Design Share #64 (Sep 9-Sep 20)

This is a bi-weekly update of work the design group contributed to. Work happens in overview issues, and in needs design, or needs design feedback issues.

If you have updates you’d like to include in the next Design Share, drop a note in the #design channel. If you have questions, you can also ask them there, or as a comment on this post.


General Updates

Global styles iA

Status: Conceptual

An early in-the-clouds exploration of how the global styles iA might be re-organised so that levels in the UIUI UI is an acronym for User Interface - the layout of the page the user interacts with. Think ‘how are they doing that’ and less about what they are doing. match the granularity of edit capabilities. Broad-strokes changes like choosing a style variation or changing the overall color palette are given greater prominence than—for example—changing individual color values. Related issues: 1, 2.

WP Briefing Landing Page

Status: In progress

A first mockup for a refreshed WP Briefing podcast landing page. Already a lot of good feedback present to apply and address for iteration 2. Issue.

Adding “Drag” to Image Placeholder Text

Status: Completed

Tiny PR to make clearer the Image 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. placeholder text, and to indicate you can drag images right into the placeholder.

WP.org: Moving “Log in” to the secondary navigation

Status: In progress

Progress on the effort to remove the WP-admin bar for logged out users of the wordpress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. https://wordpress.org/ website. Currently it shows up on some sections that offer log-in, which causes a visual layout shift, which is not great for the majority of users who never have to sign in. Currently addressed on Plugins, Patterns, Themes, Learn sections. Underway on Forums, Photos, Make.

System Updates

As part of efforts to advance the WordPress Design System, the following are updates to this effort.


Figma Organization

Status: In progress | @jameskoster & @mattryanwalker

Working through organization and updates to the new in-progress Core Figma Library for easier maintenance and discoverability of components.

Secondary button appearance concept

Status: Needs feedback

An exploration into how some of the shortcomings in the current appearance of secondary buttons might be addressed. Issue.

Unify DropZones

Status: Needs feedback

There exists various different style treatments for DropZones across the editor. By unifying we can add clarity to the overall UXUX UX is an acronym for User Experience - the way the user uses the UI. Think ‘what they are doing’ and less about how they do it..

Follow along on GitHub.

Updated shadows / elevation in WP Components

Status: Complete

A series of recent pull requests have added and applied a cohesive elevation scale across the WordPress components package. This creates a more consistent design and simplifies maintenance moving forwards.

Updating ToggleGroupControl

Status: In Progress

In this issue updates to the ToggleGroupControl are being explored. The aim is to better manage the prominence of it’s appearance, and improve accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility).

Storybook Improvements

Status: In progress / Needs feedback | @mattryanwalker

Proposed changes to the Storybook site to accomodate the creation of an up-to-date centralized reference site. Details here on this Make WordPress Design post.


#design, #design-share