I’ve found that no matter the challenge, issue or task you are presented with, whether it be changing a tyre, putting up a wardrobe, building a computer or creating a website, identifying and using the right tools will make the job so much easier.
When it comes to creating websites for clients, I’ve had many late nights trying to manipulate the interface to do what I want or look how the client wants – sometimes I’ve been successful! I started with Frontpage, dabbled with Dreamweaver and used Moonfruit for a while; all of which were good for what they did and allowed me to create something suitable for the time. When I began using WordPress, I went from theme to theme, depending on what I wanted to achieve. But now, combining Themify’s Ultra theme with WordPress is my go to.
It is very quick and easy to install and set up and the fact that it is so customisable is the biggest benefit for me. I can build a one page site (like this) or a media filled, multiple page one with just as much ease (take a look at shaddowgroup.com). The builder is so simple but effective – I cheated and used a different Themify theme to create a website for a film that’s soon to be released (cottfilm.com), but the builder is the same and it’s just second nature now. I like that there are so many ways to change the appearance to create the individuality required, such as header, footer, widget placement and number, rows and row design, column number and size…the list goes on. The builder plugins that have been created give additional functionality and features which further enhance the options available.
The fact that I’m not particularly a fan of the animated colours (although I expect a client in the future will love it) and some clients felt the page loading animation made the site seem dated and old fashioned show that it’s impossible to please everyone. However, the team behind the theme and the plugins are eager to listen, receive recommendations and make improvements. I wish the custom icon font feature would allow for multiple custom fonts by giving a save feature instead of having to recreate a larger upload each time. I also wish that changing the icon colours was possible by device as well.
Overall, Themify’s Ultra theme has given me the flexibility I need to build numerous sites for different clients and audiences without thinking twice. It is a well thought out theme, with practical usage and obviously built with the web designer in mind. The features I’ve used so far have been easy to set up and made a positive difference. I highly recommend Ultra, whether as a beginner building your own site for the first time or a seasoned web designer.