Gridbox 3. Dashboard Redesign

The new version of Gridbox continues to follow its core principle: maximum power and ease of use. In Joomla website builder Gridbox 3.0, we’re rethinking every element, removing visual noise, simplifying the structure, and aligning the interface with a unified professional design. 

There are no revolutions here, just carefully considered improvements that make your workflow faster, smoother, and more enjoyable. And today, we’re ready to show you the redesigned Gridbox Dashboard.

One unified style, no compromises. That’s the design vision behind Gridbox 3. We’ve updated the appearance of every element on the dashboard.

You’ll find an Add New Item button that opens a familiar Gridbox-style modal. That means a cleaner, more consistent design across the board, fully aligned with your preferred mode.

Curious how it works? We explain more about light and darkness further down the post.

Dashboard Settings

Functionally, nothing has changed. You can still choose which widgets to display on the dashboard. What has changed is the visual presentation. The modal has been updated and now includes a new Edit Dashboard option.

About and Updates

The About modal has also been updated. It's now cleaner and gets straight to the point. And of course, the familiar update notification bell is still here. No unnecessary clicks, just the most important information: the Gridbox version and license status. Nothing extra.

Language Menu

The language settings haven’t changed in terms of functionality, but the interface now matches the new Gridbox design. It’s visually lighter and easier to navigate.

We’ve refined the look and feel of all dashboard widgets. Colored icons and unnecessary visual noise are gone. What’s left is clean, minimal, and harmonious.

All the widgets you’re familiar with are still available: Store Statistics, Reviews, Comments, and others haven’t gone anywhere, still right here in Gridbox 3.0. However, today we want to focus on the widgets that have received visual and functional updates. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new.

Adding and Managing Widgets

The widget workflow is still the same. Just click Add New Widget at the bottom. However, the modal has been redesigned to reduce CSS load and align with the Gridbox 3 native design.

Widget selection is now handled through a dropdown menu. It’s fast, it’s clear, and it works simply.

Content Widget

Previously called Apps, this widget is now renamed to Content, in line with the broader changes in Gridbox’s architecture. We have already talked about this in our previous blog posts dedicated to the Gridbox Content Apps and Integrations. 

We also removed colored icons, which used to draw too much attention (and generate too much code). Now, the interface is lighter, more balanced, and easier to work with.

Quick Links Widget

Previously, this widget was displayed horizontally. Now, it follows the same vertical layout as other widgets. Why? To simplify the interface and reduce code.

Controls have moved to the top right corner, and drag and drop link reordering is still supported. Everything’s intuitive, clean, and easy to use.

Booking Widget

This widget now shows only your most recent bookings. We’ve removed the Upcoming block to keep things focused.

Need more details? Just click the widget, and you’ll be taken straight to the Booking App. That’s what widgets are for — quick viewing and one-click access.

Pages Widget

The Pages widget received a serious cleanup. Page views and ID numbers are gone. Now, it shows only the page list.

Sorting options are still there, but the interface is lighter, airier, and much easier on the eyes.

Media Manager Widget

We’ve also redesigned the Media Manager widget. We have removed the display of file sizes. This is not critical information that should be available on the Dashboard.

Want file details? Just click the widget to open the Media Manager. 

As you know, in the Dashboard Settings, there is the option Edit Navigation. Once enabled, you can open the right-side panel to fully manage your Gridbox navigation. This means more than just flexibility. It gives you full control over how your workspace is structured. Whether you're managing a team or working solo, tailored navigation helps you stay focused and efficient. Just the tools you need, right where you want them.

Here’s what you can do:

• Add new items to the Navigation Panel
• Control access by setting permissions for each Gridbox App

Adding a New Item to the Navigation Panel

Click the Add New Item icon in the navigation panel, and a modal window will appear, fully redesigned in the Gridbox 3.0 style.

Here’s what you can customize:

• Title. Set your own label for the navigation item
• Link. Insert any internal or external URL
• Open behavior. Choose whether the link opens in the same window or a new one
• Icon. Select a visual marker to make it easy to identify
• User group access. Define who sees the item based on Joomla user groups
• Menu item root. Organize your custom links under specific sections

This functionality gives you the freedom to tailor the admin experience to your needs. Whether you want to add a quick link to a specific Gridbox App, an external service, or create a custom structure for your team, the Navigation Panel becomes a flexible control center, built your way.

Dark mode isn’t just a trend. It’s easier on your eyes in low-light environments, gentler for reading, and just looks cool. Especially at night, when a bright screen feels more aggressive than a deadline.

In Gridbox 3.0, we’ve added full support for dark mode. Gridbox now inherits color scheme from the Joomla admin template. Switch on dark mode in your Joomla settings, and Gridbox will follow suit automatically.

Daylight or darkness? That’s your choice. We’ve just made sure that either one looks and feels great.

Gridbox 3.0 isn’t about redesign for changes. It’s about focusing on what is important. 

We’re refining every element, removing what’s unnecessary, and developing an interface that feels as powerful as it is simple. The redesigned Dashboard, updated Widgets, and Dark Mode support are all part of our vision for a more elegant, intuitive website builder.

We’re continuing to develop Gridbox 3.0, and as always, we move forward together 👊😎

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