Elite By Design » Inspiration

Interview With Nick Roach of Elegant Themes + Giveaway

Brian Lovin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:00:21 +0000

[tweetmeme]Nick Roach is the creator and owner of Elegant Themes, a top-notch premium WordPress theme provider. His company has grown at an incredible speed since its founding, and captures a wide niche of the WordPress themes marketplace. Nick’s designs are clean, elegant, simple, and aesthetic.

Name: Nick Roach
Location: California
Age: 23
Site(s): Elegant Themes
Twitter: @ElegantThemes

Brian: Hi Nick, thanks for agreeing to this interview. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background on the internet.

Nick: I was introduced to web design in Middle School upon deciding that my new band needed a website. I slapped something together as best I could, and while my musical aspirations soon faded, my interest in the internet did not. From then on I was hooked, as web/graphic design revealed itself to be the perfect way to satisfy my interest in art, technology and business. I have been creating websites ever since, teaching myself along the way. ElegantThemes is the most recent of many sites that I have created, and undoubtedly the most successful and rewarding. It has been great to see ElegantThemes grow over the past year, and can only hope that I can continue to provide great designs to the blogging community for some time to come.

Brian: As a current design student in college, what advice would you give to young designers in high school? Are you satisfied with your ongoing design education, or would you rather have focused your efforts on pushing your business, Elegant Themes?

Nick: My advice to prospective college students would be to always stay active in the design community outside of school. Don’t let your academics consume you, or you risk distancing yourself from the world of design itself – get to far away from the heart and you’ll lose the pulse of the community. I think that college can be a great place to challenge yourself, but I have also found that it is slower to adapt to recent design trends. What I value most about school is not so much the information itself, but the way it forces me to stay active and to interact with other aspiring designers. I don’t mean to shine a negative light on the educational system, because I appreciate what I have learned. I am just trying to stress the fact that there are many places to absorb information and to become inspired, and if you just focus on school, you are going to find it hard to break away from the pack. I have found the most important classes to be to the basic, core art courses. Color theory, drawing and composition, typography and so on. It’s great to build a foundation, but when the time comes, differentiating yourself from the crowd is on you – don’t expect to be taught how to be an individual (duh!)

For me being an entrepreneur and student has been a challenge, but I have managed to strike a balance that allows me to be successful. College is just something that forces me to get out of the house, provides me with outside stimuli and helps me become more well-rounded. But it’s just a piece of the puzzle.

Brian: Every theme you release at Elegant Themes has a very clear “Nick Roach” design style. Where do you think your design style came from? Where do you find inspiration for new theme designs?

Nick: It’s hard to say where my style came from, but I suppose on the broadest terms it boils down to a lot of observation and experimentation. Practice makes perfect, and the more you do so the more you begin to grow as a designer. I make an effort to browse art/design galleries on a daily basis, and to practice new techniques with each new theme.

On the other hand, inspiration can come from anywhere. Sometimes it is the unexpected things that end up spawning the most interesting ideas. For example, my most recent theme, OnTheGo, http://www.elegantthemes.com/preview/OnTheGo/ stemmed entirely from the floating business man found in the header. The flying man was a sketch I did for a wine label concept. One day I decided to scan my sketchbook and play around in Photoshop – soon enough I had a finished theme. People probably assume that he was added at the end as a finishing touch, when it fact that floating dude was the spark that brought the whole design into existence.

Brian: You’re still a one-man team at Elegant Themes. With all the support requests, site management tasks, theme upgrades, and new theme development, you must be a master of time management. What apps or tools do you use to stay focused and organized?

Nick: Though I have been a unaided for most of ElegantTheme’s history, I am not a one-man team anymore. I still design all of the themes, but now I have some great people assisting with tech support and development. I still have a hand in every aspect of the site, but having a team behind me has allowed me to focus on what I do best. With 20,000 active members, you can imagine the kind of work that goes into tech support. I answer around 100 emails a day, and that’s with two people helping out. I really stress the importance of support, and I think my members see that. That’s the main reason why I have hired some outside help, to provide my customers with all the assistance they need.

Brian: Go back in time to early 2008, about the time you started Elegant Themes. If you could change anything about your business model, marketing strategy, or theme development, what would it be, and why?

Nick: There are a few things I would do differently, all of which involve marketing and customer management. These are things that I had very little experience in upon launching ElegantThemes, and obviously I would not want to repeat the trial and error process that I used to learn.

1. I would have launched the website with an affiliate program. I underestimated the importance and potential of affiliate programs, and would never launch another venture without having one ready from the beginning.

2. I would have taken more risks with advertising. You are going to waste some money, that’s just how it works. But the more reasonable risks you take, and the more advisements you can afford to test, the more well-converting campaigns you end up with in the end. If you believe in yourself and your product, then you shouldn’t be afraid to promote it.

3. I would have created a member support forum much earlier. It is simply more effective than an email/ticket system for a membership site. It also helps to build a strong community.

4. Networking with other designers/bloggers. This is something I still need to work on.

Brian: What advice would you offer to young entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in the online world?

Nick: People may be tired of hearing this, but it is the truth: If you want to be successful you need to be passionate about what you are doing, and you need to work your ass off. It’s not unusual for me to get 3 hours sleep or to skip a social gathering, not because I have to, but because I actually want to work those late lights and grow as a digital artist/entrepreneur. If you love what you are doing, then success is always around the corner.

I think that the best way for new internet companies to start out is to really focus on engaging their online space and participating in their community. Word of mouth has been very important for me, and now it is easier than ever to enter the “conversation” and make a name for yourself. I built ElegantThemes from the ground up without any funding, simply through my participation in various web design forums and blogs. Blog, comment, tweet, or whatever you like to do. Just do it genuinely, produce good content and provide a real opinion. You will better yourself and gain a following that you can use to jumpstart your business.

Most of all, just dedicate yourself to creating the best product you can. If you have the best thing out there and you are dedicated to its success it will be hard to fail!

Thanks again to Nick Roach for this insightful interview. Please feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below!

Giveaway

Nick Roach has generously donated two Elegant Themes subscriptions to you, Elite By Design’s readers. Each subscription is worth $20 and is valid for one year. During your subscription you will have access to all of the amazing WordPress themes on Elegant Themes!

How To Win:

1. To enter this giveaway you must tweet this giveaway

2. All tweets made before April 1, 2010 will be accepted. Winners will be announced during the first week of April.

4. Two Winners will be chosen randomly.

37 Gorgeous Space Wallpapers

Brian Lovin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:00:14 +0000

[tweetmeme] In my hunt for some abstract wallpapers during these past few weeks, I’ve encountered a recurring source of absolutely gorgeous space-themed wallpapers. These images use bright colors, explosive details, mysterious shadowing, and have a bigger-than-life creative impression on me. Space has always inspired the minds of man. That is why today I present you with 37 gorgeous space wallpapers that will inspire your life.

90+ Remarkable Examples Of Bold Colors In Web Design

Brian Lovin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:00:08 +0000

[tweetmeme] The later months of 2009 showed a rising trend in web design of straying away from gradients, subtle details, and muted, Apple-esque design techniques. Instead, more and more designers are turning towards bright, vibrant, or strong colors in their designs to attract readers’ eyes to certain areas, invoke certain emotions, or create a certain mood. I fully expect 2010 to be the year of bright, bold colors in web design.

In light of this prediction for 2010 web design, here is a list of over 90 remarkable examples of bold colors in web design to offer you inspiration as you experiment with new design styles in the new year.

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32 Incredibly Stunning Abstract Wallpapers

Brian Lovin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:00:02 +0000

[tweetmeme] After the phenomenal success of the post, 45+ Most Creative Abstract Wallpapers written over one year ago on Elite By Design, I have decided to compile a new collection of abstract wallpapers to spice up your desktop and add some creativity to your work day. If you’re sick of the wallpaper you’ve been using for too long, try one of these 32 most stunning abstract wallpapers.

An Incredibly Inspiring Collection of Avatar Fan Art

Brian Lovin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:19 +0000

[tweetmeme] Avatar has taken the world by storm, leading the box office in the US for more than four straight weeks and earning enough dough globally to earn it the rights of the number two grossing movie in the history of…ever. Props to you James. However, such a movie doesn’t become so popular without its fans. And its fans aren’t satisfied until they’ve somehow contributed to the “Avatar universe.” In a recent trip to Deviant Art, I found quite the stunning collection of Avatar-related fan art. This post is my collection of incredibly inspiring Avatar fan art for your enjoyment and inspiration.

Artist Allure: A Vitaly S Alexius Showcase

Angie Bowen — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:00:39 +0000

Vitaly S Alexius is an innovative graphic artist with a style all of his own, and of his own making. Born in Novokuznetsk, located on the Tom River in south central Siberian Russia in the year of our Big Brother (1984, for all those not acquainted with the reference). With a fascination in all things celestial and a wide range of artistic backgrounds, add a dash of Photoshop enthusiasm, and Vitaly has created a unique artistic voice that shines like the stars from the heavens above. Early in his life, Vitaly grew up in the European architecture and factories that surrounded him,and he immersed himself in it. In the late 90’s Vitaly found himself inexplicably launched overseas to Toronto, Canada where he completed his artistic education and gave rise to his style which he named ’Dreaminism’. Vitaly is currently working in illustration and photography exploring a variety of outlets such as CD/book/comic covers, posters, concept art and more.

Indulge in the following showcase of Vitaly S Alexius’s ’Dreaminism’!

Modern Magic

Modern Magic was a design done for the cover of the New Yorker magazine where we see Vitaly’s love for looming architecture take form. The piece offers a contrast whereas a large metropolis brimming with polluted clouds of air is pitted against a serene cottage resting atop one of the massive structures being bathed cleanly in a vast ray of sunlight.

~There’s no place like home.

Machinery of the Stars

Machinery of the Stars is a dazzling digital display born of a simple concept. ‘Perhaps there is another you, looking up in the sky, across the universe?’ From this simple ponderance, Vitaly turned to his love of the celestial, painting a breathtaking explosion of astral machinery above an expansive cityscape, and a lone person taking it all in lost in the question that inspired the piece.

‘What do you see,
when you look onto the stars,
In the darkest hour of night?’

Symphony of Darkness

Symphony of Darkness is so aptly named it is almost as frightening as the piece itself. This brilliant blend of the macabre and surreal creates a scene of beautiful horror that will stick in your mind for days. There is not much else to say about this work that it does not say for itself, not to mention the aid of the verse the artist attached to it.

‘There ain’t nothing to fear,
But the living fear itself,
And the sound of metallic footsteps
In pitch black darkness,
Where pure despair collects it toll.
Don’t blink or close thy eyes,
Or thou may see it too.’

Consonance

Consonance is a piece that grew from the idea that ‘music is about harmony, like a growing tree’. This inspiring illustration was created as for a school assignment based on the theme ‘Classical Music’, and the monotone creation with subtle flecks of color grant it that ageless flow that create the harmony it reaches for.

Collision of Worlds

Collision of Worlds is another amazing digital masterpiece with a nod to the stellar wonders that fascinated Vitaly as a child. With potent imagination and stunning astral imagery this vibrant creation explodes across the digital canvas coming to life with remarkable ease. No doubt about it, this is what’s like when worlds collide!

‘Falling, falling, falling…
My world was crashing down.’

Starcatchers

Starcatchers is by far the most colorful and rich piece that we have gathered from Vitaly’s gallery. Both in depth and scope, this surrealistic extravaganza delivers the truest essence of art. The artist’s included verse eloquently aids the piece so we shall let them say their part.

‘No certain future in sight

Nothing but darkness in the immeasurable depths of space
Between the horizons of distant stars

No other options upon this path,
But to evolve, and to adapt to the undying laws
That shaped the universe itself.

And even go beyond,
To catch the stars themselves,
In a tight grip of metal
To harness their energy
for our bidding…’

50 Most Fresh and Inspirational Favicons

Angie Bowen — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:00:54 +0000

[tweetmeme]

Branding goes deep these days. Logos are not the only way web designers are leaving their mark on the world wide web. They are scaling down their focus to 16 pixels by 16 pixels, making a different kind of mark altogether. Favicons have exploded across the expanse of cyberspace, cropping up in browser tabs and address bars everywhere. These tiny pixel art impressions of the site can be a daunting task for a designer. With such a small canvas for creation, how does one capture the essence of the site? Well, they may be petite, but we found some examples of fashionable favicons that brilliantly use this minuscule medium with both skill and verve.

Check out the showcase below, and be sure to let us know of your favorite favicons that we may have overlooked!

A List Apart

Trap Solutions

Szpo

Nilesh Chaudhair – Shutterbug

Thinking Woman’s Diary

Reach Group Consulting

myGoya

Juice

India Macromedia User Group

HUGS

Flashaholics

Evozon

Enlightened Lamp Recycling

Jeffery Zeldman Presents

ITC Fonts

Ornamentals Photoshop Brushes

30 Most Inspirational Business Websites

Angie Bowen — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:00:15 +0000

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It’s no secret at this point, this internet thing is going to be big! Most businesses today have some kind of online presence, usually focused around their website. The marketing value of this tool is virtually immeasurable. Unless you are a company that specializes in measuring the marketing value of of the internet as a mainstream tool for enhancing your business, then you might have an idea. And if that is your business, what kind of website would you have?

Business sites have a different goal than most, to be sure. For most business sites, usability is the main focus when putting the site together. They want to make sure that function takes precedence so that users can easily find their way around to everything that they are looking for. Some businesses believe the look of the site is as important as everything else, and they have achieved usability with an equal focus on aesthetics. Here are the thirty most inspirational business websites that we found.

PhotoImageArt

Group8020

Cad & the Dandy

Assaroe Falls

Mia and Maggie

Coconut Grove Apartments

Expression Tints

Porters Carpet and Furniture

Sunderman Construction

Rock Creek Strategic Marketing

Tastebook

Dornoch Castle Hotel

The Resume Girl

30 Elm

Hotel Oxford

Pink Comb Salon

Best Mortgage Deals

Depozit De USI

101 Prints

Miami Angel Properties

Madame Surto

Empower Walk

EarthGoods Natural Foods

Eliteak Outdoor Furnature

Merchant Vinyl

Fox Plumbing

Oypro Commercial Real Estate

Adcapital Industries

Paul Geller Enterprises

Advanced Recovery Computer Recycling

40+ Stunning Black And White Photographs

Brian Lovin — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:00:17 +0000

[tweetmeme] Color is beautiful, no doubt about it. In fact, here at Elite By Design we’ve shown off a lot of very neat galleries filled with bright and vibrant colors – but not today. Black and white is the new focus, with photographs that have the ability to convey messages and meanings with no color as they put more focus on lighting, angle, and contrast.

Here are forty stunning black and white photographs to help inspire you to look beyond color and see the true meaning of a photograph. Click each thumbnail to see the larger image on the original site.

All photos are property of their owner.

45+ Most Creative Abstract Wallpapers

Brian Lovin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:22 +0000

[tweetmeme] Abstract wallpapers are inspiring, creative, and imaginative – so why are you still using the default wallpaper that came with your computer? Enjoy this abstract wallpapers collection with over 45 high quality examples.

Abstract wallpapers are beautiful, inspiring, and creative. A typical abstract wallpaper is bright, bold, and uses vibrant colors to capture an audience’s attention. Abstract wallpapers are images used as a background on your computer screen to be both aesthetically pleasing, but also to be an inspiring and motivating image to help you through your work day.

This post compiles 45 abstract wallpapers that will help brighten your computer and make your day a little bit easier.