Mike McAlister
@mikemcalister.com
Tall designer and relentless creator. Occasionally acquired. Building http://olliewp.com and teaching creators at http://liftoffcourse.com.
We just launched Ollie Pro Extensions – game-changing editor tools that supercharge your WordPress building experience.
Animations, advanced grid + column controls, keyboard shortcuts, and more. All seamlessly integrated into the native editor.
Let me show you what we built →
Animations, advanced grid + column controls, keyboard shortcuts, and more. All seamlessly integrated into the native editor.
Let me show you what we built →
October 9, 2025 at 6:47 PM
We just launched Ollie Pro Extensions – game-changing editor tools that supercharge your WordPress building experience.
Animations, advanced grid + column controls, keyboard shortcuts, and more. All seamlessly integrated into the native editor.
Let me show you what we built →
Animations, advanced grid + column controls, keyboard shortcuts, and more. All seamlessly integrated into the native editor.
Let me show you what we built →
If you're using the free Ollie theme (and frankly, why wouldn't you be?), I've included a bunch of pre-designed menu patterns so you don't have to start from scratch.
These are all ready to be dropped in, customized, and published.
These are all ready to be dropped in, customized, and published.
September 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
If you're using the free Ollie theme (and frankly, why wouldn't you be?), I've included a bunch of pre-designed menu patterns so you don't have to start from scratch.
These are all ready to be dropped in, customized, and published.
These are all ready to be dropped in, customized, and published.
Mobile navigation has been completely unlocked.
Instead of just plain text-based menus, you can now create rich mobile menus with your logo, CTAs, even video if you want. Your mobile menu can actually be part of your site's design now.
Instead of just plain text-based menus, you can now create rich mobile menus with your logo, CTAs, even video if you want. Your mobile menu can actually be part of your site's design now.
September 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Mobile navigation has been completely unlocked.
Instead of just plain text-based menus, you can now create rich mobile menus with your logo, CTAs, even video if you want. Your mobile menu can actually be part of your site's design now.
Instead of just plain text-based menus, you can now create rich mobile menus with your logo, CTAs, even video if you want. Your mobile menu can actually be part of your site's design now.
The dropdown and mega menu building capabilities are pretty wild – you can add images, multiple columns, rich content, whatever blocks you want.
Plus, smart edge detection so your menus never get cut off and hover intent to avoid finicky drop downs.
Plus, smart edge detection so your menus never get cut off and hover intent to avoid finicky drop downs.
September 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
The dropdown and mega menu building capabilities are pretty wild – you can add images, multiple columns, rich content, whatever blocks you want.
Plus, smart edge detection so your menus never get cut off and hover intent to avoid finicky drop downs.
Plus, smart edge detection so your menus never get cut off and hover intent to avoid finicky drop downs.
It's here! Menu Designer has landed at WP.org!
Menu Designer is a powerful new way to build beautiful mobile menus and dropdown menus in the @WordPress block editor — no coding required. And now it's available right in your dashboard.
wordpress.org/plugins/oll...
Menu Designer is a powerful new way to build beautiful mobile menus and dropdown menus in the @WordPress block editor — no coding required. And now it's available right in your dashboard.
wordpress.org/plugins/oll...
September 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
It's here! Menu Designer has landed at WP.org!
Menu Designer is a powerful new way to build beautiful mobile menus and dropdown menus in the @WordPress block editor — no coding required. And now it's available right in your dashboard.
wordpress.org/plugins/oll...
Menu Designer is a powerful new way to build beautiful mobile menus and dropdown menus in the @WordPress block editor — no coding required. And now it's available right in your dashboard.
wordpress.org/plugins/oll...
If you're using the free Ollie theme (and frankly, why wouldn't you be?), I've included a bunch of pre-designed menu patterns so you don't have to start from scratch.
These are all ready to be dropped in, customized, and published.
These are all ready to be dropped in, customized, and published.
August 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
If you're using the free Ollie theme (and frankly, why wouldn't you be?), I've included a bunch of pre-designed menu patterns so you don't have to start from scratch.
These are all ready to be dropped in, customized, and published.
These are all ready to be dropped in, customized, and published.
Mobile navigation has been completely unlocked.
Instead of just plain text-based menus, you can now create rich mobile menus with your logo, CTAs, even video if you want. Your mobile menu can actually be part of your site's design now.
Instead of just plain text-based menus, you can now create rich mobile menus with your logo, CTAs, even video if you want. Your mobile menu can actually be part of your site's design now.
August 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Mobile navigation has been completely unlocked.
Instead of just plain text-based menus, you can now create rich mobile menus with your logo, CTAs, even video if you want. Your mobile menu can actually be part of your site's design now.
Instead of just plain text-based menus, you can now create rich mobile menus with your logo, CTAs, even video if you want. Your mobile menu can actually be part of your site's design now.
The dropdown and mega menu building capabilities are pretty wild – you can add images, multiple columns, rich content, whatever blocks you want.
Plus, smart edge detection so your menus never get cut off and hover intent to avoid finicky drop downs.
Plus, smart edge detection so your menus never get cut off and hover intent to avoid finicky drop downs.
August 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The dropdown and mega menu building capabilities are pretty wild – you can add images, multiple columns, rich content, whatever blocks you want.
Plus, smart edge detection so your menus never get cut off and hover intent to avoid finicky drop downs.
Plus, smart edge detection so your menus never get cut off and hover intent to avoid finicky drop downs.
It's here! Introducing Menu Designer, a powerful new way to build beautiful mobile menus and dropdown menus in the @WordPress block editor — no coding required.
🔮 My prediction: this will become the way we build menus in WordPress.
olliewp.com/menu-designer
🔮 My prediction: this will become the way we build menus in WordPress.
olliewp.com/menu-designer
August 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
It's here! Introducing Menu Designer, a powerful new way to build beautiful mobile menus and dropdown menus in the @WordPress block editor — no coding required.
🔮 My prediction: this will become the way we build menus in WordPress.
olliewp.com/menu-designer
🔮 My prediction: this will become the way we build menus in WordPress.
olliewp.com/menu-designer
Sure, I should be doing some work, but I couldn't get this phrase out of my head after @patrickposner_ said this about the way I release products. Had to make something with it.
August 13, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Sure, I should be doing some work, but I couldn't get this phrase out of my head after @patrickposner_ said this about the way I release products. Had to make something with it.
Coming this week...
August 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Coming this week...
Part of our upcoming @WordPress block editor suite of builder tools: Menu Designer.
Create beautiful, responsive mobile & mega menus right in the native block editor. Dozens of 👌 designs included.
Blazing-fast, lightweight, intuitive, inevitable. Coming soon.
Create beautiful, responsive mobile & mega menus right in the native block editor. Dozens of 👌 designs included.
Blazing-fast, lightweight, intuitive, inevitable. Coming soon.
July 30, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Part of our upcoming @WordPress block editor suite of builder tools: Menu Designer.
Create beautiful, responsive mobile & mega menus right in the native block editor. Dozens of 👌 designs included.
Blazing-fast, lightweight, intuitive, inevitable. Coming soon.
Create beautiful, responsive mobile & mega menus right in the native block editor. Dozens of 👌 designs included.
Blazing-fast, lightweight, intuitive, inevitable. Coming soon.
Ollie Pro is one year old! @patrickposner_ and I put everything we had into @buildwithollie this past year, building something we're super proud of.
Here are the highlights and numbers from an absolutely wild year. Spoiler alert: we were cookin'! 🔥
Here are the highlights and numbers from an absolutely wild year. Spoiler alert: we were cookin'! 🔥
July 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Ollie Pro is one year old! @patrickposner_ and I put everything we had into @buildwithollie this past year, building something we're super proud of.
Here are the highlights and numbers from an absolutely wild year. Spoiler alert: we were cookin'! 🔥
Here are the highlights and numbers from an absolutely wild year. Spoiler alert: we were cookin'! 🔥
Whether you're:
☑️ Building your first custom block
☑️ Creating advanced interactive components
☑️ Looking to modernize your dev workflow
☑️ Vibe coding and looking for deeper WP context
This course gives you the foundation you need to master block dev.
olliewp.com/block-academy/
☑️ Building your first custom block
☑️ Creating advanced interactive components
☑️ Looking to modernize your dev workflow
☑️ Vibe coding and looking for deeper WP context
This course gives you the foundation you need to master block dev.
olliewp.com/block-academy/
June 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Whether you're:
☑️ Building your first custom block
☑️ Creating advanced interactive components
☑️ Looking to modernize your dev workflow
☑️ Vibe coding and looking for deeper WP context
This course gives you the foundation you need to master block dev.
olliewp.com/block-academy/
☑️ Building your first custom block
☑️ Creating advanced interactive components
☑️ Looking to modernize your dev workflow
☑️ Vibe coding and looking for deeper WP context
This course gives you the foundation you need to master block dev.
olliewp.com/block-academy/
A few weeks ago, we launched the Ollie Theme Academy, a free video course for modern WordPress theme development.
And today, we're releasing ANOTHER free video course.
Introducing the Ollie Block Academy, a free custom block development course.
olliewp.com/block-academy/
And today, we're releasing ANOTHER free video course.
Introducing the Ollie Block Academy, a free custom block development course.
olliewp.com/block-academy/
June 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
A few weeks ago, we launched the Ollie Theme Academy, a free video course for modern WordPress theme development.
And today, we're releasing ANOTHER free video course.
Introducing the Ollie Block Academy, a free custom block development course.
olliewp.com/block-academy/
And today, we're releasing ANOTHER free video course.
Introducing the Ollie Block Academy, a free custom block development course.
olliewp.com/block-academy/
Working on redesigning my personal site with this vibe.
June 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Working on redesigning my personal site with this vibe.
I just pushed live a trusted developer page for @BuildWithOllie. We get asked often for recommendations of devs who can build with @WordPress full site editing and Ollie.
You will be in good hands with these folks: olliewp.com/ollie-devel...
You will be in good hands with these folks: olliewp.com/ollie-devel...
June 9, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I just pushed live a trusted developer page for @BuildWithOllie. We get asked often for recommendations of devs who can build with @WordPress full site editing and Ollie.
You will be in good hands with these folks: olliewp.com/ollie-devel...
You will be in good hands with these folks: olliewp.com/ollie-devel...
Ultimately, I was able to pull off a significant refresh very quickly, and that's largely due to how capable the WordPress site editor is.
I was able to do everything in the editor, aside from some code for the scroll effect and some edge case CSS.
🛹 olliewp.com
I was able to do everything in the editor, aside from some code for the scroll effect and some edge case CSS.
🛹 olliewp.com
June 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Ultimately, I was able to pull off a significant refresh very quickly, and that's largely due to how capable the WordPress site editor is.
I was able to do everything in the editor, aside from some code for the scroll effect and some edge case CSS.
🛹 olliewp.com
I was able to do everything in the editor, aside from some code for the scroll effect and some edge case CSS.
🛹 olliewp.com
I'm still old school and do a lot of design work in Figma first before moving into the site editor.
I get more expressive design starting with a canvas, and then move to the editor and build quickly. I don't design every page, mostly just nail down the visual language.
I get more expressive design starting with a canvas, and then move to the editor and build quickly. I don't design every page, mostly just nail down the visual language.
June 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I'm still old school and do a lot of design work in Figma first before moving into the site editor.
I get more expressive design starting with a canvas, and then move to the editor and build quickly. I don't design every page, mostly just nail down the visual language.
I get more expressive design starting with a canvas, and then move to the editor and build quickly. I don't design every page, mostly just nail down the visual language.
Here's a fun little detail you may have missed. As you scroll past this section on the homepage, the images change to show the different typography and color pairings available in Ollie.
June 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Here's a fun little detail you may have missed. As you scroll past this section on the homepage, the images change to show the different typography and color pairings available in Ollie.
Many of the new section designs came from the Ollie Pro pattern library. Of course I used my own design collection to speed things up.
Most of these I was able to add to the page and just modify slightly before moving on. Progress > perfection.
Most of these I was able to add to the page and just modify slightly before moving on. Progress > perfection.
June 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Many of the new section designs came from the Ollie Pro pattern library. Of course I used my own design collection to speed things up.
Most of these I was able to add to the page and just modify slightly before moving on. Progress > perfection.
Most of these I was able to add to the page and just modify slightly before moving on. Progress > perfection.
I tried about 100 different new font combinations, but ultimately ended up with Satoshi Variable. www.fontshare.com/fonts/satoshi
At first, I wasn't sure if it was too playful, but the more I saw it throughout the site, I thought it worked pretty well.
At first, I wasn't sure if it was too playful, but the more I saw it throughout the site, I thought it worked pretty well.
June 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I tried about 100 different new font combinations, but ultimately ended up with Satoshi Variable. www.fontshare.com/fonts/satoshi
At first, I wasn't sure if it was too playful, but the more I saw it throughout the site, I thought it worked pretty well.
At first, I wasn't sure if it was too playful, but the more I saw it throughout the site, I thought it worked pretty well.
Right before we announced Ollie Pro 2.0, I quietly launched a design refresh on olliewp.com. For the design nerds out there, here's a quick thread of some of my favorite details of the redesign.
June 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Right before we announced Ollie Pro 2.0, I quietly launched a design refresh on olliewp.com. For the design nerds out there, here's a quick thread of some of my favorite details of the redesign.
Ollie Pro 2.0 is coming THIS WEEK.
This isn't just a setup wizard. This isn't just starter sites. This is the foundation of a new way of building with WordPress.
We're raising the bar for design and user experience, and ushering in the next wave of WordPress creators.
olliewp.com/subscribe/
This isn't just a setup wizard. This isn't just starter sites. This is the foundation of a new way of building with WordPress.
We're raising the bar for design and user experience, and ushering in the next wave of WordPress creators.
olliewp.com/subscribe/
May 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Ollie Pro 2.0 is coming THIS WEEK.
This isn't just a setup wizard. This isn't just starter sites. This is the foundation of a new way of building with WordPress.
We're raising the bar for design and user experience, and ushering in the next wave of WordPress creators.
olliewp.com/subscribe/
This isn't just a setup wizard. This isn't just starter sites. This is the foundation of a new way of building with WordPress.
We're raising the bar for design and user experience, and ushering in the next wave of WordPress creators.
olliewp.com/subscribe/
It's almost here! Ollie Pro 2.0 is on the launch pad.
💥 Introducing an intuitive new Theme Studio
💥 Blazing-fast site setup wizard
💥 Instant site creation with Ollie Starter Sites
Hit play and hang on to your seat. 💺
💥 Introducing an intuitive new Theme Studio
💥 Blazing-fast site setup wizard
💥 Instant site creation with Ollie Starter Sites
Hit play and hang on to your seat. 💺
April 15, 2025 at 6:47 PM
It's almost here! Ollie Pro 2.0 is on the launch pad.
💥 Introducing an intuitive new Theme Studio
💥 Blazing-fast site setup wizard
💥 Instant site creation with Ollie Starter Sites
Hit play and hang on to your seat. 💺
💥 Introducing an intuitive new Theme Studio
💥 Blazing-fast site setup wizard
💥 Instant site creation with Ollie Starter Sites
Hit play and hang on to your seat. 💺