We've built Protean with the explicit aim of making customisation as easy possible. Knowledge of HTML or CSS is not a prerequisite. In fact, we've fitted the theme with custom controls enabling you to manipulate the following:
Page Style - You can easily change the background and colour scheme of your blog posts using the Page Style interface (see below). (You'll find the same interface under Appearance as well. From here you can control the global site design).
Banner Style - Each blog post is accompanied by a custom banner (think of it as the advertisement or poster for your post). In addition to a background image or colour, the banner can also feature a title and an excerpt from your post.
The inspiration behind Protean
We've invested a considerable amount of work in Protean. But we would not have arrived at this point if it wasn't for: (1) the rise of HTML5 and CSS3, as well as the release of WordPress 3.
These developments got the cogs turning, so to speak. An immense amount of inspiration was also drawn from designers such as Jason Santa Maria and Dustin Curtis who got us thinking about blog-post customisation in the first place. (Check out "The Death of the Boring Blog Post" on Smashing Magazine for more information).
And last but not least, we would also like to credit the readability-on-the-web renaissance for the contribution it made to our thinking around design and readability. If you would like to learn more about this, be sure to check out In Defense of Readers" on "A List Apart".
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Protean on Wordpress.com?
No. At this point in time, Protean is only available to those lucky few running their own Wordpress installations. If you want give that a try, you can visit www.wordpress.org and download your own copy. Please note, however, that you'll also need to arrange your own web hosting etc.
What about browser compatibility?
Protean works well in most popular browsers. We've tested Internet Explorer, Safari, FireFox, and Chrome on PC and Mac - all with good results. (We've used CSSPie and HTML5Shiv to get IE to recognise our use of new web technologies, but IE6 is, not surprisingly, still a bit wonky).
What are the technical requirements?
Minimum requirements are Wordpress 3 (or above) along with PHP5 (or above).
What size background image do I need for new banners?
Banner images need to be 870px wide. Height is variable and so you can experiment with that. In our testing, we found 870x300 to be a good size (see www.buildingtothink.com) but it's really up to you.
What's with the name? Sounds like some sort of meat product.
In Greek mythology Proteus is a sea god with the ability to shapeshift. From his name comes the adjective "protean" which means "versatile", "mutable", or "capable of assuming many forms" all of which are good characterisations of our theme's abilities (check out the Proteus entry on Wikipedia for a complete picture). So no, it's not a meat product.
Beta Release: This beta release provides limited functionality. It does not, for example, feature a traditional site navigation, nor does it support widgets. It's an experiment, albeit a solid one. But we'd love for you to try it out and tell us what you think.
Feedback: Feedback: Part of the rationale of releasing a beta is to elicit feedback from users like yourself. If you have ideas for future releases of Protean, please let us know. You can use the "Feedback" tab on the left or contact us on Twitter: @landaureece.
Licensing: Licensing: Protean is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3 license, meaning that you are free to copy, distribute, and adapt the theme in whatever way you like as long as you credit Landau Reece on your site.