Web design projects usually start in one of two ways. Clients will either have a very specific understanding of what they’re looking for (they might even point you towards existing branding materials or templates), or they’ll have no idea at all, save for a few generalities like “clean,” “corporate,” or “clever.” There are occasionally clients that sit somewhere in the middle, but after further exploration, they often begin to lean towards one or the other extreme.
Whether your client is super specific or very vague about the particulars of their design needs, professional templates can often serve as a great starting point to either bring specificity to a formless design idea, or match the particular preferences of a meticulously-planned project. Many of these themes have a surprising amount of features and functions that allow you to help your client make aesthetic decisions and gain a thorough understanding of what they want.
Below are the 25 best-selling WordPress themes of 2012, all of which have been tailored to suit a wide variety of clients and purposes.
Merchant
U-Design
SMPL
LeGourmet
Modernize
Drawar
Karma
Rustik
Sentient
SmartStart WP
Red Fred
Striking
Whitelight
Klix
King Size
Trim
Socialite
MayaShop
Gleam
Digitalis
Core Minimalist Photography Portfolio
Pub & Restaurant
Flare
Exciter
Music
Do you have a favorite (or least favorite) theme from the list above? Do you notice any trends within the year’s most popular themes? Do you prefer starting a design project with a professional theme, or would you rather start entirely from scratch?
Isabelle TryIsabelle is a design writer based out of Australia.
