_Underscores

Underscores, or _s, if you prefer, is a starter WordPress Theme. It has been the foundation of Automattic’s Twenty-xx Themes, which is why it’s called Underscores. It’s also called the 1000-hour head start theme because it includes years of refinements by dozens of WordPress theme experts.
Better. Faster. Stronger. And open source.

Learn more about _S in A 1000-Hour Head Start: Introducing The _s Theme.

Median Performance Metrics

Page Size:	484 Kb
WebPageTest Mobile Speed Index:	1.762
Google Lighthouse Mobile Speed:	75
Google Lighthouse Desktop Speed	90

WebPage Test Speed Index: median = ~3.591; top 10% = <1.388
In 2021, the average page size = ~2.4 Mb and median page size = ~2.1 Mb.
Database-driven websites, like WordPress, are more performance optimized when server requests are < 40 – 60.

Developing Outstanding WordPress Websites for 12 years

Posted on September 14, 2022June 23, 2023

Presenting my latest website overhaul for Early Music Seattle, a nonprofit presenting classic concerts at venues around the city – including Benaroya Hall, Bastyr University Chapel, Federal Way Community Performing Arts Center, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, and Town Hall.

This project involved converting a custom-built WordPress Theme and migrating content into a new performance-optimized Theme (_Underscores). The Block Editor was integrated for more robust layout and styling. Accessibility improvements included higher contrast colors, navigation skip links, keyboard accessible menus, and mobile-clickable phone numbers. A new branded event calendar was also integrated, with the ability for community organizations to submit third-party events. By reducing server requests 45% and reducing page size 85%, page load speed now ranks in the upper 10^th percentile of sites.

Scope of Work

Accessibility consulting
Content migration
Performance optimization
Security hardening
WordPress training & consulting

Site Statistics

Performance Metric	Old Website	New Website (September 2022)
Google Lighthouse: Accessibility	79/100	100/100
Google Lighthouse: Best Practices	67/100	92/100
Google Lighthouse: Mobile Speed	62/100	90/100
Google Lighthouse: Desktop Speed	89/100	95/100
Google Lighthouse: Search Engine Optimization	83/100	100/100
WebPageTest Speed Index	4.426	2.804
Total Homepage File Size	2.1 Mb ( 1.36 Mb Images + 574 Kb Scripts + 156 Kb CSS + Kb HTML)	323 Kb (169 Kb Images + 57 Kb Scripts + 45 Kb CSS + 43 Kb Fonts + 18 Kb HTML)
Total Web Server Requests	64 (22 Images + 29 Scripts + 11 CSS + 5 Other + 2 HTML)	35 (7 Images + 11 Scripts + 13 CSS + 3 Font + 1 HTML)
Total Homepage Load Time	~4.4 seconds	~2.8 seconds

Photography: EMS staff, volunteers and Scribe Music
Videography: Markdavin Obenza: Scribe Music
Visual Design: Amy Tullis
WordPress Theme Development: Scott Marlow

Building WordPress Websites with Equity and Accessibility in Mind

Posted on July 13, 2022June 23, 2023

Sometimes a website with reasonable benchmarks can still perform poorly. This dental foundation website is a perfect example. The former site’s 2.2 Mb page size was well within the industry median; and 84 server requests is above optimum, but certainly not atrocious. Still, migrating from a custom-coded Theme to a WordPress-approved Theme (_Underscores) significantly improved perceived page load speed, despite server requests increasing and page size decreasing nominally.

Benchmark Analysis

Performance Metric	Old Website	New Website
Google Lighthouse: Accessibility	95/100	100/100
Google Lighthouse: Best Practices	92/100	100/100
Google Lighthouse: Mobile Speed	31/100	73/100
Google Lighthouse: Desktop Speed	81/100	91/100
Google Lighthouse: Search Engine Optimization	80/100	83/100
WebPageTest Speed Index	7.309	1.926
Total Homepage File Size	2.2 Mb ( 1.36 Mb Images + 574 Kb Scripts + 156 Kb CSS + 110 Kb HTML)	1.7 Mb (1.28 Mb Images + 295 Kb Scripts + 63 Kb CSS + Kb Fonts + 124 Kb HTML)
Total Web Server Requests	84 (25 Images + 32 Scripts + 16 CSS + 11 Other + 1 HTML)	92 (64 Images + 15 Scripts + 8 CSS + 3 Other + 2 HTML)
Estimated Mobile Homepage Load Time	~7.3 seconds	~ 1.9 seconds

WebPage Test Speed Index: median = ~3.591; top 10% = <1.388
In 2021, the average page size = ~2.4 Mb and median page size = ~2.1 Mb.
Database-driven websites, like WordPress, are more performance optimized when server requests are < 40 – 60.

Scope of Work

Accessibility auditing, consulting and remediation
Performance optimization
Security hardening
WordPress training & consulting

Web Design + Development Team

Visual Design by David Owen Hastings
WordPress Theme Development by Scott Marlow

Accessible Websites You Need. Content Editing Features You Want.

Posted on June 30, 2022June 23, 2023

A new WordPress Theme for Base Supply Center, operated by The Lighthouse for the Blind. This new Gutenberg block-powered Theme replaces the former Avada Theme. Website improvements include:

mobile-friendly phone numbers;
increased font sizing with improved line-height for readability;
improved color contrast;
and table-less HTML layout.

Scope of Work

Accessibility auditing, consulting and remediation
DNS management
Performance optimization
Security hardening
WordPress training & consulting

Benchmarks

Performance Metric	Underscores Theme
Google Lighthouse: Accessibility	100/100
Google Lighthouse: Best Practices	92/100
Google Lighthouse: Mobile Speed	67/100
Google Lighthouse: Desktop Speed	89/100
Google Lighthouse: Search Engine Optimization	91/100
WebPageTest Speed Index	2.396
Total (Discover) Page File Size	2.09 Mb (1.4 Mb Images + 528 Kb Scripts + 81 Kb CSS + 138 Kb Fonts + 20 Kb HTML)
Total Web Server Requests	90 (26 Images + 38 Scripts + 16 CSS + 6 Fonts + 3 Other + 1 HTML)
Estimated Mobile Homepage Load Time	~2.6 seconds

An optional HTML Table Caption
WebPage Test Speed Index: median = ~3.591; top 10% = <1.388
In 2021, the average page size = ~2.4 Mb and median page size = ~2.1 Mb.
Database-driven websites, like WordPress, are more performance optimized when server requests are < 40 – 60.

Proven WordPress Websites that Nonprofits Love!

Posted on May 6, 2022June 23, 2023

Sound Generations’ Project Enhance provides licensing, training and assistance for two nationally recognized evidence-based programs: Enhance^®Fitness and Enhance^®Wellness.

The new Project Enhance WordPress site features an integrated members-only content area for fitness instructors and affiliates across 43 states. Benchmarks across all measurable areas have improved significantly. Overall page size has reduced 93% from 6.5 Mb to < 500 Kb; web server requests have reduced 69% from 59 to 18. These improvements result in page load speeds less than 3 seconds.

Site Statistics

Performance Metric	Old (Divi) WordPress Theme	New Custom-Branded WordPress Theme
Google Lighthouse: Accessibility	88/100	100/100
Google Lighthouse: Best Practices	75/100	92/100
Google Lighthouse: Mobile Speed	47/100	96/100
Google Lighthouse: Desktop Speed	64/100	99/100
Google Lighthouse: Search Engine Optimization	82/100	90/100
WebPageTest Speed Index	6.121	2.008
Homepage File Size	6.46 Mb (6.06 Mb Images + 205 Kb Scripts + 239 Kb CSS +100 Kb Fonts + Kb HTML)	484 Kb (302 Kb Images + 3 Kb Scripts + 33 Kb CSS + 149 Kb Fonts + 8 Kb HTML)
Web Server Requests	59 (16 Images + 17 Scripts + 19 CSS + 5 Fonts + 2 HTML)	18 (7 Images + 2 Scripts + 6 CSS + 2 Fonts + 1 HTML)
Homepage Load Time	~6.1 seconds	~2 seconds

WebPage Test Speed Index: median = ~3.591; top 10% = <1.388
In 2021, the average page size = ~2.4 Mb and median page size = ~2.1 Mb.
Database-driven websites, like WordPress, are more performance optimized when server requests are < 40 – 60.

Other site updates and improvements include:

More readable content with font sizes > 16 pixels and reduced line widths; keyboard-navigable menu with skip to content link for screen readers; custom-branded browser favicon; improved security, including bruteforce protection.

Project Enhance is a collaboration between Sound Generations, University of Washington and Group Health Cooperative (now Kaiser Permanente).

WordPress Happens Here

Posted on May 3, 2022January 3, 2024

A fresh new look and feel for the Federal Way Community Center website. This affordable site refresh includes a new brighter color palette with more accessible typography – presented in a playful, youth-inspired visual design.