The theme-ing business has quietly become a multi-million dollar cottage industry where single designers (like myself) are making upwards of $200,000 a year just by releasing themes.

Much has been discussed across the net about design standards, coding best practices, and the ever changing theme environment – I’d like to take the conversation a step further by examining the entire theme-marketplace as a whole and suggesting a ”manifesto” for theme designers.

The main points will include:

• Context: An overview of the theme industry as it stands right now.
• The need for higher review standards across the market
• The vast array of deprecated themes that stick around (but should be put to rest!)
• The need for themes to move AWAY from heavy options panels that lock users down to one theme.
• Where the true future of WordPress themes lies…