Title: Gutenberg Phase 2 Friday Design Update #41 Author: Mark Uraine Published: December 7, 2019 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mapk/) [Mark Uraine](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mapk/) 5:57 am _on_ December 7, 2019 Tags: [design ( 217 )](https://make.wordpress.org/design/tag/design/), [gutenberg-weekly ( 60 )](https://make.wordpress.org/design/tag/gutenberg-weekly/), [phase-2 ( 60 )](https://make.wordpress.org/design/tag/phase-2/)    # Gutenberg Phase 2 Friday Design Update #41 Happy Friday everyone! The winter holidays are upon us and CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. is already [planning for WordPress 5.4](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2019/12/04/wordpress-5-4-open-call-for-tickets/). A [recent update regarding the 9 Projects for 2019](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2019/12/06/update-9-projects-for-2019/) was posted wherein GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. [https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/](https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/) was a large part, so let’s go over those. The projects listed below are still in progress. #### Create a blockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. for Navigation menus The Navigation block is considered a “stable” feature as of Gutenberg 7.0. There’s a lot of work to still be done, but the majority of the technical aspects are solid. I’m running usability tests on this block this month and will share the results in January. ![](https://i2.wp.com/make.wordpress.org/design/files/2019/12/nav-block.png?fit= 776%2C300&ssl=1) Navigation block #### Themes visually registering content areas This is [an older issue](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/13489) from earlier this year, but includes a lot of what is being explored in full-site editing. #### Blocks in widgetWidget A WordPress Widget is a small block that performs a specific function. You can add these widgets in sidebars also known as widget-ready areas on your web page. WordPress widgets were originally created to provide a simple and easy-to-use way of giving design and structure control of the WordPress theme to the user. screen and CustomizerCustomizer Tool built into WordPress core that hooks into most modern themes. You can use it to preview and modify many of your site’s appearance settings. This [widgets screen](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/13204) is about ready for testing. It can be turned on in the Experiments in the Gutenberg pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party.. While it’s a bit rudimentary, it can be tinkered with. The [Customizer blocks](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/16204) are under development. While we show blocks in the Customizer, we’d like to show them in their mobile responsive view because of the narrow space. #### Block Directory The Block Directory is also a feature listed as an Experiment in Gutenberg. It can be turned on and users would be able to install single-block plugins directly from the Block Editor. When searching for a particular block in the Block Library, if none are found, but exist in the directory, it will be displayed. A post around the [Block Directory guidelines](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/2019/12/06/block-directory-plugin-guidelines/) was recently shared. If you’re looking to get your single-block plugin included, find out more by reading that post. ![](https://i2.wp.com/make.wordpress.org/design/files/2019/12/block-dir.png?fit= 776%2C774&ssl=1) Block Directory ## December’s Gutenberg Focus Areas Riad recently posted the [focus areas for Gutenberg in December](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2019/12/03/whats-next-in-gutenberg-december/). These include Block Content Areas, [Block Patterns](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/17335) work, and a bit of Tightening Up like [gradients](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/17603), [media flows](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/16200), etc. ## Gutenberg 7.0 Released Yes, it’s been a couple of weeks since I posted this update, so I’m able to include [Gutenberg 7.0](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2019/11/27/whats-new-in-gutenberg-27-november/) which was released in late November. Lots of improvements in there. Make sure to read the notes! ## New Color Palette Dave posted a [proposal for a new color palette](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/11/26/proposal-a-new-color-palette-for-wordpress/) in WordPress. If you’re fond of colors, check it out and drop some comments. ## Easily test Gutenberg PRs 🤩 This is incredible? Have you ever struggled testing Gutenberg PRs before they merge? Was the set up of a local dev environment too much for you? Well look no further! [Gutenberg.run](http://gutenberg.run/) is a blessing sent from [@aduth](https://profiles.wordpress.org/aduth/). Just enter the PR number you’d like to test and this will build an installation of WordPress with this PR. No setup necessary. 🥳 --- ## Get involved Now’s a great time to get involved. While the work on this project is intense, it’s always important to glean new perspectives from other WordPress users and community members. Just drop into any of the links provided above to read up on the details and contribute. Thanks for reading, staying informed, and contributing anywhere you can! [#design](https://make.wordpress.org/design/tag/design/), [#gutenberg-weekly](https://make.wordpress.org/design/tag/gutenberg-weekly/), [#phase-2](https://make.wordpress.org/design/tag/phase-2/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/07/gutenberg-phase-2-friday-design-update-41/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/07/gutenberg-phase-2-friday-design-update-41/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/07/gutenberg-phase-2-friday-design-update-41/?share=bluesky) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/07/gutenberg-phase-2-friday-design-update-41/?share=facebook) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/07/gutenberg-phase-2-friday-design-update-41/?share=x) * [ Reddit ](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/07/gutenberg-phase-2-friday-design-update-41/?share=reddit) * [ Email ](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/07/gutenberg-phase-2-friday-design-update-41/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Gutenberg%20Phase%202%20Friday%20Design%20Update%20%2341&body=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fdesign%2F2019%2F12%2F07%2Fgutenberg-phase-2-friday-design-update-41%2F&share=email) 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/81baa7b447f0f5c52b201f34665eb97c6444de435d69143ec0a1368f087607e3? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 2. [Zebulan Stanphill](https://profiles.wordpress.org/zebulan/) 10:32 pm _on_ December 7, 2019 3. Thanks for making gutenberg.run, [@aduth](https://profiles.wordpress.org/aduth/)! That’s a really handy tool! 4. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f4226aad00975bb106756610d04b6bb3bd65027d37d1839dbd6c285f12c8a49d? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Andrew Duthie](https://profiles.wordpress.org/aduth/) 11:07 pm _on_ December 8, 2019 * Thanks Zebulan! I should point out that it may be a bit unstable until I can work out some of the remaining bugs. My hope is to be able to integrate it a bit more into testing workflows, possibly with an automated comment in pull requests to link to the sandbox. * Related project board task: [https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/projects/24#card-17513525](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/projects/24#card-17513525) Comments are closed. # Post navigation [← Design Meeting Notes for 4 December 2019](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/04/design-meeting-notes-for-4-december-2019/) [Design meeting agenda for Wednesday 11th December →](https://make.wordpress.org/design/2019/12/10/design-meeting-agenda-for-wednesday-11th-december/)