jQuery UI Theme Options

June 2nd, 2008

A week or so ago I offered to help with the jQuery project. I’m such a big fan that I felt compelled to give back. While I consider myself decent at JavaScript I’m not even remotely close to being good enough to contribute code to the project. However, I knew that jQuery was going through a site / branding redesign and I wanted to know if I could help with that.

Unfortunately the lead designer heading up that project never got back to me, but the jQuery UI team did catch my offer for help and let me know that I could contribute in the way of a jQuery UI theme! Since then I’ve been spinning my wheels trying to come up with some decent, portable options. I’ll take a vote and see which one is the most popular, and then hand it off to another fellow (another guy anxious to help with the jQuery project) for some CSS magic.

So without further hullabaloo, here are the three mock ups I have so far. I’d love to hear everyone’s feedback!

jQuery UI Theme 1

(click image for larger version)

This theme takes the concept of the “floating tabs” from the current Flora theme. The color scheme is muted, the gradients are soft, and it has a nice polished feel to it.

jQuery UI Theme 2

(click image for larger version)

This theme is a based on the design of the jQuery UI home page. Black, orange and blue, with a nice container for the tabs. This is the most crisp of the three mock ups, but also the least portable.

jQuery UI Theme 3

(click image for larger version)

This theme is the brightest and perhaps the most portable. Someone in the jQuery UI group mentioned they liked the look of Meebo, so I used their interface as an inspiration point for this. I used a similar bright blue / orange combo, but I toned down the gradients, and ditched the rounded corners in favor of something a bit more crisp.

Oops, I forgot…

So I forgot to make the accordion style for each of these. However, I will wait until we green light a certain concept and just develop the accordion as well as all mouseovers for that particular theme.

Thanks!

Thanks to the jQuery UI team for this opportunity, and thanks to Seth for the CSS help. Again, I would love feedback on all accounts! Be sure and cast your vote as well!

[polldaddy poll="666439"]