Nine months ago, I launched this website on Ghost as my new online place after more than 18 years on WordPress.
Since then, I’ve been writing steadily and sharing ideas about communication, technology, and life’s evolving priorities. A new newsletter helps me reach people who want content delivered directly to their inboxes.
Over the summer, I began thinking about evolving the look of the site to create something more personal. In January, I'd started with Source, one of Ghost’s free themes, which is designed to be “as straightforward as possible for new publishers.”
🔹 The refresh is about reader experience – easier to read, find, and share content.
🔹 The design now features white space and clarity rather than clutter.
🔹 The process combined AI support (ChatGPT-5 explaining and coding) with a straightforward toolset (Docker Desktop, Ghost local, VS Code).
🔹 The result is a customised version of the Neon theme for Ghost that feels both fresh and functional.
Why a Refresh?
As much as I liked the Source theme, I wanted more:
- A cleaner, lighter layout with more white space.
- Better readability for longer-form content.
- A design that encourages discovery – so readers can move naturally from one story to another.
- A customised visual presentation that feels modern and uncluttered.
How I Made It Happen
One attraction for me of moving to Ghost was using their hosted service rather than self-hosting as I had with WordPress. The trade-off is less server access, which limits how much you can change behind the scenes.
For this refresh, I wanted to go beyond minor tweaks. That meant editing theme files directly, which can be daunting without technical access and experience.
Here’s where I had a crucial ally: ChatGPT-5. I’m not a theme developer, and I didn’t want to get lost in complex coding. ChatGPT-5 explained concepts in plain English, suggested practical approaches, and wrote and adjusted code when I needed it.
At first, I tried a heavy-handed route with complex coding tools like Python. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t the best approach for me.
The breakthrough came when I switched to a simpler setup using Docker Desktop, Ghost installed locally on a Windows 11 PC, and Microsoft's Visual Studio Code. Together, these gave me a straightforward environment where I could customise and test changes with confidence.
For readers, the benefit is simple: faster updates and a smoother experience without the clutter.
Once I was satisfied with the development and customisation work, I exported the custom theme from the local development site, and installed it on my live Ghost site.
The New Look
The redesign you see now is based on Neon, a premium Ghost theme I purchased and customised to fit my needs. The changes are subtle in places but significant overall:
- More open space.
- A stronger focus on text and readability.
- A layout that encourages longer reading sessions and easier discovery.
- Simpler content sharing.
- Choice of light or dark mode.
Light or dark - your choice
This blog has always been about ideas and conversations rather than design experiments for their own sake. But presentation matters. How stories are framed shapes how they are read, understood, and shared. With this refresh, I hope I’ve struck the right balance between simplicity and function.
Looking Ahead
As ever, this site is a work in progress. I’ll continue to refine and adjust where it makes sense, and I’ll be listening closely to feedback.
If you spot anything that could improve the experience – or simply want to share how the new design feels – I’d love to hear from you.
For now, though, I’m delighted to share this fresh look and invite you to explore it.
