’t even tell that it was a rushed project or a less familiar platform. It looks phenomenal.
Thanks, Linds - it was a fun one
You’ll always be the Wordpress Girl that I ♥!
It looks fabulous (even if you did step out on me).
I would never step out on you sweetie
And thanks - - pink is fun!
I know you’re a wordpress girl at heart, but the way that you jumped right in there, head first and did such a phenomenal job with my theme (and with walking in Dana’s shoes!) is truly a testiment to your grace and your amazing talents as a designer! I’m so glad to have been the one to pop your EE learning cherry, so to speak!
I really can’t thank you enough!
Jade - it really was a blast
And what better way to get my EE cherry popped than with shades of pink? 
It was my pleasure! And Dana doubts the power of pink! pffft
One day, Dana will embrace the pink. You and I will have to work on her *conspire*
Fabulous Lisa! Great job. I am really looking forward to checking out your book once it is available - cuz I’m a WordPress girl too - that can also be coerced into working with other platforms as needed.
Thanks, Char! I can be cajoled into working with other programs, as needed - - but its like stepping outside of my safety net lol
testing comments in ie
Death to pink!!!!!!!!1111eleventyone
@Dana - you’re very bitter on the whole pink thing. What did pink ever do to you?
I have to say that was really nice layout. I think it is always good to expand the programs you learn since you never know where the money may come from next.
Thank you very much, Amanda. And you’re right - it is a good thing to broaden your horizons and gain experience with several applications.. you just never know when that knowledge will come in handy
You’re welcome! My mother bought your book since wordpress complete was a little too advanced for her. She enjoys it so far! I wonder how you can write a dummies book! tell me the details!
Writing a dummies book isn’t as easy as it seems (or as I first thought it would be)
Lots of hard work, research, editing and re-editing - - but it’s been fun 
(psst.. my book isn’t published yet - - it goes to print in about a week. Maybe your mom is reading a different book?
Oh poop. She preordered yours and is using the other one my friend recommended. sorry about that. haha I get her books confused.
Heh - so many books, so little time, I always say
You’re telling me. I do book reviews on Pajama Mommy and I have at least a stack of 50 books I have to read. I had to hand some out to my friends since they are just waiting and I feel bad for the publishing companies who give them to me but I’m like omg. I can’t read this many books in a month ahhaa I wish I could!
There are so many blogging platforms nowadays and it’s occasionally hard to familiarize with them, since each has their own unique way and all.
it is said that you are a beauty as an WP-er
and i am specailly coming .