Sure they are cheaper but for a company trying to create a brand, why would you?

Remember, online, nothing is hidden under the internet sun:

http://www.dailyindependentnigeria.com/ vs http://www.webdesigntoolcase.com/

I disagree with you. It takes a web expert like you to mind those similarities but the bulk of the users simply go for the information they want and thats it. What I advocate is try to do a little custom work on the css of the template you are buying.

The point is, if someone has invented facebook, dont try to reinvent, just use it wisely. U get what I mean. Thanks

1) That is just a site I just stumbled on that looks similar to the daily independent site (I only noticed this cos i visit the latter daily).  Guess how many more or like that? I guess my bigger (subtle) point is that the daily independent folks probably got duped into paying a higher price than what they were supposed to as unknown to them, the developers bought a template on the cheap. UNETHICAL

2) I agree with the customization part.  Problem is, most people don't customize - they copy and paste.  BAD

3) As for facebook, how do you define, "use it wisely"?  I prefer, "don't reinvent the wheel.  If you must, add something of value that makes yours uniquely different from the original"

As a brand u don't use templates that's not a subject for debate its a fact. only blogs can get away with it or a simple security company. @yawatide its a shame even the template wasn't even used well, i wonder how i don't get design jobs and "these people get easily". life is funny

pc_guru my bros, tell dem o! Especially bros12345

It's insane for any brand like Daily independent to stoop to the low-level of using a template. Couldn't they have paid a designer for one? The have the wallet for crying out loud. Tomorrow you'll say you want to compete with CNN. Shiorr.

yawa-ti-de:

Sure they are cheaper but for a company trying to create a brand, why would you?

Remember, online, nothing is hidden under the internet sun:

http://www.dailyindependentnigeria.com/ vs http://www.webdesigntoolcase.com/

Blame it on the 'web design guru company' that is 'powering' them. Most often than not, the company looking for the designer's services, doesnt know a thing about websites and most times they dont even know about ready made templates.
Secondly, if the designer company must use templates, it must be as a starting point(This is a worse case scenario). Sometimes, companies are swamped by jobs so much so that they have limited time to allocate to different projects. In this case, the template must be a starting point only(sort of a framework).
Nothing stops that webdesign company from coding that dark brown high footer into some other color.
Daily Independent's official colours are obviously blue and white so why not reflect that while using the templates structure. Simple floating of the header container from left to right and floating the side bar from right to left, while mixing up the official colors, would have modified the site away from the original theme. Its down to laziness on the 'powering' company's part or maybe just plain incompetence.

Now compare http://www.greatjoomla.com/ with http://www..com - madre de dios!

Caramba (squared)

+100 carambas! Que pasa!! Los Ladrones!!!

I rest my case

you never even presented one to begin with. I think this is more like a check mate, assuming you play chess

bros12345:

I rest my case

Rest keh? Oya come back here now now, what do you have to say about:

dhtml .:

Now compare http://www.greatjoomla.com/ with http://www..com - madre de dios!

Your comments?

dhtml .:

Now compare http://www.greatjoomla.com/ with http://www..com - madre de dios!

They have got to be owned by the same person, yeah?

Now why will you say that? They are completely different sites for different owners. I own one fortunately - .com

there are programmers and there are web designers. Web programmers hate to spend time designing.
Web designers hate the ugliness of programming.
Thats why they ported that web template.
Do you know whether they paid for the template?

Everybody knows that sunnews is the ugliest news site in nigeria and the world at large! Becaused their programmer refused to comply with proffessional templates and couldnt design one either!

I hate to spend time designing, i am a web programmer, but i dont go about doing absolute rubbish - exceptions are if the client insists (some people will not agree to that sha).

I won't blame dailyindependent rather the web company that handled the job, because dailyindependent might not know a thing about the web not to mention site.

Then daily independent and other companies should do what most companies in other countries do - create an IT department and have at least 2 staff run it. It is understood that people in a certain generation may not understand/appreciate the web but nothing stops them from hiring someone who could help them bridge the gap.

For instance, last night, I was on a teleconference with an NGO that needs a website. There were 3 people on the phone, 2 of which were totally clueless as to what they wanted and to their website's capabilities. I ended up communicating more with the 1 (younger-sounding) guy who was actually very conversant and well versed with respect to what he wanted done on the site. If he wasn't there and I was an ojoro web developer, I would have literally conned the other 2 and given them a crappy product (emphasis on, "if I was an ojoro developer", which I am not ) and they would be singing my praises all the way to the bank.

actually i do design templates and programme left to me i love coding, designing is frustrating spent 7 hours on a template only to use the delete button in a minute. which is why i rarely talk about designs here.

Lol! Sorry about dat

@pc-guru, getting web design job has turned to changing your approach,

there is this style of client finding tagged offline system that is working.

referral too helps.

@ the main subject, templates and themes should be tweaked and it is easy to create your own template too.

Guys i don't see anything wrong in using templates or theme whatever the case maybe it is now left for the designer or developer to tweaked the templates or theme in a way that it will be unique

I personally am not disputing whether or not one should use a template. What I agree 1000% with you on, however is the 2nd part of ur post:

it is now left for the designer or developer to tweaked the templates or theme in a way that it will be unique

Therein lies the crux of the matter.