Developing a design system within the block editor

Who is this session for?

Anyone working in WordPress and developing a design system, wanting to start a design system or maintaining a design system. Web managers who are looking to develop a design system with WordPress for their teams may also benefit from this talk.

Session description

Building a design system can be a daunting project. Trying to build one on a platform that is in its infancy with evolving technologies can be downright crazy. But the WordPress editor has grown to include many of the tools to help build out a robust design system. Finding the right approach to these tools is key.

Over the last three years, the University of Michigan College of Engineering has built a design system and crafted the theme Forty-Two to be used across their college’s websites. Nick Novak led the Front-End development of the theme and has come across many hurdles working with the new block editor.

In this presentation you will learn:

• How to build your design system around the tools and functionality of the block editor.
• Strategies for implementing style guides into your theme that utilize the block and site editor.
• Techniques that help your editors enjoy working with blocks, prevent them from violating accessibility practices, and keep them within brand guidelines.