John Locke
lockedowndesign.com/ | @Lockedown_
John Locke started his web development career after twenty years working in retail and commercial bakeries. By learning web design and development in-between work shifts, John was able to eventually start building websites for local businesses and gaining valuable experience. He launched Lockedown Design in late 2012.
Since then, he has launched over sixty new websites, and worked with companies all across the US. Today, Lockedown Design is known for excellence in custom WordPress theme development and SEO.
John also writes a blog about WordPress, SEO, and online marketing.
WordCamp Session Title
Introduction To Child Theming
Why Is This Important?
Many of us start our career in WordPress by taking a premium theme and building a site. Perhaps you use a theme framework like Genesis, which is designed to be used with child themes. Using a child theme ensures that you can update the base theme without disrupting the changes you make to the site.
Using child themes is an essential part of working with WordPress. Helping others learn how to get started with child themes is one small way I can pass on WordPress to someone new.
How Did You Discover WordPress?
I discovered WordPress about a year and a half after I had first started learning web development. I think it was right about the time they were introducing Custom Post Types into core. At that time, I had gotten the basics of semantic HTML and CSS3 down, and I figured I should check out the various CMS’ that were out there. WordPress was the easiest to get started with (compared to Joomla or Drupal). I built my first WordPress site in 2011, and haven’t looked back since then.
How Do You Use WordPress?
I make my living by building custom WordPress themes, creating content for WordPress sites, maintaining and improving existing WordPress sites, and creating child themes for specific clients.
On the spectrum of web talents (which we all possess a unique combination of), I consider myself a developer and a marketer.
How Has WordPress Impacted You?
WordPress allowed me to transition from my old career path, working in bakeries, to my current path as a full-time WordPress and SEO consultant. WordPress has been a tool that quite literally allowed me to create a new life for myself.
What Do You Do When Not Working?
I play guitar as a hobby. You can also find me behind the microphone at karaoke.
What Is Your Favorite Candy?
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Butterfinger Cups.