Interview with Michael Ryden, Founder of GearMX Inc.
Michael Ryden is a Chicago-based filmmaker, educator, and creative entrepreneur. He runs his own multimedia company, GearMX, Inc., where he balances client projects with a passion for teaching young students the art of filmmaking.
Early on, WordPress became his platform of choice for showcasing creative work. But it wasn’t until he discovered WPBakery that his digital storytelling really took off. Its intuitive layout tools gave him the freedom to design and share content exactly the way he envisioned – fast, flexible, and fully under his creative control.
Introduce yourself and tell us about your field of work. What does a typical day in your life look like?
My name is Michael Ryden. I’m a filmmaker, educator, and creative technologist based in Chicago.
I run a business called GearMX, Inc., and I also teach filmmaking to elementary and middle school students, focusing on special effects and green screen techniques. A typical day might involve anything from filming multi-camera graduation ceremonies to producing musical theatre, or editing green screen skits with students.
I’m also a songwriter and currently developing a musical about Bessie Coleman, the first African-American woman pilot.
Michael Ryden – Founder of GearMX, Inc
Whether it’s video, music, or web design, everything I do ties back to creativity and storytelling.
How did you first get into web development? Was there a specific moment that inspired you?
It started quite a while ago – around the time WordPress was gaining traction. A friend introduced me to shortcodes in WordPress, explaining how one simple line of code could create such powerful results. That concept really blew my mind.
I dove in, started playing with different themes, and eventually installed one that came bundled with something called WPBakery. That moment changed everything. The logic behind it was so intuitive, especially for someone like me who wasn’t a traditional coder.
Suddenly, I could build full websites and control layouts like a pro. It gave me this deep sense of confidence, like I could create anything someone asked for. And it was all thanks to WPBakery. I even started recommending it to all my friends - saying, “If you're getting into web development, make sure the theme has WPBakery.”
Tell us about your main clients. Who do you typically work with?
I work with a mix of schools, educational organizations, and creative entrepreneurs. I produce multimedia content for districts like Chicago Public Schools and District 91 in the suburbs. This includes tribute videos, livestreams, and yearbooks. I also help creatives launch personal websites and video portfolios.
How did you discover WordPress and WPBakery? What drew you in initially?
As I mentioned, it began with WordPress shortcodes. But discovering WPBakery – back when it was called Visual Composer – was the real turning point. I found it through a theme I installed, and the drag-and-drop builder just clicked with me. It felt like building with Lego blocks for the web.
I wasn’t just filling out forms – I was actually designing. It felt empowering.
I’ve tried other tools that seemed like copycats, and none of them came close. They often felt clunky and slowed down my creative flow. WPBakery was fluid – I could keep moving without interruptions. As a visual composer myself, it just matched how my brain works.
Describe what else is on your current tech stack. Any specific themes, plugins, hosting, or other tools and services you rely on?
Early on, I realized I got the best results when I used a solid theme as a foundation – especially one built by a designer who really thought through the logic behind it. Once I found a great theme with WPBakery built in, I stuck with it. I’d buy copies from ThemeForest for different clients and build from there.
Right now, I’m using what I think is the best theme I’ve ever worked with: the Total Theme. It’s so well integrated with WPBakery – you can tell the developers really cared about the connection. It just works perfectly.
For hosting, I use Lightsail, which I love. I’m also a big fan of Slider Revolution for dynamic visuals. I enhance things with custom CSS when needed, and I tie everything together using Final Cut Pro, Apple Logic, and professional audio gear like my Sound Devices 888 and Yamaha piano.
Everything ties back to multimedia.
Could you share more about your current project and your personal website? What’s the vision behind it?
My personal website – michaelryden.com – is both a portfolio and a hub for the different parts of my creative life: filmmaking, music, and teaching special effects.
My vision was to create something professional yet personal. A site that doesn’t just show what I do, but why I do it. It needed to look great, be fast, and feel creative. WPBakery made that possible – and still does.
You’ve been using WPBakery for years. How has your workflow changed or improved over time?
At first, I relied more on pre-built layouts and templates. Over time, I began customizing every block, learning how to structure pages more efficiently, nest rows properly, and manage mobile responsiveness better.
Now, my workflow feels cleaner. There's less guesswork and more design intention. WPBakery supports the creative rhythm that suits me perfectly.
What features of WPBakery do you find most useful in bringing your personal website to life?
Honestly, I use the Backend Editor exclusively. Coming from a shortcode background, the backend was a total game changer. The way it’s laid out just makes sense.
A lot of tools try to push frontend design, but the backend editor in WPBakery is absolutely brilliant. I hope the team continues to invest in it because it’s such a powerful tool.
To me, it’s like looking at a site through a Matrix lens – I can see both the visual layout and the structure, almost like reading CSS. That backend editor is a huge part of why I fell in love with WPBakery.
You mentioned you’ve tried other tools before. What specific limitations did you encounter with them compared to WPBakery?
With other tools, I felt boxed in. They were bloated, hard to navigate, and just didn’t flow with my creative process. I’d have a vision, and WPBakery let me execute it quickly, keeping my momentum going.
The other tools added extra steps and unnecessary complexity. WPBakery hit that sweet spot – powerful but not overwhelming. I always felt in control of the layout.
Recently, you discovered the Total Theme. How has this influenced your web design approach?
Total Theme is a game changer. It’s clean, flexible, and works seamlessly with WPBakery – which, for me, is the most important thing.
It gives me more creative freedom with less troubleshooting, and that’s huge when I’m juggling 15 different projects.
What feedback do you get from your clients about WPBakery? Are there any features or tools they find particularly useful?
Clients really appreciate how visual the backend is. I often build systems for schools, and when I hand off a site, the staff doesn’t feel intimidated. I show them how to edit text blocks and drag-and-drop elements, and they get it right away. That confidence boost means a lot.
In your opinion, what makes WPBakery stand out in the web development space?
It’s the balance of power and simplicity. WPBakery doesn’t try to be everything – it just gives creators what they need to build. And it does so without boxing you into a rigid system like other plugins often do.
Looking back at your journey, is there a particular moment or project that stands out as a highlight?
I’ve built all kinds of sites – from schools to dental offices to restaurants – but my standout project is michaelryden.com. It brings together everything I do: filmmaking, music, education, and multimedia production. It’s more than a portfolio; it’s a creative self-portrait. And WPBakery gave me the control to bring that vision to life.
What’s the most rewarding part of building websites for you?
As an artist, it’s incredibly rewarding when someone visits a site and feels something. When they understand the person or the purpose behind the project. It’s storytelling through design – using layout and code instead of dialogue.
Lastly, if you could add one new feature to WPBakery, what would it be and why?
Besides AI integration – which is amazing – I’d really love a dark mode toggle for editing. Especially during late-night sessions, or just because I prefer the aesthetics of dark interfaces. Everything I use is in dark mode – it helps me stay in the zone creatively.
That’s a small thing, though. Overall, I just want to say I love the iterations over the years. I even felt compelled to write in because I was so excited. The logic behind it – the design thinking – it goes such a long way. It’s not just about drag-and-drop. It’s about how things work and how they look after you drop them.
I honestly can’t fully explain why I feel so connected to WPBakery, but I do. It’s night-and-day compared to everything else out there. Please pass my thanks to the people who make it all happen!
Where can people check out your work, and get in touch with you?
Thank you to Michael for taking the time and doing this interview!
