#153 – Tammie Lister on Modern Theme Development and Artistic Exploration
Jan 22, 2025
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Tammie Lister, a seasoned product creator in the WordPress universe, shares her insights on the evolution of WordPress theming and the future of design. She highlights the challenges of adopting Full Site Editing and the underestimated power of block themes. Tammie passionately discusses the need for experimentation and flexibility in theme development. With emerging technologies like AI, she envisions a future of simpler, more intuitive design systems, encouraging creatives to embrace innovation in their web projects.
Tammie Lister emphasizes the necessity of experimentation in web design to foster creativity and push forward the evolution of themes.
The podcast highlights the challenges of adopting full site editing in WordPress, urging for user interface improvements and intuitive documentation.
Deep dives
Transitioning to Full Site Editing
The podcast discusses the evolution from classic themes to full site editing within WordPress, highlighting the significance of tools like theme.json. Despite optimism from the core team regarding the swift adoption of these innovations, the uptake has been slower than anticipated, with only about a thousand themes in the official repository five years after the implementation of full site editing. The conversation explores reasons behind this lag, suggesting that many users tend to use the underlying technologies without fully engaging with the new interface options. This gradual approach allows for experimentation, enabling agencies and developers to incorporate elements of full site editing while retaining familiar classic theme structures.
The Importance of Beauty versus Utility
Tammy emphasizes the ongoing debate about the necessity of visual appeal versus functionality in web design. Each website's requirement for beauty can vary drastically depending on its purpose and target audience, making experimentation essential for progress in design. Drawing parallels to the art world, she notes that periods of homogenization in both design and art can stifle innovation, thereby reiterating the need for a robust spirit of experimentation. Ultimately, creative expression in web design is constrained by current trends, yet innovation is key to moving the industry forward.
The Need for Iteration in User Interfaces
Discussion on user interface concerns reveals that the fluid nature of interfaces can create confusion, especially when elements constantly change or disappear. Users require stable environments to learn new tools effectively, implying that improvements in documentation and design consistency are necessary for better user experience. Furthermore, as features evolve, the expectation for customization and flexibility becomes crucial for modern web development. The podcast illustrates these needs by advocating for improved user interfaces that adapt to specific user behaviors, allowing for a more tailored working experience.
Rethinking Themes and Hybrid Models
The concept of hybrid themes is introduced as a bridging point between classic and block themes, though Tammy expresses her dissatisfaction with the term due to potential confusion it may cause. She advocates for a simpler categorization of themes, arguing that identifying functionality rather than labels may better serve developers and users alike. As the industry evolves, she highlights that themes should enable artistic freedom without locking users into outdated paradigms. The potential future of themes may involve moving towards a singular, adaptable theme that can be easily modified, reinforcing the idea of a flexible design system.
In this episode Tammie Lister, who has a deep history with WordPress and themes, discusses the evolution of WordPress theming, the concept of Full Site Editing, and its adoption challenges. She highlights the importance of experimentation and adaptability in themes, the underestimated impact of block themes and theme.json, and envisions a future where themes might be simplified into more flexible design systems. Tammie emphasizes the gradual adoption of new technologies and the potential for more intuitive user interfaces influenced by AI. If you're curious about the current state of WordPress theming, the impact of emerging technologies on the platform, or how to infuse more creativity into your web projects, this episode is for you.
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