Creating WordPress site UI in the early release time of WordPress evolution used to be clunky. WordPress started as a blogging platform and later metamorphosed into a complete CMS platform and web application framework.
Presently, WordPress is a full CMS platform that has matured over the years with a robust user interface (UI). Its main traits are a well-crafted UI that prioritizes usability, responsiveness, and accessibility.
This article will look at the top aids for WordPress Site UI creation. We will highlight and present different aids and tools for you to find the ones that align with your specific UI goals and requirements.
1. WordPress Block Themes
WordPress 5.0, released in December 2018, marked a significant milestone in the platform’s evolution with the introduction of Gutenberg, a new block-based editor. This innovative editor revolutionized content creation in WordPress by providing users with a streamlined interface and the ability to easily craft visually appealing content layouts.
Gutenberg’s approach involved breaking down content into blocks, each representing a distinct element. This block-based system allowed users to add different types of content, such as text, images, videos, and more, by simply selecting and arranging the desired blocks. Each block came with its own set of settings, enabling users to customize individual elements according to their preferences.
From Gutenberg To Full Block Themes
While the initial version of the block editor lacked some of the advanced features found in dedicated WordPress page builders, it laid the foundation for expanding the use of the block editor throughout the WordPress ecosystem. Subsequent updates and iterations provided theme developers with the leverage to build full block themes.
With the advent of block themes, developers gained the ability to create entire WordPress themes using the block editor as the primary tool.
Block Themes
These themes, built entirely around the concept of blocks, offered users extensive customization options and flexibility. Theme developers can now leverage the power of block building to provide users with intuitive modifications to various aspects of their sites.
Since 2020, there have been significant updates to block themes in the UI aspect. For example, patterns were introduced in the 5.5 version. And in 2022, Full Site Editing finally made its debut.
Now let’s look at what makes block themes like Gutena a top contributing aid to a WordPress site UI creation.
Features Of Block Themes
Below are features that make block themes one of the top aids for WordPress site UI creation.
- Full-Site Editing
Block theme now offers full-site editing. This means that every component of your site UI becomes editable. This is a powerful feature because you can customize not only individual pages or posts but also the header, footer, and other global elements of their site.
- Block-Based Pattern
Block themes provide block-based patterns. Patterns are different blocks such as headings. Paragraphs, footers, call-to-action galleries, and more to create a stunning and consistent layout that is visually appealing to users.
- Preview Changes In Real-time
As you stack these blocks on top of each other, your build starts taking shape. You can customize the site’s colors, typography, layout options, and more, giving them control over the overall look and feel of their site. The amazing thing is you see your customization manifest in real-time.
- Global Styles
This feature is part of the consistency that block themes ensure in UI creation. The global style feature allows you to set global typography, color palettes, and other style attributes to maintain a cohesive and harmonious design across different pages and blocks.
- Block Libraries
These options provide WordPress creators with a range of pre-designed blocks that you can add to the block editor for enhanced functionality and UI. Block libraries provide users with additional options capable of extending the capabilities of the core block editor.
Block pattern libraries can be extended beyond the WordPress default collections. Third parties specializing in theme or plugin development are able to create reusable blocks that cater to specific needs or industries. A good example of a library to find blocks tailored to your specific needs is PatternsWP.
2. WordPress Page Builders
Page builders are a popular aid for WordPress Site’s UI creation. It provides intuitive drag-and-drop functionality. Page builders are a booming WordPress site’s UI creation ecosystem with pre-designed templates and a variety of elements and modules that enable users to build and customize their UI without the need for extensive coding knowledge.
When choosing a page builder for your website UI creation, the following are key aspects to consider.
- Drag-and-Drop Feature
The drag-and-drop functionality is the core feature of every WordPress page builder out there. This feature is a user-friendly interface that allows you to drag and drop elements into a page, stack them over, and create different stunning UI components like header, footer, buttons, text blocks, images, and many more. You can do all this without writing a single line of code.
- Template Library
Another good thing about page builders is that they provide pre-designed templates or layouts that you can choose from to start creating your WordPress UI. These layouts are professionally designed to help you to start building and appealing UI and functions.
- Elements Library
Page builders offer element libraries that you can use to create your user interface. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel every time you are building a page or section. These element libraries may include elements like heading, sliders, pricing tables, testimonials, and more.
- Optional Customization
Page builders provide extensive customization options for each element or module you want to design. You can adjust attributes such as size, color, typography, spacing, and alignment to match your desired UI design, even at the global level.
Some page builders also offer advanced customization features like animations, parallax effects, and custom CSS, allowing you to create truly unique and dynamic UI experiences.
- Responsiveness In Design And Control
Responsiveness is now crucial to any successful WordPress UI creation because of the ever-increasing mobile user interaction. Page builders offer UI optimization for different screens so that you can adjust element visibility, rearrange content for mobile layouts, and preview how your UI will appear on various devices.
In all, think about the sheer power of UI creation in the palm of your hands without writing a single line of code. This means you can bring your creativity to bear and create a user-centric WordPress site UI.
Also, if you want to extend the power of the page builder to achieve eleven more stunning WordPress UI, page builders provide a way for you to access and modify the underlying code of your UI elements, giving you greater control and flexibility in customizing your site’s UI if needed.
There are a number of well-maintained page builders out there that you can explore to aid you in your quest to create a stunning WordPress site’s UI. You can check out Elementor and Beaver Builder, among others.
3. Plugins For UI Site’s Creation
One of the core components of WordPress UI is smooth navigation. There are some plugins that can help a great deal in creating a WordPress site’s UI and functionality. These plugins provide additional features, options for further customizations, and enhanced user experience.
Below are some considerations when choosing WordPress UI sit’s creation-aiding plugin.
- Page Builder Integration
Many popular page builder plugins integrate with UI-focused plugins easily, allowing you to extend the power of your page builder and enhance your UI creation.
These integrations provide additional elements, modules, and customization options specifically tailored for the page builder, enabling you to create highly customized and visually appealing UI layouts. So, be sure that the plugin will integrate well with the page builder, if you are using one. A good example is Elementor + ACF.
- Form Creation Plugin
Forms are an essential component of a site’s UI. Form plugins enable you to create and customize various types of forms, such as contact forms, registration forms, surveys, and more. They often include drag-and-drop form builders, validation options, conditional logic, and styling options to match the form’s design with your site’s UI.
Form with great UI will boost user engagement with your site from the start. A good example of a form creation plugin is Gravity Forms.
- Plugins For Site Accessibility
Site accessibility is gainful and paramount to your site’s success. Plugins for the site’s accessibility are helpful in making your UI design inclusive and compliant with accessibility standards. They offer features like text resizing, color contrast adjustments, alternative text for images, keyboard navigation enhancements, and more.
Keep in mind how these plugins integrate if you’re creating your WordPress site’s UI with page builders. You definitely will not have issues with block-building compatibility.
4. Using Icon Libraries
Apart from the default WordPress icon library, there are many other third-party icon libraries that you can deploy to aid your website UI creation project. Icons are visual, representative, and conceptualizing in nature and they greatly improve user interface and interaction.
Consider these when using icon libraries:
- There are diverse icon collections, so choose wisely. Consider features like basic shapes, common symbols, social media icons, navigation icons, eCommerce icons, and more. You can select icons that align with your site’s UI purpose and visual style.
- Ensure that the icon library will let you modify the color, size, stroke width, and other attributes of the icons to match the overall UI design. Some libraries even go as far as providing options to customize the icons using CSS or SVG editing.
- Icons should be scalable. Meaning you should be able to resize the icons as much as you want without compromising its visuals (pixelating).
- You should be able to add your choice icon libraries manually through the theme file, or via plugin.
- Icon Formats: Icon libraries usually provide icons in various formats, such as SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), or icon font formats like Font Awesome. We recommend SVG icons as they offer flexibility in terms of size, color, and customization.
By leveraging icon libraries, you can enhance the visual appeal and usability of their UI.
5. Wireframing Tools
Among the top aids for WordPress Site’s UI creation, wireframing tools stand out. Planning is important when creating a site’s UI and the best way to achieve proper planning is through wireframing. These tools allow designers and developers to create low-fidelity representations of the UI layout, structure, and functionality.
Wireframing will help you to prototype the UI before diving into the actual development process. You’ll see mockups that depict the layout, placement of UI elements, and basic interactions, helping you map out the overall structure of the UI.
Also, you’ll be able to test a user flow, organize your content, collaborate with theme members, iterate, and document progress. All these are plans you put in place to achieve a well-crafted UI.
Popular wireframing tools include Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Invision among others. The choice depends on your personal preference, collaboration needs, and functionality requirements.
Using InstaWP To Test and Gather Feedback
InstaWP introduces an additional aid that can complement the process of WordPress site’s UI creation.
InstaWP is a tool that allows you to create a temporary staging environment for your WordPress site, where you can experiment with changes and test different site layouts without affecting the live site that is accessible to visitors. This factor is relevant to the overall UI creation process as it provides a safe and isolated environment for testing and refining the UI design.
When creating a WordPress site’s UI, it’s essential to validate and fine-tune the UI design in a real-world setting to ensure it works effectively for your audience. This is where InstaWP comes into play.
By setting up a staging environment with InstaWP, you can test various aspects of the UI, such as themes, plugins, layout, responsiveness, interactions, and user experience, in a controlled environment. You can gather feedback, iterate on the design, and make necessary adjustments before implementing the finalized UI on the live site.
To get started, use this link.
Conclusion
The evolution of WordPress has transformed it from a blogging platform to a full-fledged CMS with a robust UI. Various aids and tools have emerged to enhance UI creation. Block themes offer extensive customization options.
Page builders provide drag-and-drop functionality, pre-designed templates, and customization options, allowing users to design stunning UIs without coding. Plugins enhance UI creation by integrating with page builders, offering form creation capabilities, and ensuring site accessibility.
Icon libraries offer a wide range of customizable icons to enhance the visual appeal and functionality of the UI. Wireframing tools help in planning and prototyping UI layouts, while InstaWP provides a safe staging environment for testing WordPress site’s UI creation without messing with the live site, and gathering feedback.
