MaxiBlocks: A free open-source WordPress Page Builder
MaxiBlocks is a WordPress page builder and it combines ease of use with a comprehensive feature set. It caters to both beginners and seasoned developers by enabling the creation of visually appealing and functional websites without requiring any coding.
The tool offers pre-designed elements such as text blocks, images, and buttons. These elements can be dragged and dropped into place on a webpage. Every block is customizable, allowing users to alter aspects like colour, size, and layout to match their specific design preferences.
MaxiBlocks is designed with clean, efficient code, enhancing website performance and contributing positively to search engine optimization (SEO). This ensures that websites built with MaxiBlocks not only look good but also load quickly and rank better in search engine results.
The concept of the grid in web design
In web design, the grid system is a two-dimensional framework of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines used to structure content. It serves as a blueprint for organizing elements on a webpage, ensuring uniformity, harmony, and readability. This system aids designers in positioning and sizing objects, both in relation to each other and the overall page layout. It simplifies the decision-making process in design placement, contributing to a more efficient and effective design process. Grids are crucial for creating visually appealing, well-organized websites and are key in responsive design.
Understanding the MaxiBlocks grid
MaxiBlocks is a web design tool designed to simplify the creation of complex website layouts. It features an adaptive grid system that ensures your website appears consistently well-organized and visually appealing on various devices, from desktops to smartphones. This system is based on a flexible arrangement of rows and columns, which you can customize according to your needs.
You can adjust the size, colour, and layout of each block within these rows and columns. This flexibility allows you to accommodate different design elements like text, images, buttons, and more, helping you tailor the website’s appearance to your specific requirements. For instance, you can create a layout with a wide column for main content and a narrower column alongside it for a sidebar, enhancing the structure and navigability of your website.
Each block within MaxiBlocks has its own set of customizable properties. This means you can easily modify individual elements within your website, adding or changing text, pictures, buttons, or other components as needed. The tool’s user-friendly interface and versatile design options give you the creative freedom to craft unique and engaging content for your website, ensuring that it stands out and effectively communicates your message to your audience.
The benefits of using a grid in web design
Using a container in web design has many benefits. Here are a few:
- Consistency: It ensures consistency in your design by providing a structure for aligning and sizing objects. This makes your design more cohesive and professional-looking.
- Readability: It improves readability by creating a logical flow for your content. It guides the reader’s eye from one element to the next, making your content easier to digest.
- Efficiency: It makes it easier and faster to create and update your design. Instead of positioning each element manually, you can simply place them on the container.
- Responsiveness: It helps create a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. This ensures your website looks great on all devices, from desktops to mobile phones.
Setting up your website with the Maxi Block grid
Utilizing MaxiBlocks and its container system to construct a website is an uncomplicated process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
- Install MaxiBlocks: Log into your WordPress dashboard, navigate to ‘Plugins’, click ‘Add New’, and search for ‘MaxiBlocks’. Click ‘Install’ and then ‘Activate’.
- Create a new page: Navigate to ‘Pages’ and click ‘Add New’
- Add a Maxi Container block: Click on the plus icon to add a new block and search for ‘Container’. Click on the ‘container’ block to add it to your page.
- Adjust the container settings in the sidebar: Select the Container block and adjust the settings in the right-hand panel. You can set the number of columns, adjust the gap between columns, align the columns, and more.
- Add blocks to your container: Click on the plus icon inside each cell to add a block. You can add any type of block, such as text, image, button, etc.
- Customize your design: Select each block and use the settings in the right-hand panel to customize it. You can adjust the size, colour, layout, and other properties of each block.
- Preview and publish: Click ‘Preview’ to see how your page looks. If you’re happy with it, click ‘Publish’ to make it live.
Tips on initial settings for optimal usage
- Choose the right number of columns: Consider the type of content you’ll be adding and choose the right number of columns. For example, if you’re creating a photo gallery, you might want more columns. If you’re adding text, fewer columns might be better.
- Adjust the column gap: Adjust the gap between columns to create the right amount of white space in your design. Too much gap can make your design look sparse, while too little gap can make it look cluttered.
- Use consistent sizes: Try to use consistent sizes for your page to create a clean, organized look. For example, if you’re adding images, try to use images of the same size.
- Consider mobile devices: Remember that your layout will be viewed on different devices. Make sure your design look good on both desktop and mobile.
Tips on choosing and arranging content
Here are some tips on choosing and arranging content within the container:
- Choose the right blocks: Consider the type of content you want to display. For example, if you’re creating a blog post, you might need text blocks for the content and an image block for the featured image.
- Arrange them logically: Arrange everything in a logical order that guides the reader through your content. For example, you might start with a header block, followed by a text block for the introduction, an image block for a visual break, and so on.
- Consider visual balance: Try to balance your content visually. For example, if you have a large image block on one side of the page, consider adding a text block of similar height on the other side to balance it out.
- Apply a Style Card: To quickly change the look and feel of your website, you can apply a style card. Style cards change the colours, fonts, links, and hovers on your site, giving it a new skin with just one click.
Advanced Features in MaxiBlocks
MaxiBlocks also offers several advanced features that give you even more control over your design:
- Flexbox integration: MaxiBlocks is integrated with Flexbox, a CSS layout module that allows you to align and distribute space among items in a container, even when their size is unknown or dynamic. This makes it easy to create flexible, responsive layouts.
- Responsive design settings: MaxiBlocks allows you to adjust your design for different screen sizes. You can set different column widths, font sizes, and more for desktop, tablet, and mobile views. This ensures your design looks great on all devices.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about using the Maxi Block grid:
What is the Maxi Block grid?
It allows you to arrange your content in a structured, organized way, making it easy to create complex layouts.
What are the advanced features of MaxiBlocks?
It offers several advanced features, including Flexbox integration for flexible, responsive layouts, and responsive design settings that allow you to adjust your design for different screen sizes.
What is a style card?
A style card is a set of design elements that you can apply to your website to give it new skin. Style cards change the colours, fonts, links, and hovers on your site, giving it a new look with just one click.
How do I apply a style card in MaxiBlocks?
To apply for a style card, navigate to the ‘Style Cards’, browse the style cards, choose one that you like, and apply it to your website.
WordPress itself
Official Website
wordpress.org – This is the official website for WordPress, where you can download the software, find documentation, and learn more about using it.
WordPress Codex
codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page – This is a comprehensive documentation resource for WordPress, covering everything from installation and configuration to specific functionality and troubleshooting.
WordPress Theme Directory
wordpress.org/themes – The official WordPress theme directory is a great place to find free and premium WordPress themes. You can browse themes by category, feature, and popularity.
maxiblocks.com/go/help-desk
maxiblocks.com/pro-library
www.youtube.com/@maxiblocks
twitter.com/maxiblocks
linkedin.com/company/maxi-blocks
github.com/orgs/maxi-blocks
wordpress.org/plugins/maxi-blocks