A fully-customised, fabulous site that’s a true expression of who you are, and what you’re all about.

What could that that mean for you?

It could mean grabbing the attention of even more readers, and taking your brand to the next level. It could mean new opportunities (and cash), and a clearer vision of your blog’s unique style.

But hiring a designer isn’t always in the budget. Learning from scratch can be too much on your own. And how many times have you scoured the web for a pre-made theme… but found absolutely nothing that fits your voice or style?

What if you could design this captivating blog page… for yourself?

You can - and it doesn’t have to be confusing, stressful or overwhelming. Seriously.

Welcome to Your Darling Blog – a 7-week workshop in design and style for your online space, starting 27th May.

In a little under two months, you’ll learn how to craft a beautiful blog page from scratch using Adobe Photoshop, in a fully supported, low-stress creative environment.

Here's what's inside:

Access to a private course site, with lessons delivered to your inbox each day. Weekly assignments to help you stay on track. 3 weeks of individual design feedback with me (an add-on for weeks 5, 6 and 7). Easy-to-follow tutorials demonstrating the top techniques used by designers you love. Fun lessons to help you pinpoint the feel of your brand, and stay inspired. Step-by-step guides for creating three design variations (feminine + boutique, minimal + geometric, and vintage + handmade). A students-only Facebook group to share your work, and connect with fellow students. Insights, tips, and solutions to common problems from a selection of talented designers. Detailed explanations for every element of your site, and how to use them to their fullest potential. Total demystification surrounding what makes a “good” design. An extensive collection of examples, ideas, and resources to keep you thinking outside the box. Access to all course materials for 6 months, so you can go at your own pace.

The result? A site that’s wonderfully infused with your personality, brand, and voice – and a new skill set that will last a lifetime.

Please note: this course is dedicated to helping you design your blog only. If you’re interested in help with development (i.e. coding, and getting your site live on the web), I provide a number of suggested resources and professional developers to help you out after Your Darling Blog wraps.

Why don’t I teach development? Aside from the fact there are different methods for every blogging platform, I don’t want you to limit your design based on your coding skills. This workshop is 100% focused on making a beautiful site you love.

Course outline:

  • WEEK 1
    Branding, Design Styles, Colour
  • WEEK 2
    Typography, Layout, Headers
  • WEEK 3
    Menus, Sidebars, Social Media
  • WEEK 4
    Implementation Week, Feedback Opt-in
  • WEEK 5
    Patterns, Textures, Backgrounds, Content
  • WEEK 6
    Posts, Custom Pages, Promotion
  • WEEK 7
    Final Implementation Week

The lovely extras:

Photoshop Basics Guide + HTML & CSS Basics Guide + Collection of Resources See the full course outline

Workshop cost: $195 AUD

One-on-one Feedback:

In Week 4 you’ll have the chance to register for three weeks of one-on-one feedback from me. That means during weeks 5, 6 and 7 my inbox will be open to you for email support, so we can discuss, hone, and perfect your design together. This is one of the most valuable aspects in the workshop, so if you’d like me to lend my two cents to your project, consider opting in!

Feedback add-on: $100 AUD

What you'll need:

  • Access to the internet, and a copy of Adobe Photoshop
  • A Facebook account, to interact and share your work with other participants
  • A basic working knowledge of HTML & CSS (helpful, but not required)
  • Pens, pencils or paints and a printer/scanner if you’d like to add your own art to a design.

Any additional queries? Hop over to the FAQs page to learn more about the course, and whether or not it’s right for you.

Next Workshop: 27th May, 2013 Ready and raring to go? Registration opens May 13th, 2013, but you can hop on the mailing list, so you’ll be the first to know when the red ribbon is cut.