Nowadays is a multipurpose WordPress theme designed for agencies, creatives, and freelancers looking to build visually rich portfolios or business websites quickly. It offers a broad range of demo content and a built-in page builder to get projects off the ground fast.
Building a Creative Portfolio with Nowadays
When we first looked at Nowadays, the sheer number of demo sites caught our eye. For anyone in the creative space, especially those building a portfolio website or an agency site, having pre-built layouts is a huge time saver. We found that importing the demo content was straightforward, and it gave us a solid foundation to start tweaking. The Unyson page builder, while not as widely adopted as some others, gets the job done for assembling pages. We appreciated that it comes bundled, so there's no need to hunt down another plugin.
The theme boasts over 400 options, which sounds like a lot, and it is. This translates to granular control over colors, fonts, and layout elements. For a portfolio, being able to fine-tune the appearance of galleries, project displays, and even the mobile menu is crucial. We noticed that the CSS organization feels pretty standard, with clear class names, making it manageable for minor custom CSS additions without getting lost in a mess of styles. The inclusion of smooth animations and parallax effects is also a nice touch for making a creative site feel more dynamic.
Workflow Considerations for Agencies and Freelancers
For agencies needing to launch client sites rapidly, Nowadays offers a clear path to completion. The one-click demo installation is a big win here, reducing the initial setup time significantly. We found that customizing existing demos to fit client branding was a much faster process than building from scratch. The theme also includes WooCommerce support, which is essential if you plan to sell services or products directly from your site, making it a versatile option for small businesses as well.
However, it's important to note that while the theme offers a lot of options, deep customization beyond what the page builder and theme options allow might require digging into the code. For those who need highly bespoke functionality or complex backend integrations, this theme might feel a bit restrictive. We also observed that the reliance on Unyson means you're tied to that builder's ecosystem. If you prefer to use a different page builder, you'd likely be fighting against the theme's structure.
Who Should Use Nowadays and Who Should Look Elsewhere
This theme is a strong contender for individual creatives, freelancers, and small to medium-sized agencies who need a visually appealing website quickly. If you're building a standard agency site, a photography portfolio, a designer's showcase, or a small e-commerce store, the pre-built demos and extensive options will serve you well. It's particularly useful for those who want to avoid the complexities of building every single element from the ground up and are looking for a theme that handles common creative website needs out of the box.
On the other hand, if you're a developer building a highly custom application, a site with unique backend logic, or if you have a strong preference for a specific page builder like Elementor or Beaver Builder, you might find Nowadays to be an unnecessary complication. Those who prioritize bleeding-edge performance optimization above all else might also want to scrutinize the theme's asset loading. While it aims to be "light," the sheer number of features can sometimes lead to more code than strictly necessary for a very simple site.
Key Features We Found Useful
- One-Click Demo Import: This is the star feature for rapid deployment, allowing us to get a functional site structure in minutes.
- Unyson Page Builder: A capable drag-and-drop builder included with the theme, offering a decent range of elements for page construction.
- WooCommerce Integration: Essential for e-commerce functionality, making it suitable for online stores.
- Extensive Theme Options: Provides granular control over colors, typography, and layout without needing to write code.
- Included Animations and Parallax: Adds visual flair and polish to creative portfolios and agency sites.
Final Thoughts on the Nowadays Theme
Nowadays delivers on its promise of providing a feature-rich, multipurpose theme for creative professionals. It excels at speeding up the initial setup and offers a good degree of customization for common website needs. While it might not be the absolute leanest option on the market, its bundled tools and demo content make it a practical choice for getting a professional-looking website live without extensive development time. It’s a solid investment for those who value speed and a wide array of pre-built design elements for their WordPress / Creative / Portfolio projects.
ThemeSparkle Expert Score
Overall Score: 7.5 / 10
- Niche Specificity: 8/10. The theme is well-suited for creative agencies and portfolios, offering relevant demos and features.
- Visual Standards & Aesthetics: 7/10. Designs are generally modern and appealing, fitting within current WordPress creative trends.
- Ease of Setup: 8/10. The one-click demo import and included page builder significantly streamline the initial setup process.
- Customization Flexibility: 7/10. Offers many options within the theme panel and builder, but deep custom code might be required for highly unique designs.
FAQ
Is the Unyson page builder compatible with other themes?
Unyson is designed to work with the Nowadays theme; using it with other themes might not be fully supported or could lead to conflicts.
How does the theme handle accessibility standards?
While the theme incorporates standard accessibility practices, thorough testing is recommended for compliance with specific project requirements.
What is the update frequency like for this theme?
Based on recent activity, updates appear to be released periodically, addressing compatibility and minor fixes, though major feature additions may be less frequent.
