Written by Karen D. Swim
Yesterday, in the throes of moving the blog and setting things up, my dear James offered a profound comment that stayed with me all day “Ah, good girl!! Now that was smart. Forgoing pretty for functionality… ” Now less you think he was being snarky, allow me to explain.
The original plan was to hire the Pen Men to make me pretty and functional all at once. I would unveil my new address with the house freshly painted and curtains in the window. That was the plan. However, I could take the rental no longer. The walls closed in, my neghbors were noisy and there was no room to grow a garden, so I donned my ninja gear and did a stealth move in the middle of the night. No notice, no moving van, just packed up the bare essentials and moved.
James’ comment stayed with me because I realized that in business and life I want it all – I want pretty and functional. I am not content to look pretty and be worthless and I want my life to operate in the same way. I want my stuff to do the job but look good doing it. However, if I’m forced into a corner and have to choose one thing, well I choose function because I like pretty but I am also a practical sort.
My blog is not yet pretty but I am not ashamed to tell you that the ability to offer you comment luv has my toes tingling with excitement. Featuring your recent comments right over there, has me giggling with glee. So, in a way functional can be pretty even without the trimmings.
Soon I shall be even more functional and pretty to boot. So pardon my dust while we clean up the place but when my interior decorators have worked their magic, you will be awed.
What about you would you choose pretty or functional?
owen says
functionality all the way
Roland Hesz says
Karen, don’t worry, when you move self hosted, you realize that there are about 623 123 good looking themes you absolutely love and can’t live without.
So prettying up the site will be a never ending story from now on 🙂
And good luck with it and congrats for the move ! 🙂
Brett Legree says
@Karen,
At your service, Wonder Woman! I’m always around (Skype me) for a quick question or three.
-Brett
Brett Legrees last blog post..viking fridays – the ignorant man.
Karen Swim says
@Steph, those seats sound cool, can we get pictures? 🙂
@Brett, I will be in the market for a mac later this year, I’ll need your help!
@Spaghettipie, LOL! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You put me at ease about this kooky transition!
@Lillie, oh the plans they have for me! Moving usually irritates me but this has been a load of fun. 🙂
@Ellen, you know you’re right! I have already found it easier to post, and it is much cleaner than blogger. I really do understand why WordPress has won raving fans.
@Evelyn, that is good feedback! I agree and in one of my comments to the Pen Men I said the same thing. I want pretty but the most important thing is it must be easy to navigate and visually appealing to the reader. I know that the Men will deliver and you all will be pleased. 🙂
Ellen Wilson says
I forgot to mention that you have everything but the kitchen sink in the picture. A toilet, but no sink. hehehe Was that intentional?
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..What are You Fishing for?
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map says
I read many blogs everyday; so the most important thing to me is easy readibility. And this will have to come with a clean look.
Pretty is important but does not beat functionality and ease of navigation, I’m afraid. If you can add in a dose of being pretty after the basic needs are taken off, then I would call that a bonus!
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Maps last blog post..Discover The Law of Attraction In Silence
Ellen Wilson says
You will like this WP site a whole lot better than blogger. Blogger is not very functional. You will also enjoy trying out all the great plugins WP offers.
I think you automatically get nice looking and functional with WP.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..What are You Fishing for?
Lillie Ammann says
Karen,
I’m for function over form, although, like you, I’d prefer both. It will be fun to watch as you (and the Men Pen) decorate your new home.
spaghettipie says
Welcome to the wild and wooly world of your own domain! It’s fun to play with it all, so take your time and enjoy the process! I come for the words, not for the looks!
spaghettipies last blog post..What’s in a prayer?
Brett Legree says
@Karen,
I’m glad you like that one… I wish I could convince people where I work to like it too!!! Perfectionists, with no idea of *what* perfection actually is…
@Steph,
You’ll be happy with your purchase once you get that iMac (have you ever thought of the Apple refurb units? Very reasonably priced.)
And I know you’d like an Element also. I know someone here who has one, swears by it.
Brett Legrees last blog post..participant.
Steph says
Karen: do you want to email me about the comment luv or leave the how-to at my blog?
Yup, the green Honda Element is my next vehicle. Right now I drive a Honda Fit, which I’m totally in love with. I will show anyone who’s interested how the seats work. It is AMAZING what you can fit in that nifty, smart little car! And I hear you can HOSE OUT the element. With a dog that comes gallivanting with us, it would be ideal!!
My furniture NEVER stays in the same spot for long…except I’m really getting interested in the fung shui way of doing things, so as I move stuff according to that, it may end up being permanent! (Then I’ll just have to get different items!) 🙂
Stephs last blog post..Freedom Fighter
Karen Swim says
@Melissa, thanks for that vote of confidence. I have been stretching like a cat today enjoying all the things I can do.
@Brad, 🙂 thank you so much, that means the world to me!
Karen Swim says
@Brett, thanks for the encouraging words! “Optimum sloppiness” I like it, I will remember that! You are right that sometimes we need to focus on the form and getting the work done, and then polishing it later. Thanks Brett!
@Robert, what a perfect analogy! I tell you that Mrs. MZM is one smart woman!
@Wendi, thanks for that! I’ve been accused of being far too comfortable with risk. It’s either guts or stupidity. LOL! You will love, love working with the Pen Men. I’m excited to see your remodel too. Good things are blooming all over blogtown!
@Joanna, LOL! Thanks for bearing with my craziness! I can tell you that since the move a weight has lifted from my shoulders. Having a blog and separate website were becoming a huge issue that was stifling my need to do some things for my business. The upside is everyone gets to benefit from what I’ve learned. I’ve already helped another WP newbie with some installations. 🙂
@Steph, Ha! I’m on my third website soon to be 4th and I move things around at home just for fun. I promise not to shake up too much after the decorators are done…I like the Honda Element too! That’s funny, it’s on my short list of next cars. And, I like it for the same reasons you do. I like your thinking Steph! 🙂 Oh P.S., I can help you with comment luv because I know how. Whoo hoo! 🙂
Brad Shorr says
Stripped down functionality is fine for a blog right after a move. Now I have another good reason to visit every day – to see what you’ve added the site.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..On Politics: In Search of Eloquence
Melissa Donovan says
Karen, I think you’ve made a smart move! Function first, beautify later. Now that your site is standalone, you’ll have a lot more functionality and flexibility and the pretty design will come in time.
Steph says
Um, I don’t have comment luv. How do I put it on my blog? Or can I?
Stephs last blog post..Working on It
Steph says
Whoops, my address was wrong. Yeah, I don’t do XML sitemaps…
I was coming back on here to say, and thanks for the comment luv!! 🙂
Stephs last blog post..Working on It
Steph says
I’m glad you took the plunge and I’m happy for you because I know how fun it is! And I can’t wait to see what James and Harry do for you!
We are alike in this kind of thing, very much so. I want both pretty and functional, too, but I’m also a very practical person so function wins. I love the Honda Element, for example, and so many think it’s ugly! I love function and form in furniture, too, in pretty much anything. It’s why I’m drawn to the iMac… Practicality, efficiency, space-saving, that sort of innovation excites me, maybe a bit too much because it causes people to stare when I get enthusiastic about a design.
I’ve thought already about changing my own design and I haven’t been long at WordPress. But Joanna has a good point: your look is your brand (mind you, mine is just a personal blog) and people come to expect what you look like, and feel weird when things are rearranged. I just want the design I like most (pretty) but that will also allow me to do what I want (within the free zone for this personal blog). Might take some experimenting.
Stephs last blog post..XML Sitemaps
Joanna Young says
Karen, I’m not really into pretty. I prefer clean lines and simplicity, the design revealing the content.
That being said if you’d asked me first I think I might have said hang on in there because a blog is a brand – a powerful representation of you. Moving is a big deal. You need to move not just yourself but your readers too.
You want to be able to throw open the doors and have a party, invite everyone to look around and say ‘wow, this is so you’
If you’re going to ask everyone to shift their links and update their feeds I do think it’s worth taking the time to wait – or find someone else who can move you more quickly.
But then, you’re Karen, you’re impetuous and impulsive and “I’ll learn as I go along”, and heck, that’s one of the reasons we follow you and love you, and why we will help you unpack the boxes too.
Joanna
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Are You Clear On Your Blogging Purpose?
Wendi Kelly says
Karen, the important thing is that you did it. That took guts and some level of know how that I don’t have. Good for you!
PenMen are already getting ready to take my house apart so I just need to hang in there and try to be patient a little longer. But believe me…I understand the feeling.
Karen Swim says
@Jamie, ROFL! *blushing* Thanks for the compliment but I am going to rely on the Pen Men to bring the pretty! I do have a Meet Me page so that people can see I’m real..it’s over there on the left. 🙂
Robert Hruzek says
Now, about a year and a half after we moved into our house, Mrs. MZM and I agree – we should have moved in, lived for a few months, THEN decorated the place. That way, we would have had a genuine feel for how the place should really look instead of simply imposing something on it from the start.
So take your time, test things out, get feedback, do it at your own pace. You’ll be glad you did, and besides, when subtle changes happen often, it keeps readers on their toes!
Cheers!
Robert
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Reality Check
Brett Legree says
That’s the trick, though, isn’t it – make it work first, then polish it. The best looking tool in the world is only a piece of artwork if it doesn’t work…
Build the hammer first. Drive a few nails with it. Then wrap the handle with leather. Polish the metal next (except for the striking surface!)
But you knew that already…
It reminds me of something an old engineering professor used to say to us, the concept of “optimum sloppiness”. Make it good enough to work. You can make it more accurate and polished later.
The folks where I work today could learn from that. It doesn’t matter what content is actually *in* a document, for instance – it has to be the right template… *sigh*
Brett Legrees last blog post..participant.
Jamie Grove - How Not To Write says
Functional. Form over substance wins…
And besides, all you need to do is get your picture in the sidebar and the site will have all the pretty it needs. 🙂
Jamie Grove – How Not To Writes last blog post..On the RhodesTer, An Ode to Dave