Templates & Theme Updates

I’ve been charged with completely redesigning the website for a state genealogical & historical society in the U.S. — and it really needs it! I’ve created a couple of personal websites in the past, but that was back in the ’90s, and I’m a writer & editor, not a visual designer. I have no problem creating content, but basic design is something else.

So I’ve been sifting through free website templates at a number of sites for weeks now, looking for a good template that I would be capable of adapting & modifying, and you have by far the highest proportion of good, “quiet,” dignified, and thoughtful site designs that I’ve found. I really like “Emplode,” for instance.

My problem is that most of the templates out there are intended for online companies — loud, bright, glitzy, and heavy on images. I’ve been in contact with the webmasters at several other local history & genealogy societies, and they’ve mentioned it, too. There just isn’t very much out there for semi-academic or “serious” avocational organizations — and yet we’re the ones dependent on volunteers and usually with tight budgets.

Our own site would be text-heavy, with multiple subpages for various society activities and projects. Which means each page needs to include enough space among the text sections to keep it readable. Almost the only graphic would be our society logo in the header. Would you consider thinking about a template design along these lines, for groups like ours? Or perhaps modifying one you’ve already done? I suspect it would, at the very least, expand your fan base among those of us over 40!

Michael,

Imagine my surprise at seeing your post and remembering our Compuserve ROOTS history. Since then, I’ve been a professor and a web developer/designer. I know the kind of organization and budget constraints you mention. Send me a note using my surname AT tenstellium.com. Hope you are well