Free Dark and Clean WordPress Theme: Designpile

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In this post we are glad to release DesignPile WordPress Theme, a theme designed by Site 5 and released for Smashing Magazine and its readers. The theme comes with 3 color styles and a couple of jQuery-based goodies. It can be used for portfolios and blogs as well as corporate webAs usual, the theme is free to use in private and commerical projects.

Download the theme for free!

The theme is released under GPL. You can use it for all your projects for free and without any restrictions. Please link to this article if you want to spread the word. You may modify the theme as you wish.

Screenshot

Features

Here are some of the features of the theme:

  • Widget ready (footer and sidebar),
  • Easy to setup, the Theme Options Page has 3 color styles,
  • Custom homepage,
  • Simple Post Thumbnails Plugin,
  • 125×125 ads section with enable/disable option, using “WP125″ plugin,
  • JQuery Lightbox,
  • JQuery Forms,
  • AJAX-based based contact form,
  • Live form email validation,
  • Theme Requirements: WordPress 2.9.1+


Sidebar


Content, overview


“About the author”-section


Comments


Categories archive section

Thank you, Gabi Schiopu and the Site 5 design team! We appreciate your work and your good intentions!

We love high-quality content and we care about little details. We believe that good content and design are crafts worth sharpening. Located in the lovely city of Freiburg, Germany. Mostly Vitaly (vf), Iris (il) and Sven (sl).

  1. 201

    jlmurgas

    August 10th, 2010 6:52 pm

    Can I remove the Site5 logo footer ?

    0
  2. 202

    jlmurgas

    August 10th, 2010 6:52 pm

    Can I remove the Site5 logo footer ?

    0
  3. 203

    jane

    September 1st, 2010 9:11 pm

    Can anyone post a link to the fixed file? I tried uploading this to my site and when I activate it, it turned my whole page to blank white.

    What could be the problem? :(

    0
  4. 204

    jane

    September 1st, 2010 9:11 pm

    Can anyone post a link to the fixed file? I tried uploading this to my site and when I activate it, it turned my whole page to blank white.

    What could be the problem? :(

    0
  5. 205

    Complexitii

    September 16th, 2010 10:01 pm

    Error upon installation

    Warning: unlink(D:\Hosting\2720171\html\blog/wp-content/uploads/designpile_wp2.zip) [function.unlink]: Permission denied in D:\Hosting\2720171\html\blog\wp-admin\includes\class-wp-upgrader.php on line 155
    Installing the theme…

    Theme installed successfully.

    Warning: fopen(D:\Hosting\2720171\html\blog/wp-content/themes/designpile_wp2/style.css) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in D:\Hosting\2720171\html\blog\wp-includes\functions.php on line 4165

    Warning: fread(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in D:\Hosting\2720171\html\blog\wp-includes\functions.php on line 4168

    Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in D:\Hosting\2720171\html\blog\wp-includes\functions.php on line 4171

    0
  6. 206

    Complexitii

    September 16th, 2010 10:01 pm

    Error upon installation

    Warning: unlink(D:Hosting2720171htmlblog/wp-content/uploads/designpile_wp2.zip) [function.unlink]: Permission denied in D:Hosting2720171htmlblogwp-adminincludesclass-wp-upgrader.php on line 155
    Installing the theme…

    Theme installed successfully.

    Warning: fopen(D:Hosting2720171htmlblog/wp-content/themes/designpile_wp2/style.css) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in D:Hosting2720171htmlblogwp-includesfunctions.php on line 4165

    Warning: fread(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in D:Hosting2720171htmlblogwp-includesfunctions.php on line 4168

    Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in D:Hosting2720171htmlblogwp-includesfunctions.php on line 4171

    0
  7. 207

    Nirmal Gyanwali

    September 21st, 2010 2:48 am

    great theme!

    0
  8. 208

    Nirmal Gyanwali

    September 21st, 2010 2:48 am

    great theme!

    0
  9. 209

    Angela

    October 15th, 2010 10:16 pm

    I tried all the suggestions in the thread to get the thumbnails to display and they’re still not working for me. The folder structure is there, I’ve got WP125 installed, I tried linking via Photobucket instead of uploading, I tried using Custom Fields to highlight a featured image (which I get, but it’s just a giant image at the top of my post, which I don’t want… and still no thumbnail), and I tried using the Featured Image feature.

    Nothing has worked. I LOVE this theme (my second Smashing Mag theme — I use another one for another site), but I don’t want to release my new site until I have those thumbnails working.

    Does anyone have any other suggestions for me? I’d so appreciate i t!

    0
  10. 210

    Angela

    October 15th, 2010 10:16 pm

    I tried all the suggestions in the thread to get the thumbnails to display and they’re still not working for me. The folder structure is there, I’ve got WP125 installed, I tried linking via Photobucket instead of uploading, I tried using Custom Fields to highlight a featured image (which I get, but it’s just a giant image at the top of my post, which I don’t want… and still no thumbnail), and I tried using the Featured Image feature.

    Nothing has worked. I LOVE this theme (my second Smashing Mag theme — I use another one for another site), but I don’t want to release my new site until I have those thumbnails working.

    Does anyone have any other suggestions for me? I’d so appreciate i t!

    0
  11. 211

    Angela

    October 15th, 2010 10:36 pm

    Boo-hoo… my Categories are also not displaying properly. The categories themselves overlay the “Category” heading in the sidebar.

    0
  12. 212

    Angela

    October 15th, 2010 10:36 pm

    Boo-hoo… my Categories are also not displaying properly. The categories themselves overlay the “Category” heading in the sidebar.

    0
  13. 213

    Angela

    October 16th, 2010 8:58 am

    I got the Categories to display properly — here’s what I found out. The WP125 ad plugin *must* be downloaded, installed, and activated. If you don’t want to use it, set it to “0″ ads with a single column — nothing will display. But the banded Category headers do not display properly unless this is done.

    Also, they would not display properly when I had a Text widget with my Paypal “Donate” button at the top of the Categories, Recent Comments, and Recent Posts widgets. Whichever of those that displayed *below* the Text widget would not show the banded heading and appeared corrupted, as if something were wrong with the stylesheet. When I moved the Paypal Text widget to the bottom of the list… everything displayed properly, and that’s all I cared about.

    I still have not figured out the thumbnail issue, though, and I feel like I’ve looked under every stone I can find to sort it out. :(

    +1
  14. 214

    Angela

    October 16th, 2010 8:58 am

    I got the Categories to display properly — here’s what I found out. The WP125 ad plugin *must* be downloaded, installed, and activated. If you don’t want to use it, set it to “0″ ads with a single column — nothing will display. But the banded Category headers do not display properly unless this is done.

    Also, they would not display properly when I had a Text widget with my Paypal “Donate” button at the top of the Categories, Recent Comments, and Recent Posts widgets. Whichever of those that displayed *below* the Text widget would not show the banded heading and appeared corrupted, as if something were wrong with the stylesheet. When I moved the Paypal Text widget to the bottom of the list… everything displayed properly, and that’s all I cared about.

    I still have not figured out the thumbnail issue, though, and I feel like I’ve looked under every stone I can find to sort it out. :(

    0
  15. 215

    alicesmile

    November 12th, 2010 10:53 pm

    Not sure why all the snobs are complaining. Most of the works robably wouldn’t make the MoMA, but definitely worthy of a blog post and some friendly exposure.

    Not sure why people continue to try to judge that which can’t be judged. Art is in the eye of the beholder.
    _________________________

    0
  16. 216

    alicesmile

    November 12th, 2010 10:53 pm

    Not sure why all the snobs are complaining. Most of the works robably wouldn’t make the MoMA, but definitely worthy of a blog post and some friendly exposure.

    Not sure why people continue to try to judge that which can’t be judged. Art is in the eye of the beholder.
    _________________________

    0
  17. 217

    Rachael

    November 25th, 2010 3:00 am

    Great theme… perfect for the style of my blog.

    0
  18. 218

    Rachael

    November 25th, 2010 3:00 am

    Great theme… perfect for the style of my blog.

    0
  19. 219

    qwertyu

    December 13th, 2010 4:20 am

    Very good! Thanx :)

    0
  20. 220

    qwertyu

    December 13th, 2010 4:20 am

    Very good! Thanx :)

    0
  21. 221

    Alec

    December 16th, 2010 12:18 pm

    About the thumbnails problem: This theme doesn’t use the simple thumbnails plug in anymore! Here are the details, it worked perfect to me

    http://forums.site5.com/showthread.php?t=29839

    0
  22. 222

    Alec

    December 16th, 2010 12:18 pm

    About the thumbnails problem: This theme doesn’t use the simple thumbnails plug in anymore! Here are the details, it worked perfect to me

    http://forums.site5.com/showthread.php?t=29839

    0
  23. 223

    Ashley

    December 22nd, 2010 8:19 am

    I’m trying to set this theme up but I’m having a rough time since I am new to WordPress. The layout is beautiful by the way! What I am stuck on currently is the right side menu. I wanted to use Google ads instead of the wp125 but I can’t seem to find out where I can add padding or a margin to the ad to push it away from the center column. Also, I’m trying to set up the categories on the right hand menu but the pretty pink banner is not coming up for the title “Categories” like it is shown in the preview. If someone could help me, I would GREATLY appreaciate it. Thank you. Oh, here is the link to my blog in progress…http://girlyfashiontrends.com/

    0
  24. 224

    Ashley

    December 22nd, 2010 8:19 am

    I’m trying to set this theme up but I’m having a rough time since I am new to WordPress. The layout is beautiful by the way! What I am stuck on currently is the right side menu. I wanted to use Google ads instead of the wp125 but I can’t seem to find out where I can add padding or a margin to the ad to push it away from the center column. Also, I’m trying to set up the categories on the right hand menu but the pretty pink banner is not coming up for the title “Categories” like it is shown in the preview. If someone could help me, I would GREATLY appreaciate it. Thank you. Oh, here is the link to my blog in progress…http://girlyfashiontrends.com/

    0
  25. 225

    Cristian

    February 6th, 2011 6:09 am

    Hey I have a problem with this theme.
    It looks like this : http://grab.by/8NLo , the lines are not aligned. And I have no read more button , how can I fix this problem.

    Also if I put it to 8 articles per page , this is how it looks like :

    http://grab.by/8NLx

    Please help me with this.

    Thank you!

    +1
  26. 226

    Cristian

    February 6th, 2011 6:09 am

    Hey I have a problem with this theme.
    It looks like this : http://grab.by/8NLo , the lines are not aligned. And I have no read more button , how can I fix this problem.

    Also if I put it to 8 articles per page , this is how it looks like :

    http://grab.by/8NLx

    Please help me with this.

    Thank you!

    0
  27. 227

    farman

    March 21st, 2011 8:30 pm

    Nice Theme

    0
  28. 228

    farman

    March 21st, 2011 8:30 pm

    Nice Theme

    0
  29. 229

    Jasmine

    April 22nd, 2011 1:46 pm

    I am sad because the theme is damaged =’(

    +1
  30. 230

    Jasmine

    April 22nd, 2011 1:46 pm

    I am sad because the theme is damaged =’(

    0
  31. 231

    kira

    October 8th, 2011 9:42 pm

    [...] Free Dark and Clean WordPress Theme: Designpile – Smashing Magazine [...]

    0
  32. 232

    graham

    November 6th, 2010 11:45 pm

    ah, the “featured” tag had the slug “featured-2″ which caused the problem

    0
  33. 233

    graham

    November 6th, 2010 11:45 pm

    ah, the “featured” tag had the slug “featured-2″ which caused the problem

    0

  1. 1

    lickynee

    February 20th, 2010 1:12 pm

    Thanks! Looks great :D

    +2
  2. 2

    Angela

    October 16th, 2010 8:58 am

    I got the Categories to display properly — here’s what I found out. The WP125 ad plugin *must* be downloaded, installed, and activated. If you don’t want to use it, set it to “0″ ads with a single column — nothing will display. But the banded Category headers do not display properly unless this is done.

    Also, they would not display properly when I had a Text widget with my Paypal “Donate” button at the top of the Categories, Recent Comments, and Recent Posts widgets. Whichever of those that displayed *below* the Text widget would not show the banded heading and appeared corrupted, as if something were wrong with the stylesheet. When I moved the Paypal Text widget to the bottom of the list… everything displayed properly, and that’s all I cared about.

    I still have not figured out the thumbnail issue, though, and I feel like I’ve looked under every stone I can find to sort it out. :(

    +1
  3. 3

    M.

    February 20th, 2010 2:16 pm

    How about some Drupal themes, for a change? :-)

    +1
  4. 4

    Knee Grow

    February 20th, 2010 5:39 pm

    Lol…site5. Worst web host ever.

    +1
  5. 5

    TXCHLInstructor

    February 20th, 2010 6:43 pm

    My blog definitely needed a new look, although I haven’t decided whether this is the one I want. It’s better than the default that came with my WP installation.

    I was not able to make the simple-post-thumbnails plugin work, though. When I copied it up to the blog with FTP, it did not show up in the plugins list, so I tried installing it from the plugin site, and WP gave a warning that it might not be compatible with the current WP version. I did find a thumbnail to use, and hard-coded it into the theme, along with some other coding changes. It’s supposed to be GPL’d but the copyright notice in the code does not indicate that.

    Any rate, I got some useful experience with installing and modifying a WP theme. Themes don’t look like they are terribly hard to write, so I may try my hand at one (in my ‘copious’ free time, that is).

    +1
  6. 6

    Mike

    February 22nd, 2010 6:50 am

    This is not really my kind of design style. It looks generic. I would rather design my own, thank you.

    +1
  7. 7

    Cristian

    February 6th, 2011 6:09 am

    Hey I have a problem with this theme.
    It looks like this : http://grab.by/8NLo , the lines are not aligned. And I have no read more button , how can I fix this problem.

    Also if I put it to 8 articles per page , this is how it looks like :

    http://grab.by/8NLx

    Please help me with this.

    Thank you!

    +1
  8. 8

    Jasmine

    April 22nd, 2011 1:46 pm

    I am sad because the theme is damaged =’(

    +1

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