Top Quality Tools, Services And Resources That Designers Need
There is more than one way to create a website, an app, or a prototype. You can use a premium WordPress theme that does much of the work for you, or use a selection of specialized tools such as page builders, website builders, web design platforms or prototyping tools. During the course of the design phase, you may need to go to an outside source for icons, fonts, images and the like.
You will find hosting services in this listing, as well as services that convert your PSDs into code, or take existing desktop website code and convert it to responsive code. Browse the list to see which of these tools or services might be of interest to you.
WordPress Themes
The latest update to this premium WordPress theme highlights an exciting new page builder called Cornerstone.
This highly innovative feature is unlike any other on the market, and it is destined to make X Theme, already the fastest selling ThemeForest theme, more popular than ever. Its unique and intuitive app-like interface is ideal for anyone in need of a quick and easy to use page building tool.
The Cornerstone page builder alone is reason enough to purchase this theme, but there are a host of other reasons as well.
A verified purchase will give you free access to the entire line of WordPress plugins that have been created by Themeco, all of which work seamlessly with X. The support this highly popular theme provides is excellent, and the forums and the community site are second to none.
This theme is a top seller, and it is the best rated WordPress theme on Themeforest for a very good reason. Enfold is one of the most user-friendly themes you are ever apt to come across. Many users will tell you it has the easiest drag and drop layout editor of any WordPress theme.
You can build any layout you like, since the editing process provides virtually an unlimited number of variations. Better yet, Enfold is fast. Once you become familiar with this theme, which will not take long, you can build page after page at lightning speed. This premium theme is kept up to date with frequent updates, and the support is exceptional.
Be Theme is indeed the biggest WordPress theme ever. The 100+ pre-made layouts are by far the most any theme has to offer, and they cover virtually any general topic you are likely to base a website theme on. This premium theme is big in terms of its features as well. With more than 40 core features to its credit, Be has to be one of the most versatile themes, if not the most versatile, on the market today.
In addition to the presence of a world-class support team, you will have access to a wealth of demos and tutorials to help you get started, although you will quickly discover that the learning curve is not steep at all.
Website Builders and Platforms
With XPRS you can build anything in just a matter of minutes, cutting your work load in half. XPRS offers a free ecommerce solution, always-responsive websites, and easy to implement animation and effects.
With its professionally designed templates and the use of a new web scheme they call Polydoms, designers would actually find it fun designing websites. It’s a lot like a game of Lego, only the bricks can also be easily modified.
Led by a community of 170k+ designers and web agencies The NEW Webydo provides a robust professional & responsive code-free solution! The NEW Webydo offers designers a full solution for all their web design needs, code-free: craft pixel-perfect websites, allow clients to manage content with Webydo’s built in CMS with one click hosting, client billing and a friendly built-in dashboard for managing hundreds of clients sites (adding domains, google apps, emails, SEO management, etc.).
WordPress Page Builders
Cornerstone is new and innovative. Customers are raving about it. This 100% front end Themeco page builder enables you to see exactly what your site looks like, as you are editing it.
There is no need to edit and check, edit and check. This is made possible by the interactive, side-by-side work and preview areas, which offer a clutter-free way to proceed with your page-building activity. This versatile page builder works flawlessly on posts as well as on pages.
Themify Flow
The Flow Framework by Themify will change the way you design WordPress themes. It allows you to build templates like homepage, categories, posts, pages, and custom post types using the drag & drop Builder. Each template has its own Header, Sidebar, and Footer.
You don’t need to code any CSS or PHP. The Styling Panel can style all elements on the design. Combining with Builderand Post Type Builder, you can build any kind of WordPress sites. The best thing about Flow is that it is FREE! Don’t need to worry paying theme upgrade license fees like most premium themes.
Project Management and Collaboration Tools
Nutcache provides one of the best collaborative solutions available on the market today. This all-in-one project management and online team collaboration tool actually invites team members and collaborators to work with you, share information, and help you organize your projects as well as your ideas.
In addition to its organizing and sharing functions, Nutcache allows you to track the time spent on specific projects or assignments, invoice work accomplished, and make payments with the click of a button. Logs and reports can also be generated and updated to support tracking and invoicing.
Azendoo
Azendoo is a collaboration app that has been specifically designed as a communication and task management tool for marketing and design teams, and it is easily integrated with project and information sharing applications such as Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Drive.
This feature makes it easier for others to share information with you, or provide comments or feedback on your designs. Photoshop and Sketch designs can be directly copied and pasted into Azendoo.
Converting Designs to Code
PSDGator
PSDgator is a small development team specializing in turning their customer’s designs into code. They will take your Photoshop design and convert it into hand-coded Responsive HTML/CSS, and even integrate it into WordPress or WooCommerce. Hand coding is an important service in that it helps to guarantee that the code will be clean, fast, and bug free.
Direct Basing offers a number of slicing services; they can convert your PSD to almost any type. Like PSD to HTML5, PSD to WordPress or PSD to Email. When you need your layout displayed correctly on all devices they can do that as well. If you only have desktop designs they will make it responsive for you as well. Direct Basing provides high-quality slicing with or without CMS, and they guarantee quality.
40 Dollar Markup will convert your PSD to pixel-perfect HTML/CSS, Responsive, or Email. The resulting code will be cross-browser compatible, W3C validated, and SEO friendly. Automated tools are not used to do PSD to HTML conversion. All HTML pages are hand coded. 40 Dollar Markup will also convert your existing desktop sites to responsive. Further support is provided for all deliverables.
Hosting Services
If you are seeking the fastest, most accurate technical support in the web hosting industry, choosing GlowHost will be a wise decision. With servers located in 16 worldwide datacenters, they specialize in managed dedicated servers, managed cloud and complex server clusters. GlowHost’s shared hosting services include unlimited and upgraded personal, and professional hosting plans. Features include instant setup and activation, a free McAfee Secure site seal, Sucuri Hack Protection, and a money-back guarantee among other cool stuff.
Site 5
Site 5 has been around since 1999 and it offers three web hosting plans: host basic ($4,95/mo), hostPro+Turbo ($11.95/mo) and hostPro ($8,95/mo) and a money back guarantee of 15 days for virtual servers and 45 days for shared or reseller hosting. It also offers 24/7 support and live chat.
Stock Photo Agencies
There is nothing like a great stock image or two to make your websites look better, and Bigstock has an inventory consisting of more than 25 million high quality images, including both photos and vectors. This stock photo provider has a plan to fit any budget, and if you sign up for a free trial, up to 35 free images will be yours for the asking.
Stockfresh offers millions of hand-picked photos and vectors for competitive prices. You can download single images for just 70 cents with prepaid credits or as low as 20 cents through a subscription plan.
Their website has a fully responsive, fresh new layout so you can enjoy browsing their vast collection even on your favourite mobile device. Stockfresh also treats artists fairly – they pay some of the highest royalties in the industry.
Web Apps
Sendloop
Sendloop is an email marketing automation service you can use to create eye-catching newsletters, promotions, and other product oriented emails without requiring any need for programing. You can use Sendloop’s 60+ responsive and topical email templates, and the drag-and-create editor, to assist you in building an e-commerce emailing strategy for success. Building a unique, fully responsive email message takes but a few minutes.
You can break the habit of using bland looking forms when communicating with your customers by taking advantage of Typeform’s mobile-ready, interactive forms and surveys. You can incorporate images, ask which of your services recipients are interested in, and much more that will make them feel as if you were speaking with them personally, which in a sense, you are. You can use their free service, or opt for the Pro plan.
UI Kits
Ace Mobile iOS 8 UI Kit
This Ace UI Kit enables you to quickly create an iOS 8 mobile app design to show to your clients. The available screens in this versatile kit make it possible to create more than 1000 different apps that will work flawlessly on iPhone 6. Features include 75 .PSD templates, more than 300 UI elements, and over 100 icons. The screens cover an impressive range of subjects and functions.
Ink iOS 8 UI Kit
The Ink iOS 8 Mobile UI Kit is designed with ease of use and speed in mind. It will enable you to quickly create apps and prototypes from any one of its 120+ Photoshop and Sketch screens that have been selectively placed in 7 convenient categories.
You will find plenty of walktrough, menu, social, and eCommerce screen choices plus a selection of 15 different Reader screens. If you need a template, you will find it here.
Icons and Fonts
Icons Responsive
Icons Responsive is the site to visit if nothing less than a library of unique icons is required to satisfy your needs. There are currently over 1000 unique icons, each in flat, line, filled and Google Material colored styles.
The line icons easily morph into 4 responsive sizes, not simply shrinking but minimising their details while staying recognizable and pixel perfect. All icons are editable and available in Icon Webfonts, AI, PSD, SVG, PNG, and CSH formats. New icons are constantly released as a free update, which adds value to the set.
Jovial Font Family
The Jovial Font Family by Visual Hierarchy is made up of serif and sans serif handcrafted fonts, each with 3 weights; light, regular, and bold.
In addition to these extremely attractive, easy on the eyes, and professional-looking fonts, there is a selection of handcrafted alternatives, supplemented by another selection of handcrafted elements. These fonts are extremely cool, and definitely worth adding to your designer’s toolkit.
Conclusion
There you have it. A selection of premium themes, website builders, project management and collaboration tools, and UI kits backed up by a variety of website and app design and prototyping services and resources.
There is always more to come in this ever-changing marketplace. If you like what you see here, we would like to hear from you. If you feel something that should have been included is not, we would like to hear from you as well, so feel free to leave your comments below.
Bogdan Sandu, a seasoned designer with 15 years of diverse experience, has been designing websites since 2008.
Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.
His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.
Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.
His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.
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