Custom vs. Pre-made: Which do YOU Prefer?

As we know, appearance is crucial when it comes to maintaining a successful and well-balanced online community and, because of this, many administrators feel the need to go with a custom-designed theme (I'm one of them). However - visual appearance is not everything.

Do you feel that having a custom-designed skin is better than using one that has already been created and coded (pre-made)? If so, how has it affected your community(s)?

 

I tend to follow the custom made skin tradition.

Not only do you have great feedback, but your members appreciate a "unique" forum.

 

I actually prefer custom ones, I really like being unique. Without a question, I am unique individual, crazy one at that, ne? : D

 

:p Got that right!

 

It depends on the site. Sometimes all you need is a few tweaks to a pre-made template and you're all set.

 

Exactly.

That's why I offer a deal on my site for a custom header and forum status icons. Sometimes that all you need to make it unique for your site.

 

Personally I find popular pre-made skins as unappealing as 100% standard skins.

Myself I'm working on a new custom skin, fully made by myself. About every template changed. Upgrades with mandatory template changes are going to be véry annoying

 

Never used a pre-made style myself, I tend to design my own custom styles. I dunno, I feel like I'm cheating if I use a pre-made style just like with the graphics the same rule applies I don't like using other peoples works but that's not to say I don't like their work I just feel like I should be using my own custom stuff.

That said, as custom as my stuff is I always allow people to use custom graphics from my styles. It's always nice to retain exclusivity but I don't see the harm in allowing certain areas of the style going to people.

 

For me it depends on the site. If it is a 'signature' site that I will be branding then I will go for a unique custom style for it, but if it is a site for (just for example) a local church or other organization who is more interested in the message than the look, then a pre-made design often works wonderfully with a few tweaks.

Notice I did say "with a few tweaks" in regards to the pre-made designs. At the very least a custom logo should be done and if time & budget allow, then changing of some of the items like the forum icons (as Peggy noted above) would be next on the list. Even better would be a pre-made style that is not heavy on graphics so that the combination of a custom logo + custom icons + changing the CSS colors ends up resulting in a design that, at first glance, you don't even realize was started using a pre-made design.

When people ask me for recommendations I tend to have a habit of bluntly asking them for a minimum budget before answering. The reason being is because if somebody has a 1K+ budget to work with then by all means talk to people like Nicolas at ForumSkin but if you only have $100~ or so to work with, then I recommend them to a site like Peggy's to go with the pre-made with tweaks route. And, heck, even if they say their budget is $0 then they still have options by using one of the free designs available at places like vB.org and combining it with some custom graphics like those available by Shelley at vBImageWorks.

In short, my preference for totally custom versus pre-made depends on the situation. You really don't have to spend a lot of money to end up with a nice looking design and if that nice looking design started life as a pre-made template then there is nothing wrong with that.

 

I've actually used a pre-made skin and customized it here and there with little touches. So, it's still a pre-made but it was definitely a custom one to our members

I think that custom is absolutely necessary for the ongoing success of a community from a branding and recognition standpoint, but not as much as the community members themselves and the participation on the forums.

 

Thank ya. My custom's start at just $200

 

Not a designer myself and usually not willing to invest hundreds of dollars into a project before I know if its going to be viable or not. So a $50.00 prepaid style/theme/etc... fits the bill. I might make customizations to it so its more unique but will use the prepaid style as the base.

Later, if the project is a success then I would most likely invest actual money in it.

 

When I know I'm ready to take the leap and put a lot of money into the forum, I will have a custom skin designed. Until then, I usually make my own or heavily edit a free pre-made one.

 

Same here. With funding being low I have had to resort to a pre-made skin that is from Themes by Design. I really liked it and at the moment its the only thing I can do till I can get down to business and actually make one custom my self. Its just time and the drive to actually get off my booty and do it.
I tend to get blocks when designing for myself.

 

Custom all the way :thumbup:

 

You did a really good job customizing both of my free themes.

 

I've never had the funding (or desire, really) to go for a full-fledged custom skin. I've never even purchased a pre-made custom skin.

If my project were to turn into a success, then I would certainly consider a custom design (which I am actually thinking about now, for the LF). But not right off the bat.

 

Pre-made style to work off as a template then custom modifications to make it unique

 

Thank you but I just changed the header. I really loved the 2 templates that you have. I need to join over at your board so I can post about the one problem I had with Coffee Time